Harbor Freight Winches (1 Viewer)

[Southeast Overland]

What is a good thickness of synthetic line for the 12k winch? Is 3/8" enough or do I need to get the 1/2"? I'm looking at this to replace the stock cable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-SYNTHET...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item23293c1deb

The diameter depends on the grade of the line you are using. We (Southeast Overland) uses Samson's Amsteel Blue, which is a Dyneema SK75 fiber and a 3/8" line has an average break strength of 19,600 lbs post splice.

Your link has 1/2" line with a "12,500 lb capacity." I'm assuming capacity = break but that is left up to interpretation.

You need your line to have at least 1.5 times more strength than your winch and I prefer closer a 2:1 safety factor ratio if possible. I would not run a 12,500 lb line on a 12k winch. Go minimum the 3/8" 19,600 lbs we sell and we have even sold a good bit of 7/16" line @ 23,900 lbs average break.

I've repaired several broken "budget" lines and have not been impressed with their construction and wear characteristics. I have the broken pieces in the shop to show as examples. One splice was so woefully inadequately buried I'm glad the user only pulled an ATV once before the hardware crumpled and it required use. A heavy pull could have been bad.

Feel free to call us @ 864-280-4238 or email Sales@SoutheastOverland.com and we are happy to walk you through your selection.

3/8" is rated for 17k I believe...or 17.5k...I'd check, but the Southeast Overland site is funky this morning... (stupid internets...obviously, just a fad...)

19,600 lbs baby!

I'm not sure whats up with our website. I just pulled it up OK but I know there have been issues the past couple of days. It looks like it is a HostGator problem but my IT dude is looking into it more.

That link shows a 1/2" line rated at 12.5k...IMO, don't buy it...stick with one of the quality winchline vendors...a GOOD 1/2" line will be rated more in the 22k range...

1/2" Amsteel Blue is rated at an average break for 34,000 lbs.

and your HF 12k only holds 80' anyways of 3/8"...IMO, 70-80' is plenty on the drum, and get a good 50' extension line to carry for longer distances.

Extensions are nice. You don't often need them, but when you do you reeeeeally do.

My winching situation would have been a disaster if the line had broke...a stalled winch would have meant an interesting recovery, a busted line would have equaled some major vehicle damage. I am as "cost effective" as the next guy, but winch line isn't one of them.

Yuppers. A winch line isn't somewhere you want to skimp and you can get a quality line for a reasonable price if you know where to look.

We stock diameters from 1/8" up to 1/2", specifically 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" and 1/2". We also have the all important color selection of blue, orange, silver, and dark green (depending on the diameter).

 

[Tapage]

(leaning towards the new Piranha)

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/sis.html?_kw=New+Piranha+DBE180S+Dual+Battery+Isolator+Kit

If I'm looking the right model it's only rated 180 amps .?

 

[duggy]

Interesting find.
I normally don't drive the cruiser abunch, sucks I know, so after I parked this morning at school. I thought it was a good photo opp. So I took one. Well when I got back from class I walked in front and knew something was erring. Then I spotted it. So I went back to the pic I had taken this morning and sure enough. It was like that when I left. So no vandalism.


Apparently sometime between yesterday afternoon, have pics on the trailer from after trip so o know it wasnt while being used, and this morning. My winch sucked in the cable. It made it threw the rollers, under the bottom of the drum, broke the rear chrome bar mount. Then did the same with the front. I'm guessing it went at lease 1 whole cycle to make it back under the front bar.

I had the wireless box plugged in. I guess the people using the winch this weekend to recover some other rigs plugged it in after pulling out the hand held. (wireless remote battery was dead). So not sure if the wireless remote decided to start working again or if there is a short somewhere in the box..... All I know is I couldn't get the wireless to work after I found out so not sure. Now it's all unplugged to doesn't matter.

Havn't checked but does anybody know if this piece is available separately form HF. It looks like it is 5 main pieces. The 2 cylindrical parts on each end. Drum. And the 2 attachment blocks. I'd need one of those. Kinda sucks.... Wishing I would have bought the warranty

Thanks Cody Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

Cody that sucks. I bet it just caught a random signal from some other wireless source, from what I have read online hf doesn't offer much in the way of spares, but the damaged areas look to be repairable. Repairing it may be more expensive than replacing it though and if you replace it you have a spare motor, drum, line, etc.

They do sell replacement parts for the winch. Look at your brochure and they'll ask for the item number of the winch and the part number of the part you are looking to replace. I purchased a spare winch remote from them for $7-8 bucks.

Also, did you buy the warranty?

 

[890man]

So I pulled out the 8000 lb warn and installed the 12K from HF in the Slee Shortbus. The Warn will go in the rear as soon as I build the bumper. I have pulled the cable off and will put on synthetic. I have 125ft of 3/8 amsteel laying around and saw here that 80 feet works well on this winch. I was thinking of cutting off 45ft and splicing that into an extension. So, is 80 feet the limit on these. I could measure the steel cable but it is nicely coiled and zip-tied.

 

[Southeast Overland]

So I pulled out the 8000 lb warn and installed the 12K from HF in the Slee Shortbus. The Warn will go in the rear as soon as I build the bumper. I have pulled the cable off and will put on synthetic. I have 125ft of 3/8 amsteel laying around and saw here that 80 feet works well on this winch. I was thinking of cutting off 45ft and splicing that into an extension. So, is 80 feet the limit on these. I could measure the steel cable but it is nicely coiled and zip-tied.

HF lists their current Badlands 12k winch at 85' so that or a little less works. Of use the remainder for an extension. Toss on a couple extra thimbles and a little abrasion guard maybe and you'll be good to go.

 

[890man]

Cool, thanks for the reply. I was going to give splicing a go. If it goes bad, I will send my lines to you for an overhaul. The line on the warn could use a new hook anyway. I was considering just cutting it off and using shackles instead. Hmmmm...

 

[Southeast Overland]

Cool, thanks for the reply. I was going to give splicing a go. If it goes bad, I will send my lines to you for an overhaul. The line on the warn could use a new hook anyway. I was considering just cutting it off and using shackles instead. Hmmmm...

You are welcome. Call if you have any questions while you are splicing.

 

[profro]

After a year of being on the truck and a few, short uses my Badlands 9k has finally stopped working. Hooked up the newly bought wireless remote and tried it. The motor started to engage then stopped. Followed online procedure and motor does not respond. Don't know if I should tear it apart and try to have it fixed or just move on to a Warn????

 

[Azca]

Just a heads up gents, the 12k winches are back up on sale for 299 using coupon code 49250448. I think I am picking mine up this weekend...

 

[profro]

Took motor off and dropped it off to get fixed at the local industrial electrical repair. They got it fixed, but it was due to water intrusion that ruined a bearing and rusted the brushes. Cost $155 to fix.

Wonder if this going to be an ongoing problem???? Is this winch more susceptible to water intrusion?

 

[80t0ylc]

Took motor off and dropped it off to get fixed at the local industrial electrical repair. They got it fixed, but it was due to water intrusion that ruined a bearing and rusted the brushes. Cost $155 to fix.

Wonder if this going to be an ongoing problem???? Is this winch more susceptible to water intrusion?

Good questions. Thanks for your reports! Anyone else having problems? Seems like these forums are the best source for info.

 

[duggy]

Meh, I have my fair share of water crossings and opened up the winch about 4 months ago to find that the winch was very clean and dry inside. I wouldn't say that they are more susceptible to water intake than any other winch, such as my smittybilt for example, which was full of water and rusted and ceased to stop working when I got stuck in water. Obviously I let it sit for a while for the rust to build up.

 

[elephantsCBR]

I have had it underwater for a while, and it was dry when I opened it up.

Thanks Cody Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[profro]

Got it back from repair and it it works again. I couldn't figure out how to open the gear side, so I just reassembled and reinstalled. I will plan to open it up after deep water crossings and drain it.

Note the smudges all over the bumper. That is from my 2yo helping me immediately after eating something chocolate.

 

[80t0ylc]

Got it back from repair and it it works again. I couldn't figure out how to open the gear side, so I just reassembled and reinstalled. I will plan to open it up after deep water crossings and drain it.

Note the smudges all over the bumper. That is from my 2yo helping me immediately after eating something chocolate.............

You hope it was chocolate

 

[bamabrock]

did you take any photos of the damage? I wonder if a bead of RTV will fix the water intrusion problem. I bought a generic winch cover off ebay for $10 just to keep mine out of the weather the 99% of the time im not using it.

 

[profro]

No. I took the motor to the shop and they disassembled and did the repair work. To me it looked exactly the same before and after.

I don't think it was usual weather (i.e. rain) that destroyed mine. I think it was this...

 

[80t0ylc]

Nice pics, but if you haven't done it already, you should also be checking out your axles and diff fluids for water intrusion. Usually Toyota's are well sealed, depending of course on maintenance. But hot axles and cold water can add up to trouble in the long run if not monitored.

 

[Pin_Head]

Cost $155 to fix.

Wonder if this going to be an ongoing problem????

Only if you keep paying that much to fix it. A brand new motor is only $75.

 

[t-o]

3000 lb harbor freight winch. $160 +/-.
Worked great so far for 20-30 pulls getting the river survey boat on the water,
Steep banks where no boat ramps.

Thumbs up!