Winches: What do you run and why?

Trying to get an idea on what you all are using for winches on your 2nd gens?

What did you choose and why? I am looking into a winch purchase and trying to narrow down my choices. Use will be light trail duty and recovery. Nothing extreme, but getting stuck in deep snow this last winter made me wish I had a winch.

 

HF 9000
and
HF12000

Second is tricky because wire is so thick you can easly have problems pulling. I need to figure out way to make more room

Oh did i say they are cheap

 

Warn M8000.

Warn is reliable is as reliable as they get, reasonably priced, and the M8000 has plenty of pulling power for our trucks. I've used it a couple of times and it pulls our trucks just fine without any strain at all.

 

XRC8, less than $300, just takes some elbow grease to keep her going strong.

 

If I could go back I would have waited to get an m8000 on the GB they had going on here.

 

X2 M8000s here.

I had a smittybuilt XRC8 and it shorted out in the middle of a pull and wouldn't stop pulling I had to cut the winch line and disconnect it from power to make it stop I will never run another smittybuilt winch. The same thing happened to a buddy of mine he didn't have Synthetic line so it caved in his AllPro bumper before stopping.

 

Winches are the last place you want to be cheap. Get a WARN or Superwinch.

 

xrc8 with sealed solenoid, effective and cheap

Solenoids can stick on anything, but the xrc8 solenoids are prone to letting in water through the gasket causing corrosion and possibly sticking. That's why I sealed mine up with RTV silicone. Have been using it a couple years now, plenty of pulls, no issues, no complaints. Tore apart the housing and re-packed it with good grease and sealed it up as well.

I'd go superwinch hands down if I could afford it though.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I had been leaning towards Warn, but wanted to know about other options. Sounds like an M8000 most likely.

 

X3 on a WARN M8000. Pulled a tundra and rolled a tacoma back up onto it's wheels so far. Fires up every time and, well, just works.

Rating is more than sufficient for our rigs and then some.

 

Warn only

Ever



Currently running a 9000

 

Warn is top end. If you can afford it and you are mechanically not inclined. Best way to go. The rest of us has to survive with cheap ones.

 

I'll be looking at price, amp draw, and line speed when I replace my xrc8. More than likely I'll go superwinch.

 

I'm curious, why do you say this?

 

I use a Warn M8000 as well. I've done close to a dozen pulls and it has worked flawlessly everytime, plenty of power too. IMO, recovery gear is not something you want to skimp out on.

 

Cheap winches require constant maintenance to keep them running. fresh grease, waterproofing etc more work. Warn will work every time its good quality. Cheap winch you gonna have to take a part more then once. So people who constantly tinker with things and have tools around they can handle added headache with cheap winches. Those who dont want to touch things should probably go with Warn which is serviceable by most of off road shops.

EDIT: I see what I did it should be not inclined.

 

Uh, the M-series is actually cheaper than a lot of 'off' brands.

Also, TJM is legit as well.

 

I got HF 9000 for $240 can't beat that

 

Xrc10 with synthetic rope on the tacoma

Warn 8000 with synthetic rope on the crawler

 

XRC series is actually TMax. Found TMax stamped on the inside of my xrc when I had everything pulled apart to clock the lever. I have pics if anyone wants to see