I think almost all the local jeep boys run the harbor china unit #12000 are very happy with them.
Winch Advice Please
- Thread starter FloridaLife
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- fj40 fj40 winch winch
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A good winch can be used for many different things besides just pulling out jeeps.
DeskJock
SILVER Star
My buddies TJ has one!
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #44
Actually, the 6000 lb was underrated. It was actually rated at 8000 lb. That is how warn purchased bellview, which, sent them souring with 8274.
The first WARN Belleview winches were called Model 6000, or M6000. But it was later discovered that the M6000 could actually pull 8,000 lbs., so the name was eventually changed to the M8000. As you know, we still offer a winch called the M6000 and M8000, although it's a modern, low-profile winch.
Spoken by Warn itself. I have one myself and can concur the power.
The History of the WARN Belleview Winch
www.warn.com
Thank you!
Do you have all the control cables for the Belleview? There are 3 total as well as the contactor that would be mounted in the engine compartment. Usually on passenger side. Some dealers cut a hole in the apron to allow for manual engagement. One cable for F,N,R. One for the clutch, and one for the contactor. If you don't have all that and you want something classic then go for an 8274 or any newer variant of that. Also you don't have to stick with Warn. There are other winches out there for someone who is really never going to use it and will work perfectly fine for occasional use.
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #46
Thank you so much! I know for a fact I have not seen any type of hand controller for it. It's at the paint shop right now, but I'll drop by there and see if I see anything in the engine bay like what you are talking about.
cruiserkev
3 decades in the same FJ40
This is what I was referring to earlier, Warn discontinued these cable parts decades ago. I needed them as well and gave up on the Bellevue winch after finding out how hard it was to find them. Better off with an all electric winch. I have one similar to this planetary style one on my 40, it doesn't stick up as much as the 8274.
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #48
THANK YOU! That's what I wanted / needed to know. What model did you get, and how satisfied are you with it?
Thank you so much!
cruiserkev
3 decades in the same FJ40
I have an Aussie knock off of a Warn 10k called a T-max, no idea if they are still sold here in the states. Absolutely
no issues for the last 15 years, it always works when needed. As I said before I rarely use it, the 40 hasn't been stuck in years where it requires a winch pull. Somebody designed these Land Cruisers so well that with a decent driver, they go just about anywhere. I will eventually spool on synthetic line and then use soft shackles but for right now with limited use, the cable works fine for me. Good luck!
The 8274 is the best electric winch available for the fj40. While rated for 8000lbs, I've always heard they were always under rated and are actually a 10k winch. Their is no other winch available that has so much potential. But for your application I would go to harbor freight and get a 8000lb winch with wire cable. It probably won't get used much it sounds like.
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #51
Good to know. Thank you! Several people have said they prefer the synthetic rope. I would have never guessed that, but I'm glad to know it.
When the synthetic winch rope fails, it just falls to the ground. Wire rope on the other hand can cause lots of damage or injuries from the stored energy as it whips about.
FloridaLife
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #53
That's an excellent point too that I never thought about.
Protect the tires from what? Big nasty rocks? I like a narrow bumper that doesn't get hung up on whatever I'm trying to drive over.
Anyway, I needed a low profile winch because I still use my hand crank and didn't want to cover the hole it goes into. The harbor freight winch was cheap, on sale and fit. It works pretty well too.
DeskJock
SILVER Star
The hand crank is an awesome back up plan.
When suddenly sliding down steep trails on mud or ice you often don't get the choice of what you run into, soft tires or steel, I'd rather not bust the tire.
The limiting factor for me is always the pumpkin but I'm not a rock crawler.
The limiting factor for me is always the pumpkin but I'm not a rock crawler.
DeskJock
SILVER Star
Ice and black ice sucks big time. My Rubicon has done the Rubicon- and - that was a lot of work, and a few bent items.
That slipping and sliding conversation happens. No matter how good you are and how well equipped you rig it - s*** happens. Winch, hi-lift, traction boards etc get used.
It is what it is.
Mark W
Yep, I really don't really care that much I guess.
Putting a wider bumper on to "protect" your tires is kinda like disconnecting your driveshafts to protect your diffs. 
People have been repeating the mantra of "Wire rope can cause lots of damage or injuries from the stored energy as it whips about." For years and years. But every incident I have been involved with/witnessed supports every controlled testing of this that I have come across... It just ain't so.
As a very basic rule of thumb, winch cable will stretch about an inch for every 100 feet of length, at breaking load. That is not "storing" all that much energy, nor will it create significant "backlash and whipping". The most common reaction of cable I have seen when it snaps is that it starts with a single strand or three and the casdacing failure that follows results in an unraveling. I have never seen a steel cable "whip" just from breaking. I have has one fail as I was standing over it. It was kind like the opposite of a snake straightening out from a semi-coiled position. But it did not actually move that much and other than the surprise, it was no big deal.
Compressed vehicle suspension systems can store energy. Loaded booms and such can store energy. But cables really don't add much to those situations.
Synthetic rope does have some advantages over steel cable. It is lighter, it is more flexible, it floats, it does not kink and bend and damage itself when wound sloppily under heavy load, it does not have little broken wires sticking out to cut and snag as it ages.
Steel cable has some advantages over synthetic too. It is much more resistant to abrasion, it does not deteriorate under sunlight and it will accept abuse much better. Handled properly (and even improperly) it will long outlive synthetic.
All in all, for most of us, Synthetic is a better choice for our off road usage. But steel is still a viable second option and in more limited situations can still be better.
Mark...
People have been repeating the mantra of "Wire rope can cause lots of damage or injuries from the stored energy as it whips about." For years and years. But every incident I have been involved with/witnessed supports every controlled testing of this that I have come across... It just ain't so.
As a very basic rule of thumb, winch cable will stretch about an inch for every 100 feet of length, at breaking load. That is not "storing" all that much energy, nor will it create significant "backlash and whipping". The most common reaction of cable I have seen when it snaps is that it starts with a single strand or three and the casdacing failure that follows results in an unraveling. I have never seen a steel cable "whip" just from breaking. I have has one fail as I was standing over it. It was kind like the opposite of a snake straightening out from a semi-coiled position. But it did not actually move that much and other than the surprise, it was no big deal.
Compressed vehicle suspension systems can store energy. Loaded booms and such can store energy. But cables really don't add much to those situations.
Synthetic rope does have some advantages over steel cable. It is lighter, it is more flexible, it floats, it does not kink and bend and damage itself when wound sloppily under heavy load, it does not have little broken wires sticking out to cut and snag as it ages.
Steel cable has some advantages over synthetic too. It is much more resistant to abrasion, it does not deteriorate under sunlight and it will accept abuse much better. Handled properly (and even improperly) it will long outlive synthetic.
All in all, for most of us, Synthetic is a better choice for our off road usage. But steel is still a viable second option and in more limited situations can still be better.
Mark...
I have seen shattered windshields from snapped cables and other damage. Talked to someone who was injured by a cable, and a lady who suffered a shark bite. Things happen, somethings not at the best time and folks get their ticket home.
I think the OEM bumper width is just right, though it could be a little thicker IMHO
I think the OEM bumper width is just right, though it could be a little thicker IMHO
The ability to start our engines by handcrank is, indeed, awesome. I use mine mostly for adjusting valves.The hand crank is an awesome back up plan.
