What size winch would you recomend for the 100

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Wow. It looks like their biggest advertiser in the category - Warn - got its ass kicked and the mag' had to figure out how to fix it.

"Okay guys, where did the Warn shine!"
"Uhm... The box it came in is nice"
"Yeah, and its got a nice power cord"
"Great! This is great guys. What else?"
"Ooh! The stickers on the winch are easy to read!"

Seriously, look at the point system - "Exterior Labeling" is more important than "Speed and Efficiency"
 
Mike6158 said:
Good thread... I've been wondering about synthetic line. Good to know it's characteristics. Nothing worse than running a wire splinter into your hand as your feeding cable back
Click to expand...

I've HEARD guys snapping 3/4 cabling pulling on it withe big equip. Very scary sound. Kevlar slings snap (similar to syn. winch line) and it just falls to the ground. Really the syn. is the way to go for a weekend warrior
 
mcgaskins said:
FWIW this is one of the articles I used to research my choice. Please pay no attention to the actual numerical ranking of who won the test. The most expensive winch which also happened to literally grenade during one of the tests took home 1st prize (Warn) which is what I call ludicrous. Makes you wonder how something that breaks can win a competition :slap:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/129-1107-massive-multi-winch-shootout/
Click to expand...

Frankly, that was an extremely poorly done test start to finish - including their ridiculous ranking system. Given that, I'm not sure why anyone would use anything from it. If you can't setup a test properly, I can't trust *ANY* of the results.

This was a much better winch shootout - though it is a bit dated at this point:

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=353
 
As I already stated, the test was pretty ludicrous. However, if you look at the things that matter only 2 winches were successful in all the tests: the T Max and the Engo. To me what matters the most is water proofing and the stall test, and the Engo performed perfectly on all those.

The test gave a weighting of 130 points to packaging, remote control, exterior labeling, and the instruction manual while they gave a weighting of 50 points to the stall/stress test, water proofing, power relative to weight and speed/efficiency. If that's not absurd scoring, I don't know what is. I chose to look at the last 4 categories and based my decision off that. Keep in mind that a couple of winches failed right off the bat, so that's important to consider as well.
 
mcgaskins said:
As I already stated, the test was pretty ludicrous. However, if you look at the things that matter only 2 winches were successful in all the tests: the T Max and the Engo. To me what matters the most is water proofing and the stall test, and the Engo performed perfectly on all those.

The test gave a weighting of 130 points to packaging, remote control, exterior labeling, and the instruction manual while they gave a weighting of 50 points to the stall/stress test, water proofing, power relative to weight and speed/efficiency. If that's not absurd scoring, I don't know what is. I chose to look at the last 4 categories and based my decision off that. Keep in mind that a couple of winches failed right off the bat, so that's important to consider as well.
Click to expand...

I was agreeing with you on the absurdity, sorry I didn't make that more clear.

However, for me personally as a researcher and somewhat frequent reviewer of articles written for scientific journals, if your methods are crap, I'm not going to accept *anything* you've written. In this case, I think there are enough poorly conceived tests to throw out the entirety of their results. Their may be some manner of truth in there somewhere, but I can't trust their analysis. I'd be far more inclined to seek out other sources of information - ie forums, real world experience, or other comparison tests. Again, my personal take - you (and others) may do as you wish with these comparisons.
 
^ Completely agree. Since you're new here, we're not familiar with your background as a researcher ;) When I was in the market for a winch, I had very little data to go from, and since I knew I would probably use it fewer than once per year I didn't want to spend $1,500 or more on it. The review was really the only "professional" test I had to go from, and I had to pick through it like what scraps are left on the turkey 3 days after Thanksgiving!

To the OP or whoever else is looking for a real world opinion on the Engo winch, I bought my 10k with synthetic line for less than $500 shipped. I've only used it one time, and without going into too much detail, I was so stuck that the local tow guy who came to watch us pull it out said due to many factors if my winch had failed the only option left would have likely been a helicopter extraction. He was amazed that my winch didn't burn up with the pulls we used it for and gave me a high five after watching. The ground was so soft and marshy for close to a mile around that there was no way he could have helped us because it would have been too much weight, and he would have gotten stuck too.
 
Don't count on being able to rig a snatch block, or someone else being able to save you from the mess you've gotten yourself in. Go as big as you can fit/afford and make sure that you've got enough battery to run it.

I have a Warn M12k and I've never regretted it, other than that I couldn't fit a 15-16k. Been in a couple situations where only a single-line pull was possible, most recently this year out solo in heavy spring-melt snow up to the body. Yeah, don't wheel alone, I know better but it happens. I could barely reach the only suitable anchor and, even chained up, it took all the winch I had with my three batteries (2x Blue Top and DieHard Group 65) ganged together. Took several sustained pulls to break free.

I definitely second the "go with synthetic," but only put some of it on the winch, maybe 50-75' so you can get down to first wraps more easily, and carry the rest as winchline extension(s). Remember that you want at least 2x your winch rating for your line. Synthetic might be expensive, but it could save yours or someone else's life. Highly recommend the MasterPull Superline XD for the winch and 7/16" Amsteel Blue for an extension.

Splicing Amsteel is super easy and you can buy thimbles and/or hooks and make your own extensions for much less.
 
I have two Warn 8274's, one Warn 10k (same as the 12k), , one Warn XD9000, one M8000 and one M4500. I can tell you that from experience that synthetic makes the whole process easier. You don't have to worry about whether it crosses another strand when winching which can cause bending and spurring on aircraft wire. When I'm using it, I'll leave it unspooled and throw it on my hood or behind the winch while I reposition. I've also bundled it up and thrown it across a ditch to free up my hands. I love it! // AS far as which winch for the job...I've been the happiest with my Warn 8274's. I've upgraded the motors and converted one of them to Albright solenoid with on/off switching and remote control. I have found that a snatch block or two will combat most problems. It takes time running the tackle but it is made easier with remote control ability. Oh, I forgot, I also have a Champion 10k to which I have thrashed and it is still going without a hitch. I think I paid $299 for it. I have found that all of the Warn winches are rebuildable and upgradable. If you look at the specs and gearing, some of the winches are different only in the diameter of the winchline. I plan to upgrade to the new 6hp motor on my Warn 10k to see what it'll do.
 
I was curious which winch to purchase a couple weeks ago, just like the OP. I thought a 9000 and a snatch block would be good, but after reading a couple people's stories I started looking at larger winches. I have a close friend with an Engo and he has had a great experience with it. I decided to go with a 12000 Engo. I went with wire, because synthetic was $100 more and I am on a budget building a front bumper. Also, I figured I could ruin the cable (if I actually use it enough/wrong), then buy a synthetic and hawse fairlead down the road. I can't tell you how it works. But if you are on a budget, I think the Engo is a good choice.
 
@staggrlee @River Man Paul What synthetic line do you guys recommend? I'm thinking about switching to synthetic myself in the near future. What are the price ranges on these lines? Also, how many :banana: job would it be to DIY install a new synthetic line to my Warn VR12000?
 
TheForger said:
@staggrlee @River Man Paul What synthetic line do you guys recommend? I'm thinking about switching to synthetic myself in the near future. What are the price ranges on these lines? Also, how many :banana: job would it be to DIY install a new synthetic line to my Warn VR12000?
Click to expand...
I just bought 100 of dyneema on Ebay for $115 delivered but i haven't tested it yet. I also have Viking Offroad 3/8" Amsteel Blue and at the time, I spent around $400 for 85' with the "safety thimble." I can tell you for a fact that the Amsteel Blue has been worthy. I have put some really heavy loads on it and have had zero problems. I am very careful as far as chafing damage. Mounting is easy and straightforward on some winches and on others it takes a bit of ingenuity. My 8274 just require feeding it inside the hub and doubling it with a wire clamp.
 
A Warn tech told me in 2005, when I was searching for the best overall value for a winch for my 100, the 9.5XP was one of Warn's most under-rated winches. From a rating perspective the 9.5XP doesn't meet the rule of going with a winch with a minimum of 1.5X the GVW of the host rig. However the bumper I had at the time (TJM T3C) would not accept a larger winch (in fact it took a little customizing to even stuff the 9.5XP in).

Even as recent as 2005 there wasn't the proliferation of cheaper china made winches; however being a subscriber of "cry once", especially for the things that might leave one's safety hanging in the balance, purchasing the 9.5XP from Warn was one of the better buying decisions I've made. Of course the simple argument could be made: Its the only winch I've used on my rig, so my perspective is very narrow.

But, over the years, the "little" 9.5XP has proved to be the ideal choice for me, pulling my loaded 100 along with either a heavily laden AT Horizon or Kimberley trailer in tow with aplomb. Chassis deep mud (with and without said trailers in tow): No problem. 30*+ upslope on pure shale: No problem. Never a wince, never even a hint of a stall.

Although the 9.5XP's price has gone up since I bought mine new in 2006 if I had to do it all over again I'd make the same decision. A decision much easier to make given how many tough >10,000+lb (static) pulls my 9.5XP has reliably provided for me.
 
TheForger said:
@staggrlee What synthetic line do you guys recommend?
Click to expand...

I personally like the MasterPull Superline XD for all the reasons they list on their site. It has a braided abrasion resistant cover over a Dyneema cord. The sheathing also protects the core from intrusion of dirt, sand etc. In an emergency, you can always peel the sheathing back and splice just as you would any other 12-strand braid. Superline/Superline XD are both heated/pre-stretched Dynex Dux. They handle quite a bit differently than std 12-strand. More like a flexy cable, and less like a rope.
 
I have a Warn 9.5xp-s mounted on mine
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom