Winch??? Which brand???

Hey guys so im looking to get a winch and am kind of a tight ass with my money with being a college student and all so im trying to get something reasonable. I am trying to decide if i should pull the trigger on the xrc8 or suck it up and wait till i can afford the m8000. I have read that both are good but kinda need some one to push me per say.

I do a lot of wheeling in the summer and mild in the winter but have only had the need for a winch once so far. So i guess my question is... is the xrc8 alright to get to fulfill my needs? or is there maybe another brand that's not as expensive as warn out there that is a better choice than SB?

Thanks in advance for all your help... Im tired of reading through the forums. lol

 

I personally bought the m8000, but from what I've read the xrc8 is a good winch for the price. IIRC the xrc8 is a brand made by warn.

 

I'm getting the xrc8

Smittybilt 98281 XRC-8 Comp-Series 8000 lbs Winch

http://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-98...TF8&coliid=I1MKMA6AOAGML1&colid=2P2CZGZVGKJBO i should of bought the dam thing 2 weeks ago when it was $389.99 hopefully the price drops again.

 

I would go with the smittybilt xrc8. It won 4 wheelers part of the year in 09 and you can get it for $300 with free shipping almost anywhere. There is a promo code if you search the forums for 10% so that would make it like $270 with free shipping. Not a bad deal. I ordered one from there, can't wait to get it.

 

If you like anything about the more expensive one that the cheaper one doesn't have then just wait. Get the one you really like.

 

Xrc seems to work well for people but you may need to weather seal the solenoid.

 

warren fo show

 

You're from Oregon... Buy local, Go Warn! Warn is a much more reliable winch than the smitty's, if you go smitty you will need to weatherize the solenoid due to the rainy weather and it will rust up pretty fast!

 

Thanks all.... The only reason i have considered the warn is because of its rep. Over the past year or so ive read forum after forum and i hear good things about the xrc8 but as with any big purchase i want to make sure first.

Ill probably end up getting xrc8 for my tacoma then later on buy the warn power plant for my scout II (once i find the briefcase full of money with my name on it). But thanks again for all your input.

Next question.... Wire or Rope? I would like to go with rope because i have heard and read great things about it and it is less of a pita than cable and can hold a little more of it. Whats your thoughts?

 

Synthetic rope would be my first choice it's safer and just a strong as cable and it weighs less.

 

Rope is lighter, less dangerous.

Wire is more heat and abrasion resistant.

If you're "powering out" using the winch brake to lower down a hill you want wire.

Some folks would say that's improper technique and you shouldn't be doing that at all.

 

Warn... M8000. Mine's been to living hell and back several times. I didn't maintenance it in over 2 years, it was swamped at least 50 times+ in water mud and shit. It's been ran underwater NUMEROUS times. And after a good cleaning and regreasing, it works perfect.

Warn M8000 IMO. Can't go wrong.

 

I love my XRC 8 with Synthetic rope. I have had it over 3 years & bet I have used it over 100 times. But I just got a Warn XD9000 & I love it to. But the Warn is $$$.
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Hmmmm well im probably gunna go with the xrc8 but looking around it looks like there is a 4.1hp and a 5.5hp xrc8. If this is the case then is there a big difference between the two?... hp wise?

 

Get one or two Snatch Blocks & you will be happy with the XRC8!

 

Lifting the back of a Ford F550 with my XRC8 winch. "Don't try this at home"

 

xrc8 is a smitty bilt winch and i had a lot of problem with on a sami i built its good for 5 secs at a time but then will get hot when u use it to winch u up hills and rocks and my rig only was like 2800 lbs i use a ramsey 8000 on my taco front and rear and love it its fast and not that much money for what u get

 

you are using a snatch block right that will help alot

 

Yes! A Good Snatch Block helps!