Winch recommendations (do I even need one?) (1 Viewer)

[maxse01]

Hey guys,

I put on the ARB Combination bar about 3 months ago and it's screaming to have the front hole filled with a winch. What's appropriate for a modded Cruiser that's mainly used for daily driving and sometimes may venture off road? I would like it to be capable of pulling itself out if I'm wheeling alone (which I rarely do). I know I could grab a Warn 12000lb winch with synthetic line for $1800, but I don't think I need all that nor do I want to spend quite that much.

Thanks for the input.

 

[iptman]

How handy are you? I bought an M12000 used off CL for $600 and spent another ~$200 rebuilding it. There's quite a few threads in the Winching and Recovery subforum on rebuild M12000. Mines on there somewhere. For as heavy as the 100 series is you wouldn't want anything less than a 12k pound winch. You could check out the Badlands 12 at Harbor Freight which gets decent reviews on MUD or try the ENGO 12k. Both of these go for less than $400 with steel cable.

 

[maxse01]

Decent, but not confident enough to rebuild one.

Do most of them come with a cover plate, or is that something I need to buy extra? Is it required?

Thanks.

 

[jamarquardt22]

Not sure what a cover plate is. I got my m8000 off eBay used for like 300. I had to buy a winch contoller and I got a new used steel cable from someone who put synthetic on right away.
I have never rebuilt mine. And it came with a evidence sticker on the bent multi mount
Remember a warn will always be worth rebuilding.
I wouldn't consider less then a 10k winch 12k sounds better for your rig

 

[iptman]

Decent, but not confident enough to rebuild one.

Do most of them come with a cover plate, or is that something I need to buy extra? Is it required?

Thanks.

It's more like doing a puzzle rather than mechanical work.

Here's my rebuild thread.

m12000 full rebuild

Warn support was awesome throughout my rebuild process as well. The tech I worked with even had me send my motor back to him to bench test and when he did he found a the brushes were burned out, he replaced them for free. Customer for life!

 

[thegadgetguy]

I bought a m12000 off Craigslist (I think the Philadelphia area one maybe?) earlier this year, and did more of a refurbishment than an actual rebuild (the internals were still greased up nicely, and the only part that needed paint was the drum). They are pretty simple to work on, and it definitely helps that you can do it all on a workbench and it doesn't require crawling around under the hood like a lot of projects.

One thing I would recommend is definitely test before you buy if you are thinking about a used winch. I didn't, as I had a proxy for the actual transaction and it was a good enough deal that I could replace the motor with new and come out ahead if I needed to (which I ended up doing as the motor was toast). However, if you can get one where everything works and all it needs is cleaning, grease, and paint, they are not that much more exspensive than some of the cheaper options, especially considering how overbuilt a m12000 is compared to other 12k winches (I could not believe how much bigger/heavier it was than the harbor freight 12k). With that said, you will lose at least a little ride height in the front. These things are heavy. I don't know how you correct for that on a 100 series with the torsion bar suspension without just getting more lift.

 

[maxse01]

Not sure what a cover plate is. I got my m8000 off eBay used for like 300. I had to buy a winch contoller and I got a new used steel cable from someone who put synthetic on right away.
I have never rebuilt mine. And it came with a evidence sticker on the bent multi mount
Remember a warn will always be worth rebuilding.
I wouldn't consider less then a 10k winch 12k sounds better for your rig

Hawse Fairlead is what I meant.

Good to know, maybe I'll go that route.

Thanks guys.

 

[maxse01]

Would this fit in my ARB?

Warn Winch M12000

 

[iptman]

Yup. That's not a bad deal either. Looks to be in good shape too.

 

[maxse01]

Thanks!

 

[jamarquardt22]

Looks older but hardly used. Looking at the fairlead anyway. I don't know what fits a arb for a 100 series. If I had to guess I would say yes.

 

[fireball]

Chuck,

I debated this a lot and narrowed the choices down to the Engo 10k and the Warn VR10000, both with synthetic line. In the end I chose to spend a few hundred more on the Warn because I thought there was some additional comfort in going with a known reputable name brand, my house is about 100 yards from a Warn authorized repair shop, and it just plain looks cooler than the Engo.

That said, I've used it twice I believe. And I'm sure the Engo would've done just fine. You can always use a snatch block and double the line if you are really really stuck and worried about overloading the winch. Usually not an issue here in the "tree-y east" to find a close enough anchor point to double the line back.

Another reason to not get too carried away is if you rarely will be going out solo. Often times it's quicker/easier to have someone give you a tug up or over or out of something rather than rigging the winch.

Those are my two cents.

 

[shmukster]

I have an M12000 on my 80 and of course never used it. Doesn't look like the previous owner used it a lot either, and my truck was wheeled a bit before I bought it. AN ARB winch bumper without a winch looks bare, though! There seem to be a lot of new brands out there now that advertise in Toyota Trils and Toyota 4wheel drive owners magazines. I don't think you can go wrong with a Warn though. My 40 runs an 8274 and it's been sued several times and works flawlessly. I had a Warn (model unknown) on my 55, bought it used from a friend, used it quite a bit and it never was a problem. The used Warn you are looking at looks to be a good deal. By the way all the wheeling I did in Colorado never ever required a winch, the trails you will be running on HIH are a bit scary, not tough, unless you do Poughkeepsie Gulch. Looking forward to see what you buy!
As an aside I was questioned at Cruise Moab as to why I run steel cable. Guess mostly because my steel cables are in good shape and haven't been a problem, but also cause I don't see the need to spend money just to change to synthetic.

 

[maxse01]

Thanks guys. The CL poster hasn't replied, so maybe it's gone already. I grabbed a hi lift Jack, and I know that can used as a winch in a desperate situation. But like most said, I rarely go out alone so it's probably not crucial to have one. But the bumper goes have a huge hole in it....

 

[Crusha]

But the bumper goes have a huge hole in it....

Fill the hole!
Fill the hole!
Fill the hole!

 

[Output Shaft]

I've have an ARB winch bumper on my FJ60 for 25 years. And had a Warn M10000 mounted in it for 22 of them.

Although I have used the winch several times (because I had a winch), I finally got rid of it and glad I did. Still have the bumper though.

Adding a 125 lb winch + 2nd battery is a LOT of weight to be dragging around forever. You'll feel it every time you brake. Every time you accelerate. The big space in the ARB bumper that holds the winch can be utilized for something else. Like custom water storage container on camping trips. Or carrying heavy crap you want out of the back of the truck.

 

[joabmc]

As an aside I was questioned at Cruise Moab as to why I run steel cable. Guess mostly because my steel cables are in good shape and haven't been a problem, but also cause I don't see the need to spend money just to change to synthetic.

I agree Gary. I just won a synthetic line but doubt I'll use it until the steel lets me down.
We all know the arguments for synthetic and I understand the safety concerns. But I've only ever had one steel line fail and that's because we pushed it well beyond the limits.
Here's my observation and feel free to correct my logic. The synthetic line is very strong and safer upon failure. But the synthetic is also much more succeptable to failure. If we were out west on smooth rock or desert, then I'd say it's the best option. But you do need to be more careful with your angles (pinch points) and carefully study any obstructions. And in the NE, anytime a winch is needed, it's not usually an ideal recovery scenario. So your trying to recover over a ledge or other rough area and catch synthetic on a sharp rock, it's toast. That may be the difference in a successful recovery and losing a vehicle. (Worst case).

 

[jamarquardt22]

As an aside I was questioned at Cruise Moab as to why I run steel cable. Guess mostly because my steel cables are in good shape and haven't been a problem, but also cause I don't see the need to spend money just to change to synthetic.

That's my thought. I don't need to be spending money needlessly. Would I like synthetic. Yes. every time I pull cable up a hill.

Most of my using a winch, has been on myself. I may play harder then most though. Gary remember me re-centering my axle under the truck at CMCC last summer. Is been used to load my running but not driving runner on a friends trailer. Keep me from falling off pizza rock sideways by winching my own back bumper to a snatch block attached to avy's runner. Come to think of it most have been hard side pulls. And each time it has been the best way to save my ass. I don't get stuck too often where I can't back up either.

Get a winch Don't rely on others. Since the next guy with a winch may be 3 or more rigs ahead or behind you. I fail to see the need for a second battery for most users. Let the engine run during winching and don't turn it off afterwards. Carry jumper cables If your worried about it.