Help me decide Smittybuilt or HF Apex winch

So I’m in a dilemma and want some thoughts from the forum. I have a guy local to me with a Smitty bilt X2o comp he’s willing to let me get for 480 I believe I might be able to get it for 460 but not likely. The Harbor Freight Apex is like 500 and I have a 20 percent off coupon which puts it at 480. SB is 10k pilling and the Apex is 12k. My brain says jump on the SB because it’s a SB but the other part of my brain says HF Apex because it pulls more. Just some comments on those that own either or and thoughts about it. Thanks!

 

I’ve had my 12,000 lb HF winch on my truck for like 3 years, don’t use it a lot, but it has never fail me.
$289 when I purchased it, well worth that money.

 

That’s the steel line right? This one I’m asking is synthetic. I’m most worried about if I buy from a person I have no recourse if it fails. If I buy from HF and get a warranty then I can return with no issues.

 

This was pulled out with a Smittybilt by @eccracer104

That’s pretty impressive.

 

Haha holy fuck is an understatement I was reading a review on Amazon and dude has been updating his review for three years every few months and he’s been pulling trees and what not all the way to the max pull amount with zero issues so I may just jump on it

 

Both are made in China. Who knows, maybe in the same factory. IMO for most people the Chinese built winches are good enough. If I made my living winching stuff all day long for work I'd spend the cash for something better. I put a Smittybilt on my F150 but know lots of local farmers etc., that use the HF winches. They are all happy with them.

For what I do it wasn't worth $100+ for synthetic rope over steel cable.

 

Unfortunately I have a bumper that only accepts the Hawse so I can’t put rollers on or I would already have a steel cable

 

20% off 500 is 100.00

 

I never said I was good at math lol

 

Sorry I was just in there actually and it’s 600 so that’s 480 right?

 

You can buy the warn hawse that is for steel cables. It's like $30.

 

Dang I didn't know that thanks!

 

https://www.montanajacks.com/products/warn-97900-hawse-fairlead-for-vr-series-winches-cast-iron

Here's one on ebay for $32
https://www.ebay.com/p/28017018999?...ZsuKkFDdv_GlQo4Ro_i3x1MwvnG4LSWBoCRAcQAvD_BwE

 

It's a hefty piece of equipment but it works really well.

That said when I switched to aluminum fairlead and syn line I shaved off almost 30 lbs up front. Synthetic is also a lot safer and easier to handle/carry about on the trail. Personally, I'll never switch back to steel.

 

My smittybilt XRC has worked very well for me over the past couple of years. I dont "use" it a ton, but I do run it out and spool it back in under a small load every month like they say to. I think that helps a lot.

You can buy the fanciest named winch out there, but it if sits for 2 years on the front of your truck, its still a gamble if it will work right when you need it

 

You also need to decide if you really need a winch or just getting it for looks because as @SR-71A said he doesn’t use his a whole lot. Mine in the 6 plus years I had one got used once to pull a dead tree down in my back yard. All the other times was to unspool clean and respool. What I did use a ton was recovery tracks.

 

Traction boards FTW! Though I will say, those few times I did need to pull myself out, I was sure happy to have it. Middle of the woods, winter, ~30 miles from cell service. Woulda been a long weekend haha