Winch recommendation?

wont use it much, just to have as a last resort

 

Good question. I have been curious about this as well.

 

@Subway4X4 gets stuck more than anyone I've ever seen and he recommends a smittybilt.

 

Got my Engo 10,000 lb synthetic line cheap on a group buy. It was something like $400 delivered.

 

I run a Warn VR12-S. Probably more capability than I will ever need, but I would rather have and not need then need and not have.

 

I used to always say Warn but, IIRC, they got bought out not too long ago and I don't know if they're still the same quality or not. If you always wheel with other people or don't plan to use it hard or often you can get away with a lower quality but if you are normally traveling solo or use it for other tasks I'd look at one of the better quality. A 4wd tow can cost you as much as a decent winch so it's worth it in my opinion.

Whatever you get, be sure that you buy the accessories to actually use it and most important- get some good instruction. I don't mean your local bubba or the mall crawler with an unused winch but someone who actually understands how to use it. A winch is a great tool but always remember it can also kill or injury you if not used correctly or if something lets lose. Warn has a downloadable pdf on their website, Ronny Dahl is another good source of info, and there are others. Here's a downloadable pdf of the older US Army FM20-22 Vehicle Recovery Operations which has some info in it as well: https://www.bits.de/NRANEU/others/amd-us-archive/Fm20-22%2862%29.pdf
Here the newer FM 4-30.31: https://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/files/misc/doctrine/CDG/cdg_resources/manuals/fm/fm4_30x31.pdf

 

I’ve got a smittybilt xrc 9500 gen 2 on a eBay sale paid like 300 for it. Has saved my arse and several others a few times. Great for the money no complaints cept pulling speed is a little slow.

When it goes belly up I’ll get a warn or milemarker.

 

Yes. My Smiittybilt 12k has never failed me yet. It has pulled my truck and many others in all kinds of crazy stucks in all kinds of crazy terrain.

The key is to always take care of your winch and line and it will always take care of you.

 

I just bought a Smittybilt 10k with synthetic line and remote for $450 on Amazon, waiting for SSO slimline bumper to install.

 

I'm running a Warn M8000S and it's been good to me.

 

Smittybuilt 10K. Pulls the truck over anything that I can't drive over.

 

My two choices for quality winches are both from Warn and I've had both of these winches on my last two Rock Crawlers

Warn XD 9000i 9k lbs winch

Warn 8274 8k lbs winch (older version - fast line speed)

 

+1 for smittybilt. Have used it several times in the past few years and it's definitely lived up to the waterproof rating. Recommend synthetic rope

 

Thats the exact one i had on my Jeep

 

@MattCowsmasher , I have the same one and did some serious upgrades on the size of the power cables but find it really groans and strains like it is just too anemic on certain rather mild or moderate pulls. I even cleaned out all the thick brown grease (is it really grease??) put in at the factory and replaced with some nice synthetic grease. Have you noticed the straining?

 

Yes I have I just chalked it up to be just smittybilt I’ve seen that on others just figured was the lesser quality parts compared to warn is all.

 

As I mentioned previously , when I look at winches the main selling point for me is fast line speed !!!

 

Warn 9.5 XP-S... Only nerds run anything else.

 

I'm on the nerdy side but my winch choice has nothing to do with that. That winch was not available when I bought mine and I wanted wire rope, not synthetic. Warn XD9000 on the current truck; Warn HS9500 on the last Tacoma, 8274 on the FJ-40. Still have the 8274 in the shed, selling the Cruiser was one of my biggest regrets.

 

You really like your winches. Why the wire over synthetic? Do you use it for work, or just recovery? I used mine pretty regularly pulling other people, but never needed it for myself until I got rid of the 4WD components for center mount.