Winches 101??

[ShadowsPapa]

Buddy of mine years ago had a Mile-Marker hydraulic winch on his F250. That thing was a beast. It ran off the power steering pump.

Hard to kill hydraulic power. Hydraulic winches are crazy powerful. I've seen 'em on bigger trucks powered by a PTO driven pump.

Can you give us more details about that switch in your first picture? How is it mounted? Any troubles with opening up the hood when you need to use it?

The switch came with the Badlands Apex winch as part of the package.

I had some aluminum bar stock laying around that I used to make the brackets.
It's just two pieces of stock bent, drilled, etc.

No problem getting to it while I had it that way. I have the 'redline tuning' hood struts so once I get the hood latches released, the hood goes up. No support rod needed.

The 4 small bolts that hold the switch cover on go through the switch and the aluminum stock, with lock nuts on the bottom.
I pulled the two bolts shown on the right and inserted the aluminum between the two parts, put the bolts back.

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[Sandevino]

I picked up the Badland 12k synthetic yesterday. I'll find a plate next week. I got a 25% off coupon and that really made it nice. Consider too what is included with the badlands. it is really a nice overall package. Cables, disconnect switch, a really nice hook and fairlead, a couple of rub sleeves if your pulling over something and stickers, you gotta have them. Maybe some other stuff.

Where did you find the 25% off coupon??

 

[charliez]

Where did you find the 25% off coupon??

it came in an email a while back. I had one day let before it expired so I used it for this. Got a great discount.

 

[Sandevino]

Where did you find the 25% off coupon??

it came in an email a while back. I had one day let before it expired so I used it for this. Got a great discount.

I made my own 25% discount through a couple of avenues and plan to buy this weekend.

Sign up for the Harbor Freight store card and save 10% off your first purchase. sign up for the inside track club and get 15% off everything this weekend. Combined, you get 25% off and end up paying about $480 for the Apex with synthetic rope. When the first 0% payment is due, pay it off.

 

[charliez]

I did the card just for this. They wouldn't let me combine the 25 and 10 off. But they did do the 12 month no interest. I'll pay it off in two months tho. I don't like dragging it out. Mine rang up at $487.49. Plus tax. They come with a 90 day warranty, so in this case I went ahead an opted for the 1 year, although this seems to be a pretty durable winch. I haven't found anyone yet saying they have broken it or it failed. I found one video where the winch put a very noticeable twist in the plate and if they would have continued, may have torn the plate, but the winch just smiled through it all.

I have looked at winches for years and have never had enough of an excuse to get one till now. I'm hoping to go with my two boys to Marble Falls over Christmas break, and I'll be glad to have it along for the just in case category.

 

[hjdca]

Can someone explain to me the differences between the 100s of winches available to choose from? I’m looking at WARN, specifically. I don’t need anything hardcore. I want something that can get me out of snow once in a while and will look good with the Mopar Steel Bumper? ~$1000 (is that realistic?) prices are all over the place.

I have the Warn Zeon Platinum 10s, and maybe used it 20 times; 3 or 4 times for my rig, the other times to help my trail buddies. I keep the wireless controller plugged in all the time, and I use the Warn Power interrupt kit hooked up to one of my aux switches to turn it on.

Here is what I have learned:

1. If you are climbing hills like me (West Coast Wheeling) instant driver's seat activation of the winch is a huge advantage, ie. a wireless controller. The first time - I got stuck on a hill climb, and was wedged against the side of the hill where I could not exit the drivers door easily. My girlfriend was scared. I had just installed a front camera that I forgot about...., heat of the moment. My buddies that I was 4wheeling with set me up, and made the escape easy. Wireless controller was much appreciated, as I was not convinced that I could exit the Gladiator without it rolling backwards down that steep incline.

Here is a video of the incident




2. On the Rubicon Trail, one of our trail buddies only had 35 inch tires with no lift. I was behind him, so, I had to pull him backwards a lot. Having him do all the work to hook himself up, and me not having to get out of the truck all the time was much appreciated. Again, the wireless controller was the key to avoiding exhaustion.

3. I quickly used up my Gladiator aux switches, and the extra two power switches on the Warn Platinum were much appreciated. I used them to turn on my 2 sets of rock lights and light whip.

Here is a pic of the Warn Platinum on the Jeep steel bumper.

 

[Northridge4x4]

Something to keep in mind is to ensure you have the manufacturer minimum recommended wraps on the drum when you're at the first layer for max pulling power, I've seen it vary from 5-10 depending on drum diameter and rope material. Else you can tear your rope off its mounting point on the drum.

Easiest way to remember it is the 7-11 rule.

Minimum 7 wraps for steel cable and 11 wraps for synthetic.

Exceptions: Warn says their Zeon winch with synthetic rope can go down to 5 wraps on the drum.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have the Warn Zeon Platinum 10s, and maybe used it 20 times; 3 or 4 times for my rig, the other times to help my trail buddies. I keep the wireless controller plugged in all the time, and I use the Warn Power interrupt kit hooked up to one of my aux switches to turn it on.

Here is what I have learned:

1. If you are climbing hills like me (West Coast Wheeling) instant driver's seat activation of the winch is a huge advantage, ie. a wireless controller. The first time - I got stuck on a hill climb, and was wedged against the side of the hill where I could not exit the drivers door easily. My girlfriend was scared. I had just installed a front camera that I forgot about...., heat of the moment. My buddies that I was 4wheeling with set me up, and made the escape easy. Wireless controller was much appreciated, as I was not convinced that I could exit the Gladiator without it rolling backwards down that steep incline.

Here is a video of the incident




2. On the Rubicon Trail, one of our trail buddies only had 35 inch tires with no lift. I was behind him, so, I had to pull him backwards a lot. Having him do all the work to hook himself up, and me not having to get out of the truck all the time was much appreciated. Again, the wireless controller was the key to avoiding exhaustion.

3. I quickly used up my Gladiator aux switches, and the extra two power switches on the Warn Platinum were much appreciated. I used them to turn on my 2 sets of rock lights and light whip.

Here is a pic of the Warn Platinum on the Jeep steel bumper.

Almost any winch has a wireless controller these days - at least anything big enough for a Jeep. Even the Badlands Apex has a dual-use controller - wired or wireless.
I only ever use mine in wireless mode to keep my distance where necessary. I can be a fair distance from the winch and it works fine.
If I ever figure to be where I might not be able to get out - I'd have the controller on the dash.
When I had my 2020 - the switch was turned off for normal driving, I had it on if I figured "winch may be needed" but having the solenoid controlled by the aux switch is nice now. No need to open the hood.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

My girlfriend was scared.

 

[just_another_guy]

You can make any winch wireless for $18 with one of these:

https://a.co/d/ag2HMFU

I have my winch solenoid mounted under the hood and this remote works fine from both inside & outside the truck.

 

[jebiruph]

Does anyone know anything about the Napa MaxiTrac winches? The retail price is high, but the current sale price makes them competitive. I don't see any other limited lifetime warranties in this price range and they have service locations (stores) everywhere.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000S?impressionRank=27
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000?impressionRank=28

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Does anyone know anything about the Napa MaxiTrac winches? The retail price is high, but the current sale price makes them competitive. I don't see any other limited lifetime warranties in this price range and they have service locations (stores) everywhere.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000S?impressionRank=27
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000?impressionRank=28

Wow, if I didn't have the Apex I have already, I'd be doing a very serious look at these! Support/stores all over the place, nice price!

 

[jebiruph]

Does anyone know anything about the Napa MaxiTrac winches? The retail price is high, but the current sale price makes them competitive. I don't see any other limited lifetime warranties in this price range and they have service locations (stores) everywhere.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000S?impressionRank=27
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000?impressionRank=28

I ordered this one, didn't think the $200 price difference for the synthetic cable was cost effective.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I ordered this one, didn't think the $200 price difference for the synthetic cable was cost effective.

I would do synthetic, personally, myself, but I've had my fill of steel cables in the past. The massive winch I had on my first flatbed trailer was a pain in the #$@%@# with that steel cable. After a few uses, it's just plain nasty but then that was a heavier cable and got used a LOT. I hated steel cable by the time I got rid of my last winch with steel cable.
The good - you can likely change later if you decide to, and maybe get the rope cheaper, who knows.

I'd like to see one of those up close and personal - I see they have one at the Douglas location - I may go ask to look at one.

 

[jebiruph]

Does anyone know anything about the Napa MaxiTrac winches? The retail price is high, but the current sale price makes them competitive. I don't see any other limited lifetime warranties in this price range and they have service locations (stores) everywhere.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000S?impressionRank=27
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MT11000?impressionRank=28

This was delivered today, here's a pic of the box and of the manual showing specs and the parts list. I noticed the box says 3 year electrical warranty and lifetime mechanical, so I documented the limited lifetime warranty posted on the web page that doesn't differentiate between electrical and mechanical warraties. This sale is scheduled to end tomorrow.

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