Winch sound off (1 Viewer)

[Scylth]

I’m debating which winch to get. I have a quote from Slee for a Zeon 10S platinum, but Amazon has a Zeon 10S standard for half price. I’m in the middle of installing a 24 gal LRA, and will eventually have new front and rear bumpers and rack and drawers.

I’d like to hear:

1) why did you choose the winch you have
2) what has your experience been with it
3) if you did it again, what would you choose.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

 

[TonyP]

Others may disagree, but put the largest winch you can fit and/or afford behind your planned bumper (12k or so). You can always double line pull a 9.5k winch if needed but that's not always possible, especially solo wheeling. Just my opinion.

 

[kevinfoutch]

M12000 here because of capacity and easy to rebuild / find parts if ever needed. Not the fastest by any means but works when needed - that's good enough for me.

 

[Willy beamin]

Warn zeon 12 with southeast overland synthetic line and factory 55 splicer. Thats been used once when the air
Locker developed a hole
In the line. Glad i had the winch

 

[Haggis]

I own two Warns. One is a M8000 in my Tacoma and the other is a M12000 in my 60, both have synth rope to reduce weight and for safety. Factor 55 as well. I too am looking to add a winch in my 200, not sure what to use regarding that pesky radar camera up front...

 

[Willy beamin]

I own two Warns. One is a M8000 in my Tacoma and the other is a M12000 in my 60, both have synth rope to reduce weight and for safety. Factor 55 as well. I too am looking to add a winch in my 200, not sure what to use regarding that pesky radar camera up front...

Go
For a zeon 12 and relocate the pack into your engine bay if you have room.

 

[Markuson]

Biggest you can fit...

I am extremely happy with my 12S Platinum.

Warn resolves a wireless remote issue and it’s been flawless ever since. Literally dragged my 8300# + monster up a wall on its belly recently, and a couple trucks up the Gate. Tons of power when needed, and speedy.

I was nervous about wireless only, but there is a side benefit to fully wireless: It is impossible for knuckleheads to screw around with your winch line (pull it out...Steel links, etc. because the slack release is done by remote. Also...you can control it from anywhere, including safe angles and from significant difference if necessary.

Also...the 12S Platinum has a surprisingly fast crank rate. As power becomes maxed, it slows...which is good. But lighter cranking is very speedy.

If you decide to go Olatinum (fully wireless) keep in mind that the “box” is the wireless receiver...so raiding it to the top of your bumper...or engine bay is important. You want it above mud and water.

Also...you can add a receiver antenna kit that allows much higher installation if deep water is a concern.

 

[fireball]

I have had good luck with my VR10000 on my 100, and will with the 10k or 12k VR on the 200 when the time comes. I know the zeon is better, but I have a hard time stomaching ~3x the cost.

What front bumper are you running? Make sure whatever winch you get plays well with the bumper, and the line and clutch are easily accessible. Relocating the pack is a very smart move and worth the extra time and money in wire cost.

 

[Haggis]

That Zeon 12S Platinum will fit in the ARB bumper?

 

[Scylth]

I’ll most likely have an ARB front.

 

[Markuson]

That Zeon 12S Platinum will fit in the ARB bumper?

Yes.

The 10S Platinum and the 12S Platinum are actually the exact same size.

 

[Romer]

you need a 12,000 pound winch either the M12000 or Zeon or another quality brand. Anything less would be stressed and possibly burn out when you most need it

I have an WARN M12000 winch that I have had for 14 years over 3 trucks and it has worked flawlessly every time I have needed it. If I were shopping today I may look at a ZEON.

I think Brand, Quality, Reliability and parts availability are more important than what model other than weight load

When I bought my 40, it had a rusted out burnt out WARN 8K winch on it. I cleaned it up and replaced the motor and it works like new now. That speaks a lot about parts availability on an older winch

 

[Mendocino]

I have a Warn 10-S Platinum on an ARB bumper and I hate the combination. The electronic control board in the winch died shortly after the winch was installed. Ben and the crew at Slee did a great job of getting it serviced by Warn. Warn's service policy is terrible and they require any warranty repair to have the entire winch shipped to one of their service centers. This can require very expensive shipping. Thanks again to Slee for doing the extra mile and doing the right thing.

I hate the wireless remote. The remote battery does not hold a charge for very long and as a result you *must* charge the remote whenever you go out or have the USB charging cable attached to provide power (so now it's not wireless). Also, now the wireless remote keeps loosing the "pair" with the winch so I have to constantly re-synch it. I'm really not impressed.

I will also have to do some modifications to the ARB bumper because you can't see the winch drum unless you are looking through the hawse. This is a terrible design as being able to see the drum spool line is critical to proper winching.

Anyway, I look forward to putting a proper winch bumper on the 200 with a better winch. I may have to wait a while, but when there is a viable replacement I will make the switch pronto.

 

[TimCFJ40]

As to winch sizing, the rule of thumb I've always heard is 1.5x vehicle weight, so a loaded 200 series could certainly justify a 12k winch. Also note that rated line pull is bare drum, so as you get a few wraps away from the drum (i.e. cable only spooled out 20-30 feet) you'll experience significantly de-rated line pull.

I'm sure Slee can get the Zeon 10s Standard or a 12s Standard or platinum also. They'll likely be a little more expensive than Amazon, but offer some service after the sale if you think you'd need such a thing. I've owned 2 WARN winches and both were great. I had a M9000 on my first Rig/Buggy and used it 50 times in some tough situations over 10 years. Later I had an M8000 on on my Tacoma, and it was great as well, but didn't get used as much. I'd go regular old non wireless Warn for basic reliability. Definitely recommend synthetic line to save weight and for safety. Steel cable is nasty stuff, especially as it gets older and kinked, worn, etc. I've got a Badlands 12k winch with Synthetic line on my 200 and if I used it for much other than pulling trees, I'd probably upgrade to a Warn of some 12k flavor. That said, I went on a rescue mission for a sunk 100 series, and I had to strap myself to a tree to keep from getting dragged into the hole with him and the Badlands did the job no sweat.

 

[Mendocino]

I have a Warn 10-S Platinum on an ARB bumper and I hate the combination. The electronic control board in the winch died shortly after the winch was installed. Ben and the crew at Slee did a great job of getting it serviced by Warn. Warn's service policy is terrible and they require any warranty repair to have the entire winch shipped to one of their service centers. This can require very expensive shipping. Thanks again to Slee for doing the extra mile and doing the right thing.

I hate the wireless remote. The remote battery does not hold a charge for very long and as a result you *must* charge the remote whenever you go out or have the USB charging cable attached to provide power (so now it's not wireless). Also, now the wireless remote keeps loosing the "pair" with the winch so I have to constantly re-synch it. I'm really not impressed.

I will also have to do some modifications to the ARB bumper because you can't see the winch drum unless you are looking through the hawse. This is a terrible design as being able to see the drum spool line is critical to proper winching.

Anyway, I look forward to putting a proper winch bumper on the 200 with a better winch. I may have to wait a while, but when there is a viable replacement I will make the switch pronto.

Here's an update: I still totally hate this winch and the POS wireless remote. I did Lockhart Basin after Thanksgiving this year and needed to use the winch to pull myself off a rock after I "slipped off" the correct line on the north side of Lockhart Basin near Chicken Corners. Not only was the remote dead, the winch and remote had lost its pairing so I had to remove the radiator valence to get to the winch in the ARB Summit bumper to re-pair the winch and the remote. This was a mess. I can't wait to get rid of this thing. That is all.

 

[RET2]

Unable to use traditional wired unit?

 

[ga12r1]

If you run with me and my squad you keep the wired remote in the passenger floor board ready to go. Plus we all run 12k Ironman/Smittybilt X20/Harbor Freight. They never fail to get the job done.

 

[stonepa]

I have 2 20 year old Superwinch 12000lb winches, both mounted in 20 year old ARB bull bars. One on my 60 and another one on my Disco II. The one on the 60 is original and works like new. The one on the Disco has spent a lot of time underwater deep wading. I have had to replace the motor twice since 2000 (easily done) and still works great.

 

[4wheelgreg]

I was pondering the Warn Zeon 12 Platinum , I picked up a brand new warn 9.5 xp local guy never used it and bought it cheap enough that I knew I was going to do the control pack upgrade . the 9.5 xp is a great winch , may be a little under powered for hard core wheelers for the 200 but for flatlander is going to be fine for now after talking to warn about the 12 Zeon Platinum .
I called warn about the Upgrade control pack for the 9.5 there were no tapped holes in the frame that holds the control is suppose to replace the winch center bars .
You were just suppose to drive the new bolts in the frame ... was not happy about that so I tapped the threads and locitite , what do you expect from china was right on the box ... shame .
So since I had Warn tech on the line I was giving hime my complaints about other model winches encluding the 12 Zeon Platinum about the wireless with no other option to plug in a wire control they should have a redundant back up and he said warn is working on it .
After that conversation I am going in to hold on buying any new warn Zeon products to see what’s going on .
I’m running a TJM T13 and according to Slee the 12 Zeon just fits , I think its a height issue , close to 11 inches high , with the 9.5 xp and the control pack upgrade I’m still under 10”s that will go in my build for now .

 

[dryrunner]

I'm the odd man out
COMEUP SEAL Gen2 12.5rs Winch