All I'm saying is if it's a Chinese copy of a good product, it will be nothing more than just a s***ty copy, period.
Winch - Does anyone have experience
- Thread starter bluehawk
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One of my problems with this forum is the 'snobbiness'...I'm not trying to vent but...some people on here would rather die than put anything but OEM on their rig, even if it's something like a gas cap, and even when the OEM part costs 4x as much. I realize there are those who are just trying to look out for their fellow MUDders, but at the same time I wish we wouldn't let our personal hatred for a bad experience at one point in the past make us unable to see that not all of us have the money to throw 1200 bucks at a winch we will hardly ever use. Read the man's post folks. IF he could afford a Warn, he would likely do so. If I could drive a Lamborghini i certainly think I would but at this point in my life I drive a 62. Just my .02 cents. Keep it humble guys
It's not snobbiness,it's facts. Unless it's a foreign company paying for manufacturing and strictly controlling quality, u get crap. And harbor freight, don't even get me started on those one time use tools thy carry. I bought honing stones and they fell off the mounts in the middle of my job. Engine mount looked as though it was gonna break in half and the engine hoist I bought there almost killed me because it's so "well made".
I'm a cheap ass bastard so I always look for some sort of value in my purchases. I completely understand CruiserDrew's point. And the lack of support is a huge thing (which is why I suggested purchasing the unit from a verified dealer). But I disagree with him that no winch is better than a Chinese winch..
That being said, Warn's stuff is primarily made overseas. And in reasonably recent winch shootouts, not fared any better than the other guys.
Massive Multi-Winch Shootout - Four Wheeler Magazine
I bought the Engo because it was inexpensive and I would not use it much. I've used it a total of 5 times since I got it. I did have a hiccup with it once, I called the owner of Engo (in the WA area) and he made things right within a week..
I LIKE my warn, I like my Engo. I also like the cable operated Bellview that I have, and the crappy Ramsey that's on my trailer (the Engo has better fir and feel than the Ramsey).
Personal choice is a great thing.
That being said, Warn's stuff is primarily made overseas. And in reasonably recent winch shootouts, not fared any better than the other guys.
Massive Multi-Winch Shootout - Four Wheeler Magazine
I bought the Engo because it was inexpensive and I would not use it much. I've used it a total of 5 times since I got it. I did have a hiccup with it once, I called the owner of Engo (in the WA area) and he made things right within a week..
I LIKE my warn, I like my Engo. I also like the cable operated Bellview that I have, and the crappy Ramsey that's on my trailer (the Engo has better fir and feel than the Ramsey).
Personal choice is a great thing.
I've purchased some USA made products that had worse QA/QC than their Chinese counterparts.
But you are correct, Which is why the Owner of ENGO spent quite a bit of time in China making sure the QA/QC process was solid
For the most part, we as consumers do not know what the QAQC process is on anything we buy. US or Overseas makes no difference.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
And I will say that a Warn M8000 for $599 will end up being cheaper over a 10 year life span, and maybe over a 5 year lifespan.
I know that some of Warn's VR and Tabor lines are Chinese made but with Warn engineering and backing, and I'd take those over a Tractor supply or Harbor Freight winch any day.
I see this "Traveller" as money pissed away in the wind. Not exactly cost effective. I've come to have a longer term appreciation for things. Like a Land Cruiser. You pay a little more, but only once. In the end, it's much more satisfactory to own.
I know that some of Warn's VR and Tabor lines are Chinese made but with Warn engineering and backing, and I'd take those over a Tractor supply or Harbor Freight winch any day.
I see this "Traveller" as money pissed away in the wind. Not exactly cost effective. I've come to have a longer term appreciation for things. Like a Land Cruiser. You pay a little more, but only once. In the end, it's much more satisfactory to own.
I agree with you mace. Not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers or call anyone out. Just a trend I've noticed amongst cruisers on this forum. Things like JB weld and duct tape, while I agree is a sin if you have the means to do it right, but sometimes a man has to make do with the change he has rattling around on the floor to fix something. At least at times I know I do. Maybe I'm alone lol
To be honest, OEM stuff really is very high quality, which is why you see the almost rabid devotion to it.
But I also tend to use duct tape more than I should
But I also tend to use duct tape more than I should
My guess is most those Chinese winchs come from the same place in china, which may mean that replacement parts from whatever other name they are sold are swapable.
I play a bit with hi fi gear, from the early 60's to modern.
Many of the major and minor high end hi fi gear is now made in china, designed in US, sometimes put together in the US. This stuff is 2k -10k(or more) and is very well built and super high quality, the sound is as good as 10k+ stuff.But...the resale is not as good as made in the US gear. I picked up a insane 85lb amp(tube/solid state) 2 months ago, was 5k+ just a few years ago, got it for under 1k with a bunch of upgrades and service.....and warrantee (local, parts are not hard to get)
Would have cost over 10k to get the same in a US made product like Krell(which may now be chinese) or Mac.
However...my life or safety is not in danger with a Chinese amp.
If you can find a used warn get it, but if not....I say roll with the Chinese winch.... $300 is not the end of the world. If you find your using that winch alot....well that may be a time when you will want to upgrade to a Warn.
That said...pretty sure I would never run a Chinese winch....it's the snob in me.
I play a bit with hi fi gear, from the early 60's to modern.
Many of the major and minor high end hi fi gear is now made in china, designed in US, sometimes put together in the US. This stuff is 2k -10k(or more) and is very well built and super high quality, the sound is as good as 10k+ stuff.But...the resale is not as good as made in the US gear. I picked up a insane 85lb amp(tube/solid state) 2 months ago, was 5k+ just a few years ago, got it for under 1k with a bunch of upgrades and service.....and warrantee (local, parts are not hard to get)
Would have cost over 10k to get the same in a US made product like Krell(which may now be chinese) or Mac.
However...my life or safety is not in danger with a Chinese amp.
If you can find a used warn get it, but if not....I say roll with the Chinese winch.... $300 is not the end of the world. If you find your using that winch alot....well that may be a time when you will want to upgrade to a Warn.
That said...pretty sure I would never run a Chinese winch....it's the snob in me.
I bought my Warn M12000 used for $500 on craigslist. So there are ways to get a good winch without paying full retail.
My strategy was to find a used winch at a decent price. While looking I always knew I could use my hi-lift if alone in an emergency situation.
Know how to use your hi-lift and have the proper items to take care of yourself if you 'need' recovery capability.
Next question is, does he have a good hi lift?
(pants then shoes)
My strategy was to find a used winch at a decent price. While looking I always knew I could use my hi-lift if alone in an emergency situation.
Know how to use your hi-lift and have the proper items to take care of yourself if you 'need' recovery capability.
Next question is, does he have a good hi lift?
(pants then shoes)
I've had a few "s***ty chinese winches", superwinch, snap-on, champion.. All the same.
don't overheat them and keep water out and it'll work for a good while...
don't overheat them and keep water out and it'll work for a good while...
Didnt toyota run with superwinch exclusively for a while there?? Cant be that bad
Sent from my SM-G900I
Sent from my SM-G900I
I would guess buying the "traveller" winch would be as safe as any in the respect that the product comes from Tractor Supply. Tractor Supply
is big enough to honor their warranty on a product. Myself , I couldn't market a winch, except perhaps the 8274, because there would be inevitable failures and the customer would expect you to take care of the issue. As a certified dealer you will lose money on all warranty issues whether it's just time or cash it's still a loss. The only way around that is to have a markup sufficient to cover the losses. The market is getting too tight
to compete with the mark ups that smaller vendors would need to justify carrying a product that may see even a 1 in 25 failure
Tractor Supply did almost 6 billion in sales last year. They and other large companies can absorb the 1 in 25 free replacement. A very small shop can't. I know what markup is on these winches. I get solicited from Chinese manufacturers almost daily..
I can get 8000 lb winches with synthetic rope and a hawse fairlead for right about 225.00 each in quantities of twenty. 12K's are about 50 more.
It may look good on paper but you are taking the gamble that these winches do what they say and unless you have the funds to fly to China
and check them out you may just be buying 5000.00 worth of non refundable junk. There is no recourse if you want to return 20 winches to China
is big enough to honor their warranty on a product. Myself , I couldn't market a winch, except perhaps the 8274, because there would be inevitable failures and the customer would expect you to take care of the issue. As a certified dealer you will lose money on all warranty issues whether it's just time or cash it's still a loss. The only way around that is to have a markup sufficient to cover the losses. The market is getting too tight
to compete with the mark ups that smaller vendors would need to justify carrying a product that may see even a 1 in 25 failure
Tractor Supply did almost 6 billion in sales last year. They and other large companies can absorb the 1 in 25 free replacement. A very small shop can't. I know what markup is on these winches. I get solicited from Chinese manufacturers almost daily..
I can get 8000 lb winches with synthetic rope and a hawse fairlead for right about 225.00 each in quantities of twenty. 12K's are about 50 more.
It may look good on paper but you are taking the gamble that these winches do what they say and unless you have the funds to fly to China
and check them out you may just be buying 5000.00 worth of non refundable junk. There is no recourse if you want to return 20 winches to China
I've bought about 5 Warn winches on craigslist used, but mostly unused by the original owners. I picked up a new 8274-50 for 400 bucks once. It's so easy to find a quality made winch used, I just sell them with the truck. Why buy new, or crap, or new crap? Just read an ad, and show up with a screwdriver and check it out. I've only had to walk away from one, that i can recall.
According to Warn, there are too expensive to make. The Warn family stored a Jeep at 4Wheelers Supply in Phoenix for decades. They were
1/2 owners with the Cornelius family, now full owners since Grandma died and the family sold off their stake. I knew the management well
and they were AZ's authorized Warn dealership and service center so I frequently got the inside stories.
Because of the cost of production on the 8274, Warn considered discontinuing it but in the end kept it, raising the price to a level it could be justified.
The Chinese need to build parts that sell in huge numbers and have component interchangeability. Planetary gear sets have become so cheap
and readily available they aren't going to build a bull gear winch because the numbers won't be there at 1000.00 a piece or 60% of the Warn
price. It is far cheaper to copy the least expensive design then swap motors and planetary sets around giving you a more diverse product line for the cheapest investment.
Think Chrysler's "K" car
