Warn M8000 vs VR8000-S

AZ_Trails

AZ_Trails

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Need your guys' opinions on winches. This past weekend, I found a sweet Amazon Warehouse deal for a Warn M8000 with wire rope for $450 out the door. My package came today, but looks like they had the item description wrong and I ended up getting a Warn VR8000-S, which has synthetic line.

I originally wanted the M8000 due to its reputation, and wanted to switch to synthetic line down the road. I'm not too convinced on the VR, since it's their entry level winch. The synthetic rope has gotten me confused now, since Warn normally charges like $300 for it.

So what do I do? Do I return the winch and hold out for another deal on an M8000, or is the VR8000-S good enough and a great deal for only $450?

Edit: I haven't yet contacted Amazon, so I'm not sure what they will say.
 
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I'm certainly no expert, but did quite a bit of research before purchasing the M8000 recently based on its long term proven reliability and performance. I'm not sure what makes the VR series "entry level" but I'm guessing the parts might be made in China and assembled in US (or something similar to keep the price down). Unless you plan on winching every other weekend I would imagine that would be just fine and you may have got the VR synthetic at the cable price.

Check the Warn website for current promotions. I got the free accessory kit with recovery strap, snatch block, tree saver, 2 shackles, gloves, and a nice carry bag that I'm really pleased with. They also offer cash back deals too and it doesn't matter where you purchased it as long as they are a Warn reseller. However, I do not believe the VR series qualified but the M series did so that might help you decide.

I think you're a winner either way, I will be installing my M8000 this weekend but very impressed with the quality after examining it so I hope they kept the same standards for the VR. Good luck.
 
I bought an M8000 from Amazon about 3 years ago for about that price. It is great quality, though about all I've used it for is moving fallen trees on the trail.

I'd contact Amazon. If the listing said M8000 that's what you should get. They are good about fixing mistakes. You probably won't even have to pay return shipping.
 
98OzarksRunner said:
I bought an M8000 from Amazon about 3 years ago for about that price. It is great quality, though about all I've used it for is moving fallen trees on the trail.

I'd contact Amazon. If the listing said M8000 that's what you should get. They are good about fixing mistakes. You probably won't even have to pay return shipping.
Click to expand...

You're right about that, I have used Amazon Prime for many, many orders and the few that had a mistake they were fantastic about making it right.
 
GVL said:
You're right about that, I have used Amazon Prime for many, many orders and the few that had a mistake they were fantastic about making it right.
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it might depend on who actually sold it. amazon is a marketplace similar to ebay. some stuff comes from amazon, but a lot comes from independent vendors.

if it was sold directly from amazon, the chance of them fixing it without hassle is very high.

still, I would contact them and see what they say.
 
Be careful buying stuff from Amazon and eBay. If you don't by from Authorized dealers (which many on Amazon and eBay are not) you may not be able to apply for certain warranties from the manufacturer if you ever need to warranty it.

It's almost Black Friday and Christmas. Look around other forums for group buys or discounts from Authorized dealers.


For what it's worth.. I would return the winch stating they sent you the wrong one and ask for a full refund. Then do what I stated above and get the M8000 for sure. Then upgrade to synthetic down the line.
 
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You might trying selling the VR8000 and then buying the M8000. It looks like the one they sent you is currently selling for $730 on Amazon. If you could sell it for $600, someone would be getting a good deal and you could make a little. Just a thought.
 
other than the looks, what is the real difference between the 2?

a quick glance, it looks like the VR is a better winch, just for the fact it uses less power, until a max pull.

its 1 FPM slower on the bottom, but the same for the rest.

I think you got a good deal, even if its not exactly what you ordered.
 
Warn Winch Solenoid Upgrade - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum


a good read.

They are prone to corrosion and failure, and can in fact fail in the closed position, which means your winch runs-on and can't be stopped without disconnecting the battery - not fun if you are winching "in"! Mostly though, they just quit working at the most inopportune time, right when you really need your winch.
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I did read something about a different planetary gear set, and a different motor also.
 
The VR8000 is a solid winch.. I think it would be ok for our application. Our trucks aren't that heavy and I doubt you'll be doing any hefty winching, like pulling out a 3500 dually truck from 3 day old clay. However, those people screwed up the order and they said you were getting a M8000. They should honor that. It's their screw up you should fight to get what you were suppose to get.
 
I saw somewhere a VR series winch pulled apart and it had T-max markings inside. So basically it's a Chinese made winch at a low price with Warns warranty and customer service behind it. Not all bad, Warn thinks enough of it to warranty it. But when I bought mine I went with the M8000 because it's made in the USA.
 
ahhhh where to start here, so much miss information is overloading me...


98OzarksRunner said:
The newer M8000 winches, and probably all newer Warn winches use contactors instead of solenoids.

I think the internals on the M8000 are heftier than the VR8000, which is designed to compete with the Chinese winches from Smitty and Harbor Freight.
Click to expand...

wrong, the only Warn winches that use contactors are the 9.5cti, and the Zeon winch line, all the others still use solenoids -per Warn industries and the people i know there that actually build and repair them -at least this was the case the last time i talked to them about 2 weeks ago.

JWaldz said:
Be careful buying stuff from Amazon and eBay. If you don't by from Authorized dealers (which many on Amazon and eBay are not) you may not be able to apply for certain warranties from the manufacturer if you ever need to warranty it.

It's almost Black Friday and Christmas. Look around other forums for group buys or discounts from Authorized dealers.


For what it's worth.. I would return the winch stating they sent you the wrong one and ask for a full refund. Then do what I stated above and get the M8000 for sure. Then upgrade to synthetic down the line.
Click to expand...

if you plan on "upgrading" a winch to synthetic from cable, you will need to do a couple of things, fist you will need to get a new drum that is designed for synthetic. the steel cable drums are not meant to have synthetic rope and the heat they can transfer can damage and melt the synthetic rope -i have personally seen the scaring on a synthetic rope from this. the other thing you can do is buy a second sheath and leave that on the first layers of rope on the drum but this is not a guaranteed fix.

hounddogman said:
I saw somewhere a VR series winch pulled apart and it had T-max markings inside. So basically it's a Chinese made winch at a low price with Warns warranty and customer service behind it. Not all bad, Warn thinks enough of it to warranty it. But when I bought mine I went with the M8000 because it's made in the USA.
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ppfft lol yeah not even. are you telling me that T-max is the manufacture of all of the winch parts? is that why they have been on the market like maybe 1/4 the time Warn has been around? yeah no, sorry you read a lie. i could see T-max having Warn markings, but yet all of the internals i have seen dont have many markings on them from Warn.



the VR series is basically a M winch, it dosent have all the seals that the M line does though. and the solenoids are of a lesser quality -still the same quality that they had 5-10 years ago. the new M and xd/xp lines have newer upgrade heavier duty solenoids.

if you want synthetic line then buy a winch with it to start off with. personally i would avoid it.
 
ppfft lol yeah not even. are you telling me that T-max is the manufacture of all of the winch parts? is that why they have been on the market like maybe 1/4 the time Warn has been around? yeah no, sorry you read a lie. i could see T-max having Warn markings, but yet all of the internals i have seen dont have many markings on them from Warn.
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I checked my 'misinformation' and what do ya know? It was! I saw a picture with a caption that said Warn and the picture clearly showed a Smitybilt ! Dang jeep people. Sorry a bought that.
 
hounddogman said:
I checked my 'misinformation' and what do ya know? It was! I saw a picture with a caption that said Warn and the picture clearly showed a Smitybilt ! Dang jeep people. Sorry a bought that.
Click to expand...

no worries. i just know that Warn would sooner go out of business than start having their competition make their products for them. the only winches id own other than a Warn is Engo, Superwinch, and ComeUp. Engo and ComeUp are both local companies to me just like Warn, so if i ever had an issue id know i could talk to a real person face to face, and having met with and spoken with both co owners i have good feelings about their customer service, and willingness to stand behind their product. Superwinch has been making winches just as long as Warn and in some cases has a better design than Warn. they make a great product and i can not knock it. infact if i lived back in the Boston area id have their winch over the warn.
 
the great him said:
ahhhh where to start here, so much miss information is overloading me...

98OzarksRunner said:
The newer M8000 winches, and probably all newer Warn winches use contactors instead of solenoids.

I think the internals on the M8000 are heftier than the VR8000, which is designed to compete with the Chinese winches from Smitty and Harbor Freight.
Click to expand...


wrong, the only Warn winches that use contactors are the 9.5cti, and the Zeon winch line, all the others still use solenoids -per Warn industries and the people i know there that actually build and repair them -at least this was the case the last time i talked to them about 2 weeks ago.
Click to expand...

I guess I got nuttin to say but this.


DSC_1789_zpsd810ade2.jpg~original

I bought this in Nov. 2011.

And this (not mine).

WinchInstall34.gif~original


And this

https://www.warn.com/truck/winches/src/M8000.shtml
 
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