Official Tennessee Thread

Levi and Snowy have em I think.

 

The smittybilt or engo?
@Robertocritser @Snowy

 

Engo

 

Never seen a problem with either winch. I have Smitty. Both those guys have had their Engos for a while.
Also been told Engo has awesome customer service

 

Sounds worth looking at. I'd rather have a cheap winch that works than an expensive bumper ornament that also works.

 

I don't think you can go wrong, they probably come out of the same factory in China. I've had great luck with my Engo personally. Love the syn line, downside is that its slow and noisy...but I'll be damned if it doesn't work every time I need it.

 

100% reliability right there

 

I like mine. It's a bit slow but hasn't ever let me down. Plus customer service is amazing (lost/broken a few remotes) and they always get things taken care of right then and shipped out.

 

I have this winch.

 

Also I renewed my amsoil account so if anyone needs any kind of fluid from them PM me and I'll give you my account to save you 25%

 

If it works it works and better than having nothing at all!

 

Don't care about this.^^^ Every single thing about my truck is slow. Ha!

What I'm looking for. ^^^

 

that's my thinking.

 

From what I've read and from experience, Warn and Smittybilt have the best warranty. Not a lot out there that I could find on Engo other than what a few owners have said. Warn has the highest customer satisfaction rating, albeit with the highest retail price. They now have a lower price range model line (VR series) I own 2 of them.
(Haven't used to one on my FJ yet) Reliability is pretty strong with all of the name brands. Where it is most important is if you do some exploring as a single vehicle. Not a time to be having a breakdown. I've owned 5 Warns over the years. One had a solenoid go bad. Warn sent me the set of all 4. No questions asked. I hear positives on the Smittybilt warranty. I was looking at buying something that I wouldn't need a warranty. So I paid more. Just not "double" like some people will tell you. Same weight class Smittybilt was only $175 less at the time I bought my last one.

A buddy has 2 of the Harbor Freight winches. He hasn't had what you would call outstanding luck with either. A friend recently bought one from Tractor Supply. It went on a trailer....and snapped in 2 first hard pull.

So rate your primary needs and then pick. Does "cheap" win over reliability? Or is this enough of an investment you want top tier quality.

 

Why is this just now a thing? Could've used this before

 

Meh, I don't buy into the warn hype.. I have a couple of friends that have hand a handful of issues requiring expensive repairs on their Warns (Drum brakes, motor rewinds, etc). A few of my friends just run the Harbor Freight Badlands winch with success too.

Lord knows we've needed them from time to time....

 

I dont consider it hype. Facts speak for themselves. They are spec-ed for fire service and military use where lives are at risk. You wont find cheaper consumer grade winches with that on their resume'. I've used the hell out of 3 of them. Newest one hasnt been used yet, but wont sit idle for long. The one on my Tacoma is starting to tally quite a bit of use. Had one on a gooseneck trailer that dragged literally thousands of dead farm tractors out of the mu and onto the trailer. 40+ years of background with a total of 5 of them. Never once had a problem other than a simple solenoid failing. That got replaced free of charge with a simple phone call. Never known of anyone NOT getting repairs not covered under warranty (free) once they contacted Warn. Free isnt expensive. Lifetime free warranty is a tough act to beat.

I saw 2 different badlands self destruct. Ended up in a dumpster. Even Harbor Freight gave up and quit selling them.

 

You sure? Also, the Ram that was with us @Wildchilds74 in RRG last year has HF Badlands front and rear. Neither winch or steel line failed recovering Cody or myself in that clusterF ditch.

 

Old stock. Once they're gone.....no more. A friend just took another destroyed Badlands winch off his XJ back to HF for replacement last week. Louisville stores dont have them any more. They're being Replaced with a different brand of throw-away winch. He's killed 4 or 5 of em in 3 years. 2 had the casting bust wide open under load.

Pulling 2 vehicles out of a slick spot NEITHER should have been stuck in the first place isnt exactly the ultimate test. Remember....everyone else just drove through the same EXACT spot....without any trouble. I'm still trying to figure out how you 2 made it that difficult to get out, muchless how you got stuck in the first place.

A winch is a winch.....for a few easy pulls. Torture them a long while and see what happens.
I'll stick with quality that I can rely on. Not into generic/cheap if I can avoid it.

 

Anyone have an old 255/80-17 tire that's good enough to use as a spare?

I'm assuming that size would work better on factory spare rim and tuck up better than a 285.