Let's talk Winches

[wfo9]

My bumper should be here next week and I'll probably go ahead and put a winch on it and be done with it.....

I've got an old smittybuilt winch on my trail rig. To my surprise, it works amazingly well and has never let me down. However, I don't think the newer smittybuilts are near as good. They look really cheap and flimsy.

I'm considering an Engo EPF 10000S for the 4r. It looks identical to my old smittybuilt. But there is that voice in the back of my head that says just get a WARN (high end model) and do it right.

The Engo is roughly 500 where a good WARN would be 1400. That is almost 3x the price and that hardly seems worth it. I do like the fact that Warren makes it easy to get replacement parts, is USA made.... but not sure that is worth 3x the price...

Thoughts?

 

[TheWraith]

My bumper should be here next week and I'll probably go ahead and put a winch on it and be done with it.....

I've got an old smittybuilt winch on my trail rig. To my surprise, it works amazingly well and has never let me down. However, I don't think the newer smittybuilts are near as good. They look really cheap and flimsy.

I'm considering an Engo EPF 10000S for the 4r. It looks identical to my old smittybuilt. But there is that voice in the back of my head that says just get a Warren (high end model) and do it right.

The Engo is roughly 500 where a good Warren would be 1400. That is almost 3x the price and that hardly seems worth it. I do like the fact that Warren makes it easy to get replacement parts, is USA made.... but not sure that is worth 3x the price...

Thoughts?

just a question ...

why not consider a WARN winches...

 

[littlezavasaurus]

My bumper should be here next week and I'll probably go ahead and put a winch on it and be done with it.....

I've got an old smittybuilt winch on my trail rig. To my surprise, it works amazingly well and has never let me down. However, I don't think the newer smittybuilts are near as good. They look really cheap and flimsy.

I'm considering an Engo EPF 10000S for the 4r. It looks identical to my old smittybuilt. But there is that voice in the back of my head that says just get a Warren (high end model) and do it right.

The Engo is roughly 500 where a good Warren would be 1400. That is almost 3x the price and that hardly seems worth it. I do like the fact that Warren makes it easy to get replacement parts, is USA made.... but not sure that is worth 3x the price...

Thoughts?

for what it's worth, I have bought a newer smittybuilt (xrc 9k) in april and so far I haven't had any issues with it

 

[jrandom]

Guess it really depends on:
How much are you going to use it?
Do you have the extra money to spend on it?

You can replace three for the price of one, but if the one breaks/fails when you really need it who cares? Right? Anyway chance of failure is anybodies guess, really though apart from breaking a cable/hook, seems not too likely.

For what it's worth. I really wanted to pick a Warn Zeon, I had the money, I just couldn't make myself do it, bought a imported Superwinch Talon 12.5k instead for $725 (wire rope) on sale. The thing is ridiculous. I haven't put it under any serious loads yet, it has pulled me out of a sloppy deep mud pit, and a few other medium tugs and the thing doesn't even stress. Wicked fast spooler too, it is almost scary.

 

[Dark Lord]

I bought a Warn M8000-S for my Demello bumper if that helps. I haven't used it yet, but I did my research prior. My only concern was the weight rating is pretty close to 1.5x the vehicle. I figured if I ever needed a 9000 or a 10000 where an 8000 wouldn't pull me out, I'd probably need a snatchblock anyway. The price to go from a non-VR Warn M8000 to one higher was too big to justify for my price range so I went with the M8000-S.

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[internski]

My Warn 9.5ti has yet to let me down. Their customer service is outstanding too.


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[04rnr]

My Warn 9.5ti has yet to let me down. Their customer service is outstanding too.


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I cant agree more... Great quality and Great customer service... Warn is more than proven IMHO.

 

[wfo9]

just a question ...

why not consider a WARN winches...

LOL. corrected... Sometimes I just type and don't think.

 

[Okki]

Just got a Zeon 10S. Now just need a reason to use it!:naughty:

Okki

 

[wfo9]

I'm leaning hard towards the engo at this point. It has really good reviews. The WARNs are great and all, but I would rather spend that 1k on something I will use on a daily basis. The winch will rarely be used. In fact, I'm still contemplating installing one at all.

I've never once had to recover myself with a winch and I've wheeled quite a bit. I have been pulled out of mud a few times here and there, but it seems that self recovery points are somewhat rare. I mainly use my winch to recover others or simply keep them from flopping in a bad spot.

I wanted a bumper on the 4r where the winch could be added/removed without too much trouble. The one I've got coming looks like it will be pretty easy, but I won't know for sure until I have it in my hands and installed....

 

[JSparky]

I've got a warn zeon 12 for my land cruiser. I'm getting a come up for the 4runner, basic with steel rope simply cause I didn't want to drop another 1k on a warn. Sierra Exp has them for like $660 and free shipping.

 

[Titanpat57]

When I finally pull the trigger on a bumper I'm going to throw an Engo in there. The only thing I'll do different to take the synthetic line it comes with and use that as an extension...and put good stuff on it from Southeast Overland.

I'm not convinced the higher priced winches are any better.

 

[wfo9]

I've got a warn zeon 12 for my land cruiser. I'm getting a come up for the 4runner, basic with steel rope simply cause I didn't want to drop another 1k on a warn. Sierra Exp has them for like $660 and free shipping.

I wanted to take a look at the come up winches.. I just cant deal with steel cable again after experiencing the joys of synthetic....

 

[LawnDart]

Warn. Full stop.

I have a Zeon 8S. I'm considering going to the 10 platinum.

 

[wcjeep]

Warn is currently having a sale on their lower end line of winches.

 

[Spaulding Metals]

Anyone try the Warn 9.0rc? I like the idea of keeping the weight down as much as possible. I got the Pelfrey hidden winch mount and thought this would work well together. But any advice would be great. I am new to off-roading.

 

[wfo9]

Warn is currently having a sale on their lower end line of winches.

I've heard they are junk, but no first hand experience... The jeep guys don't like them at all, but who knows what the real story is.

 

[wfo9]

Anyone try the Warn 9.0rc? I like the idea of keeping the weight down as much as possible. I got the Pelfrey hidden winch mount and thought this would work well together. But any advice would be great. I am new to off-roading.

I think that is the same wight as the engo 9k. I know the engo is 49lbs with no line. The "rock crawling" winches usually don't hold much line (maybe 50ft). They are smaller overall...

 

[comtn4x4]

I have a Warn VR10000-S, Has done great for me. It was $850 and there was a $100 mail in rebate. They seem to have a rebate every quarter if I remember correctly

 

[fattire]

[MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION] I have the Engo 10000S. I haven't had to use it very much but it has worked very well. You already know how to install it too ;-).


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