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Best winch for the money?

23K views 36 replies 21 participants last post by  Moabrubi 
#1 ·
Hello, I drive a 97' Tj 4.0 sahara, and my build is coming to the point where it is time for a winch. I'm in the market for a winch now and I've seen everything from warn to the harbor freight badlands winch. Any suggestions as to what you think the best one is in your opinion? I don't do any crazy hard wheeling just every now and again, mostly need it as a safety for the "just in case" anything goes south, and I would prefer it not fail in those "just in case situations as I've heard many winches do. I've been looking at the quadratec q9500 or the engo e9500, something between 300-400$ any suggestions? all help is appreciated thank you!!!
 
#5 ·
X3 on Warn. I bought my first Warn, the HS9500i, 17 years ago and when that Jeep and winch was stolen 6 years ago, I bought the Warn 9.5xp. Mine gets used regularly, probably a 15-16 times in the past 6 weeks alone (3 rock crawling trips) and never a problem. The brands you mentioned are all imported from China. Of Warn's Jeep size winches, only their VR series is imported from China. The rest of them are US made in Oregon.
 
#6 ·
I would prefer it not fail in those "just in case" situations as I've heard many winches do. I've been looking at the quadratec q9500 or the engo e9500, something between 300-400$ any suggestions?
For any Jeeper on a tight budget, my recommendation is simple: the Warn M8000. This is the 'least' of their Premium Series winches, but do not be fooled--the M8000 has a very thorough reputation for rugged, dependable performance. Yes, there are better winches for even more money... but for most of us, the M8000 will perfectly suit our needs.

The M8000 typically sells for about $600 shipped. (This is $100 more than Warn's lesser VR8000 model, but skip that and stick with the M8000 instead.) You say your current budget is about $400. My best advice? Save up another $200 and then buy the M8000. If you cheap out and buy a Brand X $400 winch now, when it craps out on you you'll have to start all over and buy the $600 Warn... which means you'll have spent $1000 in total. Do it right the first time.

Buying it cheap means buying it twice.
 
#8 ·
Warn M8000 all the way. Be a smart shopper on CL and you can find one for under $400. You CANT beat the service from the good ole Warn boys from Oregon. Ive needed help a couple different times and they have always had answers/ help. Great company. Have always sent me some swag also
 
#19 ·
For purposes of this conversation, definitely go with steel. If you're on a budget, you're far better off buying a high quality winch with steel line than you are buying a cheaper winch with synthetic rope. Fancy synthetic rope won't pull you out of a bind if the winch itself won't operate.

Besides, you could always upgrade the steel line to synthetic rope in the future.
 
#24 ·
Not to hyjack the thread but I fell of my chair reading this one! It reminded me when I worked in an auto parts store and some guy came in and asked for rear break shoes for a Ford. I asked him what model and he said 'A big one'. So I asked him what color, he said 'Brown'. I told him we don't sell parts for brown cars.

Ok - back to the tread -

Take a look at ENGO. I am surprised nobody called that out yet. There is a vendor on here 'Allen's Offroad' (Userid= AOR). He gave me a great price and free shipping. I bolted the 10000S to my LJ.

BTW - the winch came in very handy, and worked without a flaw this weekend when I had the pleasure of pulling out a 2 week old JK sunk in a watery mud hole!
 
#27 ·
Rolling weight on a hard packed surface is not much. That's how/why we mere humans can push our Jeeps around when needed. Which is also why some less worthy winches do ok on many pulls because, frankly, not many situations many winch their jeeps in are very demanding at all.
 
#28 ·
I fried my smittybilt 10k pound winch this winter pulling subarus out of snow banks that they slid into. That winch has seen some decent pulls out of deep mud holes, so I probably got my money's worth out of it.
I replaced it with a Warn M8000 though, because I'm not going through a winch failure again. Do not cheap out on something that can potentially save your jeep and your life.
 
#29 ·
Best winch for the money (as the original poster asked) is IMO, the Engo. $400.00 with synthetic line (give or take) for a E9000. I have run this winch for 3 years now and pulled many jeeps and rockcrawlers up obstacles they couldn't do without issues at all. I don't make a big deal out of it because frankly it ALWAYS turns into a pissin match with the Warn guys. If you can afford to spend twice as much for a Warn, buy it.
<< this guy is happy with his Engo and as long as it makes me happy, I really don't care what anybody else runs.
 
#31 ·
Many are happy with their cheap Chinese winches, and that's great.
I was happy with my new Smitty for a couple years, until it died.
I was also happy a friend sold me his old Warn XD9000i off a Jeep he sold. Good timing!
I am not happy that I could of bought a new Warn for what I paid for my used one, plus the $300 I wasted going cheap.
I am happy that the old Warn is so much faster and quieter than the Smitty, and doesn't sound like it has gravel inside it....like most cheap winches I have heard.
Buy what you want, but be happy.
 
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