Winches 101??

[MojaveMat]

It really depends on your budget, and how much pulling power you want/need.

Warn has been the "go-to" for a long time, but is also more expensive. The Badlands is significantly cheaper, and pretty well-known to be reliable.

That being said, I have the Warn Platinum 12s

If I’m being honest I live in the burbs in michigan. Really looking for a little assistance if I get stuck in some deep snow in northern MI during the winter time. Seems like badlands might be able to get the job done. I’ve read a lot of discussion on how to connect to battery? Are you running hot or do you have a switch to keep it off when you don’t need it?

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[MojaveMat]

I have been using Smittybilt X20's. Work great, haven't seen any problems out of them and we have several in our group. I did not personally prefer the Badland as it has little to no warranty. Same cost in a Smittybilt gets substanially more warranty and I bought it through 4 Wheel Parts so I can hopefully deal with the physical store if need be.

I’ll have to check this out. I’m a value guy, think I might have to go with badland or this?

 

[OHJeeper]

The only hard recommendations I would give are:

1) Get a synthetic winch line, for a number of reasons - safety being the biggest
2) Get a snatch block to prevent from having to pull from weird angles and also doubles the capacity of your winch
3) Buy some D rings or soft shackles - and LEARN THE PROPER WAY TO USE THEM
4) Get safety gear - gloves, winch blanket

Finally... LEARN THE PROPER WAY TO USE ALL OF THESE! preferably before you "have" to use them.

 

[Dougstdig]

I saw a huge thread on this setup after I posted. Seems exactly what I’m looking for. I want something that can pull me out of the snow occasionally and will look good. Don’t need to be pulled up a mountain or anything. Did you have any issues with the fit in the mopar bumper; what plate did you use?What’s your setup to the battery? Do you have it hot all the time or did you put a switch in? Looks great!

Well…this is a 12,000# winch…so it does have some pull. They do make lesser ones, but the price was right. I got the email or text indicating the sale and :20 later it was in my cart at my local harbor-freight store.

I went with a warn plate. Drilled a hole and inverted a grommet for the power lines to exit. No matter what when she put up there it’s gonna be pretty tight because it sits so low and so tied up against the grill. But mines not touching the grill. I’ve got about a half an inch if memory serves me right

 

[Northridge4x4]

For value series winches, our most popular winches are the Warn VR EVO series, with the EVO10-S being the most popular for the JTs and JLs.

The are designed by Warn and built overseas to compete against other lower-priced overseas built winches.

Warn VR EVO 10-S:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/jeep-truck-suv-winches/103253-warn-vr-evo10s-winch-rope

For another value series winch brand, we also carry the Engo line of winches and they are priced competitively with other winches in the same category:

ENGO XR 10 w/ synthetic rope:
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...ngo-xr-series-winch-w-synthetic-rope-10-000lb

 

[OHJeeper]

I went with a warn plate.

Actually, a really good point for the OP: do NOT cheap out on the winch plate. There are numerous examples of lesser quality plates flexing/breaking - especially if pulling someone out of a ditch in the snow you want something STRONG.

 

[be77solo]

Like many others, the Badlands 12K is my plan. Just hard to beat it when they have their good sales, the reviews are good, looks decent and people just seem to like them. I'm planning to snag one soon, hoping for a good Black Friday sale to finally install one on mine.

There are better winches, but like you've run across, they are usually 2-3x more, and it's just not something I'm going to use regularly. If it got terrible reviews I'd spend the extra, but in this case I'm ok with it.

 

[Northridge4x4]

Actually, a really good point for the OP: do NOT cheap out on the winch plate. There are numerous examples of lesser quality plates flexing/breaking - especially if pulling someone out of a ditch in the show you want something STRONG.

X2 on that remark.

We'd rather see a cheap winch on a good quality winch mount, than an expensive winch on a cheap mount.

Obviously a good quality winch on a good quality mount would be the best.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

If I’m being honest I live in the burbs in michigan. Really looking for a little assistance if I get stuck in some deep snow in northern MI during the winter time. Seems like badlands might be able to get the job done. I’ve read a lot of discussion on how to connect to battery? Are you running hot or do you have a switch to keep it off when you don’t need it?

If you're leaning towards the Badlands, I say go for it. People have had really good experiences with them. I'd recommend at LEAST 10,000lbs, though.

I've wired all my winches straight to the battery. I've never had a reason to install a switch or anything.

 

[Jeepasaurus_Rex]

The only hard recommendations I would give are:

1) Get a synthetic winch line, for a number of reasons - safety being the biggest
2) Get a snatch block to prevent from having to pull from weird angles and also doubles the capacity of your winch
3) Buy some D rings or soft shackles - and LEARN THE PROPER WAY TO USE THEM
4) Get safety gear - gloves, winch blanket

Finally... LEARN THE PROPER WAY TO USE ALL OF THESE! preferably before you "have" to use them.

I promise up front, that I'm not trying to give you any grief on this, but...

A synthetic line isn't always an ideal solution, so I wouldn't recommend it over a standard steel cable. We really need to know what the majority use of the winch would be for to kind of help determine which would be best.

The snatch block doesn't inherently double the winch pulling power (normally called mechanical advantage since the winches actual power never changes), only when installed correctly and brought back to the the jeep(winch) itself will it do that. For other line pulls, it's the same.

 

[Summitsearcher]

If I’m being honest I live in the burbs in michigan. Really looking for a little assistance if I get stuck in some deep snow in northern MI during the winter time. Seems like badlands might be able to get the job done. I’ve read a lot of discussion on how to connect to battery? Are you running hot or do you have a switch to keep it off when you don’t need it?

Switch is included with the Badlands 12K. I have one and the only extra thing I bought was a snatch block. I’m in MICHIGAN as well. Go Blue!

 

[Dougstdig]

Like many others, the Badlands 12K is my plan. Just hard to beat it when they have their good sales, the reviews are good, looks decent and people just seem to like them. I'm planning to snag one soon, hoping for a good Black Friday sale to finally install one on mine.

There are better winches, but like you've run across, they are usually 2-3x more, and it's just not something I'm going to use regularly. If it got terrible reviews I'd spend the extra, but in this case I'm ok with it.

The non s 12k is at a disposable $349 this weekend

No sale on the Apex this weekend…

 

[OHJeeper]

I promise up front, that I'm not trying to give you any grief on this, but...

A synthetic line isn't always an ideal solution, so I wouldn't recommend it over a standard steel cable. We really need to know what the majority use of the winch would be for to kind of help determine which would be best.

The snatch block doesn't inherently double the winch pulling power (normally called mechanical advantage since the winches actual power never changes), only when installed correctly and brought back to the the jeep(winch) itself will it do that. For other line pulls, it's the same.

No grief assumed!

I agree on both counts. On the snatch block I should have been specific on the doubling capacity comment, but even without that they are great for pulling in off angle situations.

 

[Gvsukids]

If I’m being honest I live in the burbs in michigan. Really looking for a little assistance if I get stuck in some deep snow in northern MI during the winter time.

Or pulling people out at the mall.

 

[Vanishing Point]

I went with a Sherpa 12,000 #. There was three things that made me go for the Sherpa. I'm guessing for most folks those three things are not worth the extra $500 to $600 dollars but it was to me.

1. Billet cut gears instead of sintered gears.

2. The clutch works in the gearbox instead of the drum thereby keeping the heat off your synthetic line. If you are running cable that won't matter.

3. From everything I could find the Sherpa winches seemed less susceptible to water intrusion. That's probably more subjective than objective though.

Less important is I liked the yellow color of the Winch. Zero reason to get it based on that. Plus I'm the only guy at meet ups with a Sherpa winch. Again, zero value in that.

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