Colorado B.S. Thread

@SilverGhost got his truck going again?

 

I ran the Smittybilt at first on the Taco, didn't like it for that very reason, free spool didn't happen when it was cold.
Anyway, with the added weight of the camper, I felt that something bigger was needed. After comparing specs and cost, even with swapping out the steel cable for synthetic, I feel like this was a good option to try. And it's lighter than the equivalent Warn winch.
Worst case scenario, it sucks and I go a different route.
@teamhypoxia has had good luck with the one he has, and I think he would be vocal if it wasn't treating him right.

Reviews on it were only negative about two things..
It gets hot during a long pull...anything that draws excess of 400 amps will do that..
and the steel cable sucks, and it's short at only 65', which i wasn't planning on keeping anyway.

 

Not happy with the Coopers?

Get them siped and they will run circles around the Michelins. Imo.

 

So here it is.

and the HF approved mounting plate, which has been sitting in the side yard for a few years, afterthought for another project that never happened, got fresh coat of paint tonight.

 

They're not horrible, they're just not michelins.

Ride rougher.
Noisier.
Not as good on slick snow/ ice.
Terrible tread life.
Fortunately, the last is not such a major factor now that I have a four mile commute and haven't gotten out anywhere this year. Unfortunately, I can't bring myself to replace them with the proper tire until they're worn out. They won't make it to next winter though, I can guarantee that.
Got a set of 17s from @thefatkid a while back because the best tires in the world are still available in 33 on 17s.

 

all good, I know how that goes

 

17's are in the future for the next set of tires myself. Wouldn't mind the extra caliper clearance anyway.

 

They changed up the branding/ packaging.
I wonder if everything else is still the same?

 

nah, it's prolly new and improved...at least the box is.

 

I'm guessing you'll want to pull that cable tensioner off.
Shop guy at work bought one to mount on the fifth wheel trailer to winch dead trucks and equipment on to the trailer. The tensioner seemed kinda janky and obnoxious to me.

 

The confusing thing about 17s and 1st gens (and this might just me being retarded) is that it seems like you need wheel spacers to clear the UCA if you're running 12.5" wide tires. I can't find any 17s that are 3.75-4" BS

 

yep. Tensioner, wire rope, roller fairlead, going in the free for who wants it bin.
Prolly keep the hook, because that's how I roll.

 

you might. The 17x9's are supposed to pull the tire out a bit, but i have no experience with the 12.5" tires. The 285/75-17's clear, but not by a whole lot. Wouldn't want to run chains on the front if that gives you any idea. They would clear on a mild roll, but spinning during snowbashing might be an issue.

 

It has a horribly slow line speed as well having seen Eric's in use.

 

I read somewhere that people are going to 50ft winch lines vs 100ft since you can get a better pull from the winch with less wraps on it. And then just use extensions for further pulls when needed.

I didn't research the free spool thing until after it was mounted on the trailer, but people open it up and change out the grease and then have no issue. But it was kinda a pain to install, and i don't have much drive to pull it just for that.

 

it does. The Cherokee I had for a few years had the HF 9K winch on it, and i remember wondering if was even moving during a pull. But it did get the job done.
In the end, if it gets you unstuck, does it matter how fast? maybe if a bunch of mountain lions in crevasses are stalking you while the Michelins are spinning, then I could see speed being a factor..

 

and they're still $90+ bucks a piece, the cheapest alloys are about that from Discount too lol

 

the guy that bought my jeep quoted me about $115 ea for racelines at cost

 

Agreed. Not a huge deal at the end of the day. Eric will be in here soon anyways claiming you can get more exactly control given the slower speed.

My experience has been that you need a winch for a few feet, and then have to wind in 50' of line. You'll be there for a few minutes waiting for that horrible freight unit to spool up. Worth paying quadruple just for some more line speed? Probably not.

I just bought that superwinch to have something I can (hopefully) rely on for many years to come. My shittybilt has been questions for a while now, I always wonder if it's going to fail right when I need it.

 

I've wanted to try the superwinch, just so i could test it out a little after already having the smitty. But smitty was cheaper.

And the last time i tried a comparable item just for the heck of it...it didn't last long... Only one week with k02s before i replaced them with duratracs.
Thankfully discount tire is awesome and let me swap them out without issue.