Help me choose a winch

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less maintenance, nicer to deal with, just as strong, splicing is easier.

The list goes on and on..

What about if it sits for long periods of time? My winch will mostly be use as a bug catcher as I will rarely ever go off road once I finish my resto on the LV.
 
Most are very UV stable now a days, plus you can cover your winch.
 
Most are very UV stable now a days, plus you can cover your winch.

This. I wouldn't sweat average UV exposure with Amsteel Blue or equivalent lines. They are made to be on fishing boats with lots of UV exposure. If you are concerned toss a cover on, or get a additional abrasion guard to put on the outer wraps. I've sold several extra abrasion guards for that.
 
Update: I've used the winch a couple of times now and it's worked well. Line speed is good, the drum doesn't seem to heat up enough that I'd worry and running off of one battery has been fine (i never winch without raising idle).
My only complaint is the wireless remote. It doesn't give the same instant on/off as the wired remote. Everything else I've liked though.
 
My only complaint is the wireless remote. It doesn't give the same instant on/off as the wired remote. Everything else I've liked though.

Good looking setup. This has been a complaint on wireless winch controls. What kind of lag are you seeing and is it a start & stop lag where it also continues after you release the button too? Anticipating the lag would be a problem I could see.
 
Txanm said:
Good looking setup. This has been a complaint on wireless winch controls. What kind of lag are you seeing and is it a start & stop lag where it also continues after you release the button too? Anticipating the lag would be a problem I could see.

It's a one to two second lag at start and a one second lag after I release the wireless button. If I were doing something where detail was important (life or death type of recovery) I think I'll be using the wired remote if at all possible.

I went wheelin this weekend and had to remove a large tree from across the trail. Performing an approximate 2 ton drag was no problem.
 
Got plenty of winch use today. Two recoveries, and once to pull myself out of a stuck. Awesome winch.
Oh, do not drive stock wheelbase sammies up really steep hills if you're throttle happy. I'll post vids when the guys from my group are back in town.
 
Does anyone know if the runva 11k will fit in a Slee Shortbus bumper?
 
When I looked at the exploded view of the Runva winch in the initial post's link, the first thing I noticed was the construction of the planetary gears. Warn uses a dual side cage aroung the gears, where as the Runva has only a single side to hold the gears.

I don't plan to use my winch, but if it is required I don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. A great warranty on a piece of paper doesn't get you unstuck.
 
Betarocker said:
When I looked at the exploded view of the Runva winch in the initial post's link, the first thing I noticed was the construction of the planetary gears. Warn uses a dual side cage aroung the gears, where as the Runva has only a single side to hold the gears.

I don't plan to use my winch, but if it is required I don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. A great warranty on a piece of paper doesn't get you unstuck.

Another Warn nuthugger.
They're down the street from me, I can get employee pricing through a friend in their engineering department, and I still wouldn't buy one. They're not what they used to be unless you're willing to pay out $1200+.
 
Nuthugger? I'll have you know that I'm offended by that. Please use Nutswinger. :D

So if I got a new in box Warn M12,000 for $1000 cash I found through Craigslist, does that make it one of the unreliable versions?
 
The M12000 is a good winch, but at the cost of three Runva's.
I carry a spare solenoid as insurance and have no problem trusting the Runva to get me out if I, or someone else, is in some trouble.
 
I kinda don't know much about winches yet, but on my Cruiser, there is a logo on the lockers--it says 'Warn" I'm thinking Mr. Toyoda would have picked a pretty reliable Co. for his product. Don't know about the current state of production of theses winches, but usually they get better.
 
I think you are talking about the hubs..

And Toyota did not make them, the dealers put them on. And are not nearly as good as the Toyota parts...
 
machinisttx said:
Much safer. Wire rope whips around when it snaps. Synthetic weighs almost nothing and will just fall to the ground.

I've seen synthetic break and I would definitely say it doesn't "fall to the ground." It doesn't carry the kinetic energy of wire, but it can still hurt you if it breaks under load.
A towel being snapped can break skin, imagine 3-4 times that kinetic force hitting you. You won't lose a limb, but you'll bleed.
 
Great discussion. The curb weight my 4Runner is about 4650 lbs, and by the time I add on the Demello bumper I ordered and a winch, probably closer to 4800 lbs. So would a 9500 lb winch be best for me?
 
yes...
 

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