TOTM: Winches

[rstrucks]

Winches are on the front of most rigs here - so what do you like or dislike about yours? Winch cable or rope?

[biggoofy]

Don't forget winching safety tips

[96RedZJ]

Step fathers Warn M8000 does amazing. Has great pulling power. After hearing how it performed pulling a propane tanker out, and his truck, I know what winch ill be going with. The winch is mounted on a f450 with a utility bed and a crane.

[Steel City ZJ]

I have a Ramsey Patriot 9500UT. Unfortunately it's still sitting pretty in the box it was shipped in because I don't have a bumper . I haven't heard anything bad about them though. Warn is definitely tried and true. We run them in the front of all of our fire trucks. Usually in the 12K variety and almost never have issues with them. I notice a lot of complacency when people winch though, even from an experienced wincher like myself. Always remember to place something over the winch cable to dampen the recoil in case of a snap. Anything will work and it doesn't have to be heavy. Hoodies are my favorite as I usually have a couple in the Jeep. While winching bystanders should be clear of the area for the distance of the winch line. If using a corded remote make sure you are behind some sort of protection IE Jeep door. Don't count on the windshield to offer a ton of protection but it can provide some. While handling a winch cable it is always smart to wear gloves to protect from burs in the line or other things that could cut or hurt you. Always remember at a absolute minimum to leave three wraps on the winch drum though I suggest leaving the drum covered in one layer if possible. Those are all basics that everyone should know.

[96JGCL]

Cant bitch about my HF Badlands 9000lb winch.

Surprisingly these don't sound like a box of rocks like the old ones, and the new clutch lever (vs the old clocking ring) is so much nicer. It's gotten me outta a few jams already and hasn't let me down.

[black_zj]

I'm actually on the fence about buying one of the Badlands winches, this thread might help with deciding.

[SirFuego]

Superwinch EPi9.0 running synthetic rope here. Very happy with it. I know quite a few others running the same with who would say the same. My favorite thing abut it is the fast line speed. They don't make it anymore, so I can't really comment on the current Superwinch models.

I ran both steel cable and synthetic rope -- and I much prefer synthetic. Besides the fact that synthetic is safer (less stretch and lighter, which means that if it does break, there is less mass flying around at a slower speed), I also find it much easier to work with on the trails (while I still like to use gloves, they really aren't "needed"). Synthetic is less durable than steel, so you do need to be more careful with it. If it gets muddy, the mud that gets stuck inside of the rope can act as small razors, so you do need to make sure to keep your rope clean after wheeling.

However, if it does break, you can splice it back together at the expense of a few feet of rope. Here are some good threads showing how you can splice synthetic together:
How to splice the end for a thimble/new hook
How to splice two ropes together

The best part about it is that you can splice them back together using things people typically have on the trails anyways.

To clean my synthetic rope, I usually just unspool it and run it through my hands in warm water, drain the water, do it again, and keep doing it until the water stays clear.

If you do switch to synthetic, you will also need a new fairlead and snatch block. Either of those things used previously with steel get gouged and can cut into the rope.

[fluxcap]

I am currently looking at winches, and there are a plethera of +/-$300 winches out there and I am having trouble sorting out wich winch to avoid. A buddy of mine has a Champion that has lasted him through a lot of hard use so far. I have gotten mixed reviews about HF's Badlands and Smittybuilt. Any reviews on Engo?

How important is line speed? How about weight? Is the saved weight of having synthetic line worth the extea cost, especially in Colorado where you must be carefull not to damage it on rocks, etc?

[SirFuego]

How important is line speed?

Honestly, for trail use, it's not important at all. I just find a faster line speed to be more convenient since re-spooling is much faster.

That said, if I raced Ultra4, I'd probably try to find the fastest winch possible.

How about weight?

Synthetic is significantly lighter. Our rigs are so heavy to begin with that I don't know that you will notice any major differences in the performance of the rig when it's spooled up.

Is the saved weight of having synthetic line worth the extea cost, especially in Colorado where you must be carefull not to damage it on rocks, etc?

IMO, yes, it's worth it -- but that's not to say that you need to change to synthetic immediately (or ever). It's not like synthetic will snap the second it touches a rock, either -- it's actually pretty durable. I've had some recoveries with the rope covered in mud, too, and it was fine. Unless you are doing something really stupid, synthetic usually only breaks after it has already started to show signs of wear. The wear usually results from lack of maintenance (which is why maintenance is more important than with steel). Most ropes come with a 10' protective sheeth that can be used to protect the line across wood, rocks, etc. Even a folded up towel can work, too. That said, even a properly maintained synthetic rope will eventually need replacement.

Safety and ease of use are the two main reasons for going synthetic. I've found steel to be a PITA on the trail -- not only lugging around the additional weight when unspooling it, but also the constant need to be very careful about how evenly it spools back up. You can be a bit more "sloppy" when re-spooling synthetic rope.

Steel is tried and true -- and due to it's durability and cost, it's still a great option. So if your budget is tight, you are perfectly fine staying with steel.

[Steel City ZJ]

I've read good reviews about Engo. I don't know anyone with one though.

[biggoofy]

I'll be ordering an Engo when I purchase a winch for my pos.

[ajmorell]

I'll be ordering an Engo when I purchase a winch for my pos.

Me too, hard to beat that deal

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[TN_WJ]

I've had a Warn 8k on the front of my pile for about 5 years now, and have been very happy with it. It came with steel cable which eventually broke so for the last 3 years it's had 100' of Amsteel blue synthetic line on it.

It was already mentioned that rope usually comes with a protective sleeve to help with rocks, but it's a good idea to add a second sleeve to the line to cover the first couple of wraps around the drum to protect from the heat.

[96JGCL]

The Engo 9K winch looks identical too the 9k lb Badlands winch. If it saves any, goto HF with a 20% off coupon and get a winch for 300.00 out the door.

Edit: all their winches look identical too badlands winches

[cowboy63b]

i had a shittybuild with steel line first then swapped over to syn line, and other than breaking the engagement and freespool lever multiple times (witch smitty gladly replaced every time with no questions asked, and didnt ask for return on the old parts) and it sounding like a box of rocks, it was actually a good winch, and never failed me, i think mine was an 8k.

[ajmorell]

The Engo 9K winch looks identical too the 9k lb Badlands winch. If it saves any, goto HF with a 20% off coupon and get a winch for 300.00 out the door.

Edit: all their winches look identical too badlands winches

Looks the same =/= same build quality

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[Sudz]

I run a Warn XD9000 with 100’ 5/16” Amsteel installed Sept ‘04

Note: winches mounted in ARB bull bars mount 'feet front' – this offsets (lowers) the center of the spool by 5/8” – i installed an offset hawse fairlead, it centers the rope in the fairlead opening – It was also necessary for me to clock the housing to get the control lever facing down (accessible)


Massive Multi-Winch Shootout
Eight Winches, Ten Tests, One Winner
By Robin Stover, Photography by Robin Stover
Four Wheeler, July, 2011

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...#ixzz1oA6EkKxQ




Anyone running hydraulic?

[Stealth Crawler ZJ]

I have heard that Engo is made/ designed by the former CEO of mile marker wich seems to be a good one according to some of the guys in my local wheeling club
I think I will be getting the ES9000 http://www.profendersuspension.com/E...000S_p_44.html

also check this thread out.http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...t/viewall.html

[Steel City ZJ]

Massive Multi-Winch Shootout
Eight Winches, Ten Tests, One Winner
By Robin Stover, Photography by Robin Stover
Four Wheeler, July, 2011

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...#ixzz1oA6EkKxQ

I read that article a while ago. It's hard to imagine that it wasn't rigged with Warn being a big sponsor of the magazine and website.

I have heard that Engo is made/ designed by the former CEO of mile marker

I have also heard this.

[Stealth Crawler ZJ]

not trying to say that warn is #1 cause from what I read the Engo still works and they broke the Warn!

[96JGCL]

Looks the same =/= same build quality

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I know. I was moreso pointing out the fact of identical looks, identical specs and almost identical prices usually= same product, just different stickers.

[96JGCL]

Anyone running hydraulic?

Good friend of mine runs a MileMarker 12k lb hydraulic winch. He absolutley loves it. Only issue is when its super cold out the valve is hard too turn.
!

[PassRunnerZJ]

I have been running a Smittybuilt XRC8 for the last three years with steel cable. Budget at the time didn't have room for the 10k winch which I would have prefered, but I have been very happy with the XRC8. While I haven't had a lot of pulls with it, I did have a long pull of a CJ out of a mud trough and a WJ up a water fall in Moab, this one required another vehicle strapped to me to keep my ZJ from sliding forward and in the end both of us had to reverse while winching to get the WJ up. It took the abuse without issue. Also used it to take a garage down last fall.

When the steel line needs replaced, if ever, I will be going with synthetic to reduce the weight a bit.

[Stealth Crawler ZJ]

Good friend of mine runs a MileMarker 12k lb hydraulic winch. He absolutley loves it. Only issue is when its super cold out the valve is hard too turn.
!

ditto.

another minus is that you can't run them w/out the engine

[dyn0mitemat]

Just about everyone in my wheeling group has the xrc winches (8 & 10's, haven't seen any 12's on the trail yet) and like stated above, they do sound like they're going to take a dump right out of the box, but I've yet to see any failures with any of them.

I'll be going with an xrc8 (standard) when I get mine here shortly, the manager of our local 4wd hardware told me to get the extended warranty for it, he said he's had people bring controlers that they ran over and they just hand them a new one, plus it'll cover any other problems.

I'll be going with the standard xrc8, not the x20 (waterproof one) because I've seen enough on rigs here to make me feel confident that I don't need it (plus I avoid mud/water whenever posisble, I like rocks). And I'm going with steel cable because of cost and durability. People have been pulling steel cables for decades, it works fine IMO. Don't have to worry about sunlight degrading a steel cable lol

I've been through a few warn and ramsey (I think) winches on four wheelers I've owned, and I'll never give warn another dollar, and the ramsey wasn't anything impressive either compared to the $80 harbor freight one that replaced it