On my 200 a Warn zeon 12 platinum- its a work horse
I just installed a comeup 12.5rs on my 80, have yet to use it though
I just installed a comeup 12.5rs on my 80, have yet to use it though
Which winch on the 200 are you using?
- Thread starter Fisher23
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I'll be the dissenting voice regarding the Warn 9.5XP-S. I had it on my last 200, and the clutch would freeze up on it and was incredibly difficult to operate. I used my truck for winch demos at an off road course with Bill Burke a couple summers ago, and everyone who had to operate the winch complained about how hard the clutch was to use. Another guy in the group said he had the exact same problem with his, and these are some of the most experienced guys around (literal Camel Trophy and Baja race participants as well as a few crawlers). It pulled fine, but I won't put another one on my truck. I'm going with the ComeUp Seal Gen2 9.5RS for my truck here in the next couple of weeks once I get my bumper put on.
Markuson
SILVER Star
A few added 1.75 cents on the Platinum series-
First: My comments on Comeup were not from personal experience...so discount them as needed.
-My own ownership/use has been Warn only.” on both my 100 Series (zero issues) and now my 200.
Some random things I appreciate:
-One of the things I do love about my Warn Zeon 12-S Platinum is line speed. Every winch slows down as it reaches full capacity pulling, but it is just really handy to have a winch that spoils in quickly after a distant pull. The 12-SP is speedy, which also means I tend to do line checks more frequently because it’s less tedious. This even more speedy alone...because I don’t have to walk back and forth to engage or release the clutch.
Rust:
So far after 2 years, to 12-SP shows no signs of rust, and has been flawless in use. It’s true that I don’t live in a rusty area...but this spool does seem more resistant as Taco mentioned.
Wireless only:
Wireless-only operation makes people worry (including me), but connection upon power up has been basically instantaneous. The “worry factor” is kind of instinctive...since wireless anything can seem cuddly, but no fiddly-ness here at all.
Wireless connection—It is NOT actually BlueTooth, by the way. BlueTooth range tops off around 30 feet. The 12-S Platinum remote connects by establishing its own point-to-point WiFi signal, whick lets the remote have a massive range of over 150 feet. Can’t remember the number but it’s way up there. Thinking higher than 150...
Advantages of clutch release—The Platinums not only control pulls and spoiling out via the remote, but also engage and release the clutch.
The remote’s screen can also monitor winch-motor temperature, turn driving lights on (or off if blinding yourself or someone else), and more.
Ease of use example: In Moab last Summer when I winched two trucks that wanted to pop up and roll back on Hell’s, I didn’t even have to get out. I just turned my truck around after making it up...turned on the wireless remote...spooled out a bit so a helper could grab the rope...released the clutch...free-spoiled out...engaged clutch again...pulled two trucks up...then spooled back into the bumper. Never left my seat, so never had to rely on my parking brake or P. I could keep myself firmly in the brakes at all times.
Power-leech worries solved:
There is a master power switch I can turn off on the control box if I’m concerned about power leeching, but it’s never been an issue. If it IS flipped off...literally within 2 seconds of flipping its power on...the remote is connected on its own and ready to pull.
In a nasty mud situation, I can actually get out...climb from my sliders onto my front driver tire...onto bumper...spool out enough line to throw it to someone past the mud...and be back in the driver’s seat...without ever having to wallow in the mud or reach deep into the bumper to move the clutch handle. It’s just really slick.
Blathering over...
...but just thought some of these lesser factors might ring a bell for some here.
First: My comments on Comeup were not from personal experience...so discount them as needed.
-My own ownership/use has been Warn only.” on both my 100 Series (zero issues) and now my 200.
Some random things I appreciate:
-One of the things I do love about my Warn Zeon 12-S Platinum is line speed. Every winch slows down as it reaches full capacity pulling, but it is just really handy to have a winch that spoils in quickly after a distant pull. The 12-SP is speedy, which also means I tend to do line checks more frequently because it’s less tedious. This even more speedy alone...because I don’t have to walk back and forth to engage or release the clutch.
Rust:
So far after 2 years, to 12-SP shows no signs of rust, and has been flawless in use. It’s true that I don’t live in a rusty area...but this spool does seem more resistant as Taco mentioned.
Wireless only:
Wireless-only operation makes people worry (including me), but connection upon power up has been basically instantaneous. The “worry factor” is kind of instinctive...since wireless anything can seem cuddly, but no fiddly-ness here at all.
Wireless connection—It is NOT actually BlueTooth, by the way. BlueTooth range tops off around 30 feet. The 12-S Platinum remote connects by establishing its own point-to-point WiFi signal, whick lets the remote have a massive range of over 150 feet. Can’t remember the number but it’s way up there. Thinking higher than 150...
Advantages of clutch release—The Platinums not only control pulls and spoiling out via the remote, but also engage and release the clutch.
The remote’s screen can also monitor winch-motor temperature, turn driving lights on (or off if blinding yourself or someone else), and more.
Ease of use example: In Moab last Summer when I winched two trucks that wanted to pop up and roll back on Hell’s, I didn’t even have to get out. I just turned my truck around after making it up...turned on the wireless remote...spooled out a bit so a helper could grab the rope...released the clutch...free-spoiled out...engaged clutch again...pulled two trucks up...then spooled back into the bumper. Never left my seat, so never had to rely on my parking brake or P. I could keep myself firmly in the brakes at all times.
Power-leech worries solved:
There is a master power switch I can turn off on the control box if I’m concerned about power leeching, but it’s never been an issue. If it IS flipped off...literally within 2 seconds of flipping its power on...the remote is connected on its own and ready to pull.
In a nasty mud situation, I can actually get out...climb from my sliders onto my front driver tire...onto bumper...spool out enough line to throw it to someone past the mud...and be back in the driver’s seat...without ever having to wallow in the mud or reach deep into the bumper to move the clutch handle. It’s just really slick.
Blathering over...
...but just thought some of these lesser factors might ring a bell for some here.
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- Thread starter
- #24
That Platinum is by far the fanciest winch on the warn line up.
I have a wireless on my Jeep, and most of the time it works. After a previous failure, now I carry a spare battery for it. The backup hard wire controller has never failed.
Having no backup hard wired controller on the Platinum makes me a little Leary of it. Though for Warn to not offer a hard-wire seems they are pretty confident in the wireless aspect.
Warn recommends adding a wireless Signal Enhancement Kit (i.e. signal booster) Warn part W94288.
This winch will mostly be used to winch trees or cut logs out of the way. Wet hot environment, with lots of mud and sand. Typical rain forest. Hopefully I will not need for recovery very often.
I have a wireless on my Jeep, and most of the time it works. After a previous failure, now I carry a spare battery for it. The backup hard wire controller has never failed.
Having no backup hard wired controller on the Platinum makes me a little Leary of it. Though for Warn to not offer a hard-wire seems they are pretty confident in the wireless aspect.
Warn recommends adding a wireless Signal Enhancement Kit (i.e. signal booster) Warn part W94288.
This winch will mostly be used to winch trees or cut logs out of the way. Wet hot environment, with lots of mud and sand. Typical rain forest. Hopefully I will not need for recovery very often.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Two very different remotes.
The wireless “enhancer” available for the Platinum simply raises the antenna/receiver from the control box...to somewhere higher. If I mounted the control box on the winch (much lower) I’d add the “enhancer/relo aFor) but if you mount the control on top of the bumper, it’s far less likely to be submerged.
Really not much comparison between the little add-on wireless control and the Pkatinum. The add-ons simply reel in or out. The Platinum wireless is rechargeable lithium...connects via its own wi-fi and controls everything...plus live info.
I only run Warn on my LCs. I have a Zeon 12s/synthetic on my 200 and it works like a champ
indycole
GOLD Star
Have you considered a combination of Velcro knee pads and covering your hood with a sheet of Velcro? It’d help with glare, too.
Markuson
SILVER Star
-<Ya ya..... No hood Velcro needed to step from tire to bumper...but I guess I’ve earned the Velcro ribbing.
I do think folks at LCDC may be disappointed, though, when they see that my 200 isn’t entirely mummified by Velcro...
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RET2
SILVER Star
These trucks are very fat, the bigger the better.
I went with the Warn M12000
I went with the Warn M12000
Any secrets to finding the warn zeon on sale somewhere? Best i see is a $100 mail in rebate at 4wheelparts
Warn VR10S in trail tailor hidden winch mount.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Rebates are pretty common directly from Warn.
I bought mine from a place that charged neither shipping nor sales tax...plus a rebate from Warn. So the combo of all 3 saved me almost $400...but that was off the VERY expensive Zeon 12S Platinum.
Warn rebates expire...but I swear it seems like they just re/up the dates and do the same rebates all over again.
I have a trail trailer hidden winch with a WARN VR10s winch on a 2016 LC200.
Thanks for the reply. Don’t want to highjack this thread, but I’d like to get your take on it and see if you’d do it again or do anything differently.
Post some pics please. I saw a local with a 4 Runner with a hidden winch and covered by a flip up license plate. Very stealth.
I bought a warn 9.5XP for my 4Runner 2017, but traded it in before I ever installed it (stilling the box) going to install it on the LC instead
I like it. I think it is stealthy, which is why I keep the rope up in the hole and looks like another air intake on the front. The fitting was good but I had about an inch gap between the bumper and the mount. So I decided to put the fairlead behind the bumper and cut a slightly higher hole.
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