What size winch?

First, I am posting this from my phone, I did search, but on the phone didn't see what I'm looking for, so please don't bash my thread if this has already been asked.

Ok, what I am trying to find out, what size winch would be best for my truck? I spoke with Southeast Overland via FB the other day and he said an 8,000 lb winch would be good for me, but if I could swing it, a 10,000 would be good as well. So, is a 8,000 OK?

I can get a smittybilt XRC-8 or a super winch LP8500 from 4 wheel parts for $285. Seems like either of these would be great, but again, are they big enough to pull me out? I don't do a lot if mud, mainly trails and sugar sand. I have a 2008 DCSB that's not built too much, lift, tires, and a few add ons.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

 

Bigger is always better!

 

Don't skimp on a winch.....and $285 for a winch just sounds unreliable and cheap. No offense...

Minimum 8000lbs.

We owned a Warn 9500i and never had any issues with it - and it was used hard for many years.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I am pretty confident with the smittybilt xrc, but want to research that super winch some more. For the same price and it pulls 8500 versus 800. Not sure if that's a huge difference in the situation or not, but maybe it's worth it.

And as for the warn winches, I would love to get one, but can't swing that kind of money. The reason I am even looking is I recently found a fun wheeling spot just down the street from my work, most of it I can handle with my 2wd, but there are parts that would be fun to play in that I have already gotten stuck once but had another truck there to pull me out.

 

I've heard good things about engo winches. They have good reviews and are fairly cheap. That's what I'm eventually going to get.

 

I will look into those as well, I have seen a few listed but wasn't sure.

 

Just found an Engo E9000 for $282, that's pretty darn good as well. I will look up the reviews for those as well.

 

For what it's worth, I ran a smittybilt XRC8. Out of the box you need to do some work to it, the first one I had I mounted to my bumper, never used it once and the contactor corroded, called Amazon and they sent me a brand new winch no questions asked, I decided to keep it and do my own work to it. I took the contactor apart and used a pretty good amount of silicone in and around any hole, sealed it real good, then re-applied more silicone. I was confident I could submerge it in water and it would be fine, I spliced the wiring and added in cab controls, all in all, with a little elbow work it was a good winch and I didn't spend over $300 (incl shipping), and the winch itself was submerged in mud and water maybe 10 times, the handle on it got stuck once but I used some channel locks to free it up and never gave me any more problems. Good luck.

 

I have an Engo winch, and it works great, used it twice so far pulling other people out. You can't go wrong for the money, and it performed extremely well in a field test comparison by 4 wheel magazine.

You should get a 10,000 pound to be safe. Winches only pull at their advertised strength at the first layer of cable, as the cable winds up and the layers on the drum increase, the pulling power decreases. Mind you, you're going to want a snatch block on hand anyhow, which doubles the power, but if you're only spending around $300 for like an Engo, be smart and get a 10k so you're covered with power in a number of situations. I'm not a pro, but that's my logic.

 

I am already planning in doing just that. Colin down here recommends that, not that I will submerge it, but being in Florida anything is possible. I was going to seal it up and he recommends something with redoing the grease.

Really liking the idea of the Engo E9000 right now, but if I can find a 10K for a reasonable price I will consider it.

Thanks guys even more great info.

 

Superwinch are as good as Warn. You can get and mount a LP 10,000lb for $350 easy.


Have one on my truck.

 

Actually, you just reminded me, I think the 9000 is the one I have.

As an example of what I was talking about though, my 9000 only pulls at 5000 on the 3rd or 4th layer of cable. Got mine from TruckAddOns for $285 shipped.

The Superwinch is definitely good for the money as well.