Badlands Apex vs Warn VR Evo (2 Viewers)

[DallasTide]

I am planning to install a winch on my 200 series on a hidden winch mount. HF has the Badlands Apex 12,000 lb winch on sale this week for $530. I am leaning that direction, but I keep wondering if I should be spending the extra money to get the Warn VR Evo 12-S. It is currently $870 on amazon.

Anybody have any opinions between these two? Is it worth spending the extra 65% for a chinese made Warn? Any money saved here can go towards fridge, batteries, etc.

Appreciate any input.

 

[DallasTide]

One other thing to note is the Warn comes with a lifetime warranty on mechanical parts and 7 years on electronics.
The Badlands is only 90 days unless you buy 1 year ($140) or 2 years ($170) which would eat up about half of your savings.

 

[AgentOrange]

I feel like I can help a bit as I have, well had, both. I bought the VR Evo 12k for my Cruiser and about the same time I bought a 12k Badlands for my trailer. They sat next to each other in the yard and get used once in a while to move stuff around the property or to rescue new projects. About a year and a half in, I went to use the Badlands and nothing. Completely dead. Popped it open to find that it's not nearly as well protected as I would like and needed a lot of work to get working again. My Chinese Warn has been submerged multiple times and has been plenty reliable. That, and when I did have an issue with the bluetooth controller, I could get someone on the phone to help me out.

 

[gnob]

why did you buy a land cruiser and not a land rover?

 

[Brandon Ryder]

I've had the badlands apex for 4 years on the front of my 100. Just used it a month ago to rescue my Tacoma from the snow. Other than the batteries in the remote going dead, it still worked fine. Had to use the wired connector for the remote due to batteries dying. Replaced the 2 cr2032s when i got back.

But i avoid water crossings like the plague.

For the price difference, maybe go with the warn? If it gives you the warm fuzzies

 

[Valgrind]

Looking to do the same thing with a hidden winch mount. I was looking at rough country 12k ($450) over HB versus a warn. Still undecided.
RC is IP67 vs Warn IP68, RC 3 year warranty.