Winches: real world experience with cheap winches

I have virtually the same winch as the first post, X-Bull 9500lbs synthetic. Install was a breeze and at $369 CAD ($295 USD), it was a steal. Yes everything works and its not complete crap, but only time will tell if it'll hold up. For the amount of time I would use my winch (In fact I hope I don't have to use it hah), it's not worth it to me to shell out double the money for a "brandname" winch built in China lol.


Edit: went out on the weekend and got stuck, sat right on the frame. Winch got me out...both times lol

 

Ended up getting the vr8s mounted at long last - I had been waiting on the receiver from etrailer forever (6 weeks!)

I wired the winch leads to an Anderson connector, and ran leads from the battery to an Anderson connector that will live under the front bumper. I used a blue sea locking battery cut off switch (the only option in stock when I ordered) to act as an interrupt when the winch isn't mounted (which will be most of the time). I made a simple mounting plate from a piece of aluminum I had a use for years ago and never threw away, it ended up working out really nicely with minimal effort -painted it with paint I had left over after I modified my DR650's frame.

Tested the winch, and it works! Didn't load it up, just jogged the line in and out 20 ft or so.

I also tested the battery cutoff switch, and indeed, no power to my Anderson connector in the off position. I have the leads for the rear, but I haven't yet installed them, but I'll make sure they are installed before the first time I hit the trail, because if I don't, then surely I will end up stuck and needing it ear mounted...I opted to buy the rough country kit to make things easier (plus I got a wicked deal on fourth of July), FYI.

All in all, I ended up spending a lot more that I wanted to, but I do have more confidence in this equipment, and for something that should be your last resort, that makes a difference in my book.

 

Or you can buy the extend warranty from HF

 

The only real reason I like and use Warn Winches for 40 plus years is before the China Flu I could get any part I needed in a Few days

Being so many different China Built Winches with questionable quality control once out of warranty your pretty much done.

Then with the price most are throw away when it breaks.

 

Electric winches are useful and really convenient, but limited if you need to use one to upright a vehicle on a narrow trail if you can’t get a straight angle to it, or anchor and use a block to pull it from the side, or pull yourself backwards (unless it’s a receiver mounted one). I had a receiver mounted winch, but sold it after seeing what a good hand winch like a GripHoist can really do. We used one in a auto extrication class I took for my EMT training to turn a car over and rip off its doors and roof. So I bought a 4-ton Griphoist with 30-ft of cable, two 20-ft tow straps, and a 6-ton Pul-pal anchor.

I can now winch from either end or any side position of a vehicle without electric power, nor having to even use another vehicle, tree or rock as an anchor. Hopefully I’ll never have to use it at an accident scene, but it certainly will be helpful in other ways. The only drawback is having to put in a little muscle to use it, but the usability and adaptive factor for all types of uses is worth it.

 

so you can use this GripHoist to move a vehicle without an anchor?

Can you do me an MS paint of how that works?

 

I wrote that you don’t need a tree or a rock as an anchor, that’s what the pull-pal is for. Or you can dig a trench and bury your spare tire in it sideways.

 

No single tool does it all. My recovery gear includes Hi Lift, 3 ton come a long, winch, pioneer tools, straps,chains, Danforth anchor and a whole host of littler stuff. But the best tool is my brain.

 

so just like with an electric or hydraulic winch. Why mention it as if it's unique to GripHoist?

 

I wrote “after seeing what a good hand winch like a GripHoist can really do”. I only mentioned Griphoist as an example of a good manual winch, but there are several other types that can do the same.

My main point was that a permanently front bumper mounted electric winch is limited in the direction you can pull from one anchor point on the front of a vehicle unless you have a block with a secondary anchor for an angled pull, or 3 blocks and are lucky enough to have 3 good secondary anchor points (or 3 portable anchors) to rig a angled reverse pull.

An electric winch on a receiver hitch mount is much more adaptable as you can pull from two anchor points on the vehicle; front or rear. And a high capacity hand winch can pull a vehicle in any direction and from numerous anchor points on the vehicle along the frame sides and bumpers. It can also be used without a vehicle at all, so it allows you the most flexibility. They’re slow and require manual effort though, the main tradeoff of them compared to electric winches.

The most flexible setup would be having a receiver plate mounted winch and a manual one, but talk about weight to carry around! If you want high front clearance, use a hidden receiver for that. If you want or already have a permanent front mounted electric winch, a couple blocks and at least one portable anchor or deadman, and a manual winch for rear and side pulls is a good option as well.

 

I’ve been a die hard warn guy. I have one on my jeep but I haven’t upgraded my Tacoma to that point yet.

I impulse bought a Travellers winch from tractor supply for my ATV. In the back of my mind I was waiting for it to fail but dozens of pulls later it’s been solid and reliable.

So I’m conflicted. I want to say buy quality because you could need it in a serious situation but the inexpensive winch has been solid for years and had gotten way more use. I’ve seen tons of people use badlands winches with success too.

I will echo what others have said. Recovery is a system and a winch is just one piece of that system.

Power straps, tow straps, traction boards, shovel, axes, shackles and a winch all have their place. Sometimes it’s better to use a strap than a winch. It’s always good to have options and back ups.


If you have the money buy a warn if you don’t research which one has the best track record, water/weather proof, metal gears, etc and buy it mount it and get after them trails!

 

Just got back from the Lost Coast, 4 nights of rustic camping and off-roading with my wife, dog, and newborn son. Didn't end up using the winch, but overall very happy with the set up. I have a blue sea locked switch controlling power to a set of leads to Anderson plug up front, and then a long set of leads that run from Anderson plug to Anderson plug front and rear for the rear power. The only thing that has left me wanting is the Winch mount itself, which because of the low slung front receiver, rides the winch pretty low and reduces my entry angle over stock. It never scraped it even in some pretty deep ruts and g-outs, but for some upcoming family camping trips, I'll want the ground clearance back (and would prefer to travel with the winch mounted rather than buried under piles of baby gear in the bed under my softopper, haha). Next step will be to fabricate my own winch receiver mount, my plan is to have it raise up about 6-8" or so

 

When I was thru Hurricane, UT this summer I discovered that Winder Towing (YT: Matt’s Off Road Recovery) uses a hitch-mounted Badlands 12k.

If it is good enough for a pro, I suspect that I will be happy.

 

They also have a badlands apex winches on Both of the XJ Jeeps and the custom corvair wagon. I messaged them about the apex and they said the winches have been working great.

I couldn’t find a bad review on the Badlands Apex 12k. Just 2 cases where the mounts on the bumper twisted or broke which twisted the winch.

So I picked an Apex up and it’s been great.