Which Winch? (10 Viewers)

[WillT]

Adding an ARB Bull Bar to my 97 80. I have 3 Warn winches to choose from. M1200, XD9000, M8000. My wife has an M8000 on her TJ and is totally happy with it, but much lighter vehicle.

Big difference in price and weight so I don't want to buy the 1200 just because... Would like to hear your experience with the 9000 and 1200.

Thanks, Will

 

[FZJohnny]

From everything I've read the 9.5XP is the kitties meow meow! I have an M8000 on my Samurai and its way more than what she needs. Think it weighs around 3500-4k with cage and armor. Guessing our 80's are 5-6k. I was gonna go VR10s or VR12 cuz money is kinda tight!

 

[tag3]

Go with the biggest the bumper will fit.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

Biggest you can afford.

 

[tag3]

Spend extra, get the biggest, good brand name it will fit. The 8k was good on the fourrunner, but knock on wood haven't had to use on the 60 yet.

 

[WillT]

Thanks Mr. Brown Coat,

2 questions, how do you like your XD9000 and same question on your Slee rear bumper as I was looking at their rear unit.

Thanks, Will

 

[DirtaddictLC80]

After I got my ARB, I purchased a used M12000 and rebuilt it. I went with that size because the last time I got stuck my friend with a 6K winch couldn't pull me up a hill. I wasn't really stuck...just needed some traction (was running open front and rear diffs at the time), and I wasn't that heavy (for a Cruiser) at the time. The 6K didn't budge me at all.

Since that time, I'd gotten heavier, and knew I wanted something that could pull me out of a difficult situation (deep in mud, steep rutted terrain, etc.). The 12K, which fits in an ARB, seemed like the best option for me.

Since I installed it, I've used it about 1/2 dozen times with no issues. I suppose you could try a smaller winch and use a snatch block, but I like not having to do that unless absolutely necessary.

Sorry, no experience with the XD9000.

YMMV.

 

[M32H32is]

Get the harbor freight badlands 12,000.

Warn failed in the same test that cheaper winches didnt.

 

[93yotasr5]

I'd go with the harbor freight badlands 12000 winch
If money isn't an option go strait for the warn 12000

 

[scrowley]

Engo 12k. They have GREAT customer service dirctly in the US. Around $500-$600 with a amsteel synthetic line.

I am sure the WARN 12k is a better winch as its waterproof for one. But damn are they some big $$$

 

[greentruck]

Assuming this is going on an 80, bigger is better.

 

[DSRTRDR]

how often do you use your winch ? - we decided the $300 Harbor Freight 12K would do just fine for the few times a year -if at all- we would use/need a winch

 

[inkpot]

how often do you use your winch ? - we decided the $300 Harbor Freight 12K would do just fine for the few times a year -if at all- we would use/need a winch

2x this. Application is really the key. So far I hae heard very few complaints about the HF units when used for occasional pulls. If your going to pull timber all day, or all of your buddies stuck in the mud bogs every weekend, then go with the top of the line, and BIG. John

 

[Dutchman82]

My 2 cents. I bought a smitty built XCR10 10k winch for just shy of $400. I paid $30 dollars for a 3 year no questions asked warranty, and have used the heck out of it. I recently used it to drag out an 80 with a knuckle broken off, and winched for hours. Good speed, great price, and hasn't let me down yet. I had a Warn 9000xp prior to this one, and had to rebuild the warn, but for the money I would buy a smittybuilt again in a heartbeat.

 

[superstan26]

I put the badlands 12k on my cruiser, and it's already paid for itself more than once. I used it more than once on the first wheeling trip that I had it installed, I've used it to pull an 80 body off of the frame, and to pull the engine, transmission, and transfer case out of an 80, I used it to drag a body onto a trailer.

It's strong enough that it lifted the front end of my 80 off of the ground while I was lifting the other 80 body (full of parts) of off the frame, and it felt like it was just getting started but I didn't want to pull my tree over so I backed off a bit.

I wish it had synthetic rope, and that it were a tad faster but I have no complaints. There's always room for improvements

I got everything I needed to hook it up, and a two year warranty out the door for less than $350 on sale (common coupon).

 

[NCFJ]

Buy the biggest winch you can afford! I run a Viper 12,000 and also a Warn 12,000 and both do a great job, only the Viper is half the price. I have been selling the Viper winches since they released their full sized winches in 08 and have had only one customer with a problem and Mottoalliance handled it without any issue. They also come with handy equiptment like a cove, snatch block and remote controller.

 

[jfz80]

Agree go bigger in the 80


I had a m9000 leftover from my Tacoma I ran until the first time I used it. Locked with 125' of line out and a snatch block and deep in the throttle and barely made it out. Granted it was snow but i went home and bought a warn 12000 which i believe will be for sale shortly but Oregon is a long ways away and this thing is heavy!

 

[Motleyone]

Get the harbor freight badlands 12,000.

Warn failed in the same test that cheaper winches didnt.

I would like to read this. Was it in a 4x4 magazine?

Thanks

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

The warn xd9000 has done everything I have needed. I like using a snatch block when it's convenient and occasionally it has been a requirement. I got a great deal on it used or I might be running a cheaper off brand winch now.

As far as the slee rear bumper, it is a great well made unit. It gets a little tedious getting into the rear hatch but you will have that problem with any aftermarket with swing outs. My direction with this 80 is expedition vehicle (aux fuel tank and interior space needed for supplies). My second 80 will be more of a sleek daily driver setup and I would forego the aftermarket rear bumper and go with the slee thru bumper receiver hitch. It's designed for their rear bumper but it's been proven to work with the stock rear bumper.

 

[jcardona1]

With winches, my opinion is to not get too caught up with the fancy name brands. They all come from the same place anyways. Some just happen to be wrapped up in a cute box with pretty stickers. This whole winch debate ends up sounding like women talking about purses and shoes.

FWIW, my Runva 12k has been great the times I've used it.