[thewasel]

Anybody have some good experience or advice on winches? Obviously in the market on ANYTHING you will find cheap stuff and expensive stuff, but I'm still surprised by just how large a difference there is in the cost of a winch between the different brands.

For instance, state about the same capacity (10k lbs, 9.5k lbs)

Smittybuilt XRC10 - ~$400

Warn 9.5XP - ~$1,300

I'm all for buying quality product that won't fail when you need it, but is the extra $900 really getting you anything different?

 

[Ibuildembig]

Best advice I can give you is don't buy new, and buy Warn. The one I use on my crawler is a factory jeep winch off a 79 CJ7 and its only been apart one time for brakes.

 

[XtrmTJ]

WARN ! unk:

 

[JeepDiver]

If you buy a used warn will the company warranty still be in effect?

 

[Ibuildembig]

Man I dunno, I only buy one specific model that I know how to rebuild with my eyes closed.

 

[cavediverjc]

If you buy a used warn will the company warranty still be in effect?

Probably not, but the parts will be readily available. Plus, Warns very seldom need anything other than the occasional solenoid replacement. They're very durable and ARE worth the money if you plan to use the winch on a regular basis. If you can buy used, go for it. If you can't afford a new Warn, but you want a new winch, my advice is simple. Save. Then buy the Warn when you've saved enough. Simple home economics.

 

[oldgus]

Whatever you do don't buy Warn. Smittybilt is the best winch out there.

 

[Ibuildembig]

Whatever you do don't buy Warn. Smittybilt is the best winch out there.

They are indeed a stepup from a hand cranker off a boat

 

[whiteyj]

Whatever you do don't buy Warn. Smittybilt is the best winch out there.

......see you've already been into the eggnog.:flipoff:

 

[oldgus]

Sorry, but since I won my XRC8 in a drawing I must defend it to it's death. Which I predict will be sometime in April.

 

[Ted_D]

Warn has refurbed units. Most look like new and they come with the same warranty as a new one. Go Warn!

 

[Ted_D]

Sorry, but since I won my XRC8 in a drawing I must defend it to it's death. Which I predict will be sometime in April.

So your saying you won't be able to try it out till then

 

[oldgus]

I had a Warn 12K on my Power Wagon. It failed on the second pull which wasn't even a pull - it was a rewind. Got it fixed on warranty - something with the motor. But just goes to show ya - anything can fail.

 

[cavediverjc]

Sorry, but since I won my XRC8 in a drawing I must defend it to it's death. Which I predict will be sometime in April.

Hey, you can't beat FREE!

 

[oldgus]

So your saying you won't be able to try it out till then

Ha! Yep - that should be the first pull. Actually I plan to beat the living crap out of it to see if all the bad rep they get is true. JP tortured the XRC8 in their cheap winch shootout and they said it just kept on chugging along. We shall see!

 

[Ted_D]

was the motor made in Brazil on the 12k Warn? Was asking because I got a brand new (12K)one and it is clearly stamped in it. MADE IN BRAZIL

 

[oldgus]

was the motor made in Brazil on the 12k Warn? Was asking because I got a brand new (12K)one and it is clearly stamped in it. MADE IN BRAZIL

Not sure. It came with the 2005 PW. Never looked at it that close since it was pretty well tucked up under the bumper.

 

[thewasel]

Got it!

Ok I think I get the gist...I figured there had to be a reason you could buy 3 Smittys for the same as 1 WARN. It sounds like the best course would be to win a brand new non-Brazilian WARN for free. If that doesn't pan out, I could save my pennies and get a factory refurb. Are those factory refurbs available somewhere special or just right from WARN's website somewhere? Thanks all!

 

[Ted_D]

from warn direct

 

[computeruser]

Warn M8000 and a pulley. Problem solved - great winch, plenty of pulling capacity.