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Budget Winch best options

  • Smittybuilt XRC 9.5

    Votes: 7 36.8%
  • Engo 9500

    Votes: 5 26.3%
  • Badlands 9500/12000 depending on sales

    Votes: 5 26.3%
  • Other- Name in response please

    Votes: 2 10.5%

Choosing a cheap winch

8K views 26 replies 14 participants last post by  Jarhead95YJ 
#1 ·
Ok guys I have enough left over to get a winch, my budget is $350. I'm thinking the Smittybuilt XRC 9.5, Engo 9500, Badlands 9500 or 12000 if they go on sale soon. What is everyone's thoughts? Smittybuilt normally makes some pretty nice stuff, but I have not seen a lot of reviews on them. I've heard a lot of good things on the Engo. Have not heard a lot of 50/50 on the Badlands, plus Harbor Freight is a 10 minute drive for no hassle return.
 
#2 ·
First off stay away from Harbor Freight, I like them for Ball Joint kits etc because I can just return it after the job is done.

I have a Smittybilt XRC8 and it has worked well for me and completed about 50 pulls.
Lots of recovering friends, moving large limbs etc. and about 2 or 3 self extractions.

That being said, if I had the money at the time I would have went with a WARN all day long. A winch isnt something to go cheap on in my opinion. I wouldn't want to get myself in a situation where I'm depending on my "CHINESE" winch and have it fry up and shit on me.

I still call Smittybilt, Shittybilt because ever since they sold out they have lost their quality. I know what you are thinking, yes my winch has lasted the abuse. I am very surprised considering the reading of others issues of having them shut down after less than 10 uses.

I would save up the money or buy a used WARN.
 
#4 ·
Someone in my group has the Harbor Freight winch. It won't free spool, it really doesn't have a 12k capacity, and has lots of problems. A wire terminal melted when he was winching me. It was probably about 5k of load...
 
#5 ·
Mine came with the smitty from the dealer. Used it exactly ZERO times. I would love to have a nice one, but the justification isn't there currently. Now as my rig gets built in the future and I utilize a winch more, maybe, but for that rare "oh Sh#t" moment, what I have is good enough for now.
 
#11 ·
I have a badlands 12k winch and have only used it 3 times. Once with a bronco in mud to frame/axles and the second time was a chevy 1/2 ton in sand (twice). It's slow, but gets the job done. Keep in mind as with anything from harbor freight, it should be considered minimum use. Perfect example was the bronco, which had a 5+ year old badland on it that just stopped working. Mine free spools, but I also take the time to clean the line and i keep it tensioned between uses.
 
#14 ·
There is a thread on here with a link to a review by a major 4wd magazine of winches. Surprisingly, the Badlands survived and finished where other "more respected" brands did not. Having said that, I recently purchased a Tuff Stuff 12.5K winch. I asked on thus forum for reviews. Several answered that they had no bad experiences. Not everybody can afford the most expensive brand of accessories out there be it winches, bumpers, wheels, tires, or other. Most of the time they all work.
 
#16 ·
I know a lot of people running badlands winches. I've heard if you get a good one you're golden. But some are crap. Hit or miss. I'd get the extended warranty and try to break it early. They go on sale all the time. And add the 20% off coupon. However they heat up fast. So although they work. You spend less then a minute winching and a lot of time waiting for it to cool off. But it still is better than nothing.
 
#17 ·
Warn has a rebate going right now. Same one I used to buy mine. I got my winch through River City Off Road. They gave me 10% off plus I got the mail in rebate so for my VR8000-S I "saved" $175. If they were to give you the same 10% and you bought a VR8000 with the rebate you're getting a Warn for $375.
 
#18 ·
Quadratec Winch....... Great Quality and price!!
 
#25 ·
So just installed this smittybilt 9500 15 min ago, friggin cold out! On my buddy's tj (4wheel parts had grand opening 9500 for $249. So we had a lil winch off, ha ha. My ol beater badlands was faster noisier, and worked just fine after 5 yr as a brand new smittybilt.

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