Winch Help

Hey all
I am currently looking to purchase a winch for my cj7 and was hoping for some help. I only have $400 to spend on the winch and mounting plate and no more. Was kinda looking at the smittybilt or a champion from samsclub. Anyone have any suggestions or input.
thanks

 

$400 won't buy a new winch and mounting system. $400 would be hard pressed to buy either piece new by itself. I'd suggest you keep an eye out for a used Warn winch and a used bumper and/or mounting plate. And start saving money, because even used, $400 winches and bumpers are pretty few and far between.

 

I haven't had any experience with the Smittybuilt, but the Champion's from Sam's are decent winches, just fairly slow. If you aren't planning on using it constantly, the the speed wont be much of an issue either way though. With us it gets annoying because some trips we take we end up pulling cable more than riding. R)

You might also look into a Mile Marker if you can find one for a good enough price, or check around and see if you can find a dealer for a Tabor. They are made by Warn, and are pretty good winches. Around here TSC, Northern Tool and Equipment, and places like that have them, even my local Advance Auto Parts (they have a performance line though so it might be different in your area).

I also somewhat agreen with NorCo about looking around for a good used Warn. I've seen several sell around here for anywhere from $150-$300 that work like brand new. If you have some good fab skills, look around at other people's rigs to see how their winch plates are made and see if that is something you can fab up, because you can make your own alot cheaper than you can buy it. Just make sure it's gonna be tied into the frame good though.

 

as far as mounting the winch, best way (i feel) is to grab a friend with at least some welding/fab experience and help you set up your own. you won't need a fancy bumper, but definately a solid mounting plate. these can be built cheaply, possibly found used for cheap as well. i've read and heard too many times, the winch needs to be mounted to at least a 1/4" plate tied into the frame-solid.
winches on the other hand are worth every dollar you put into them. if you REALLY want to find one for $400, well then go for it, but i think that with use and time, you will probably find yourself wanting to upgrade and shoot yourself in the foot for getting a cheap one. if you really think your going to use the winch a lot, it will be worth it to hold out a little longer and get a really good one.
but also, like MCSCOTT stated, keep your eyes peeled for a good used one. if you go used, i would go for a very good/high quality one, as i would imagine if they are selling it, they are probably upgrading-or just don't use it and could use the money... but keep those eyes peeled, cause they will be out there, good used for good price.

 

How big of a wench does a fella need for a cj?

Reason I ask is that I stopped and talked to a guy the other day in a cj-7 and I noticed he had a 3,000 lb atv wench mounted on the front that he got from Tractor Supply. I asked him about it and he said that he uses it as he's got his wheels turning to just help ease himself out of the mud. I doubt it would pull a jeep as dead weight but he said it works for him.

Figure this is related to the topic, not trying to hi-jack a thread here.

 

This is one of the reasons we like the Tabor. For the most part, Warn backs the Tabor brand just like they do their own brand, and you can upgrade a few parts on it later on and have basically a Warn winch. Biggest thing about finding a good used one is that if you look hard enough you can find a great winch for alot less than it cost new. More specifically I would look for a Warn only when buying a used one because you can easily get parts for it. My cousin picked up a Warn a while back that the guy said the motor was burnt up on for $150. I can't remember what he paid to have the motor rebuilt, but I know it was less than $100, so for $250 he had a good Warn winch so to speak. However, turns out it wasn't the motor at all, it was two of the solenoids, which can be bought at any FLAPS for like $8, so basically if he would have just replaced the 4 solenoids he would have only had about $180 in a good Warn winch.

 

I would say on a fairly stock Jeep anywhere around 6000lb to 8000lb. I know several people running CJ7's with one ton axles, V8's, and 44" tires that do great with an 8000lb Warn. Alot of that depends on the brand as well though. On a close to stock CJ5 I would most likely feel comfortable with one as low as 6000lb as long as it was a decent brand.

As for the 3000lb TSC winches, they do OK......but I don't think I would want to have to rely on one to get me out of the woods. We had one mounted on a trailer once, just pulling a light weight car on the trailer.......car was in neutral, and the tires were aired up, and the trailer was low to the ground and everything..........and the whole winch came apart, spool and all went flying. That was the cheaper of the TSC brands though, I've used the 3000lb Warn and Superwinch both and they seem to do pretty good, just not what I would want to have to depend on if I was stuck pretty bad, or if I was having to winch myself back over on all 4's.

 

I'm hesitant to speak up here, as winch threads always seem to go downhill fast.

I have the 8000lb Champion from Costco on my heap. I agree wholeheartedly with MCSCOTT. It all depends on how you're going to use the winch. My use? Not that heavy. When I wheel, I wheel with the same small group of guys, almost all have winches of various types mounted. Most of our stucks seem to involve mud or snow, not a lot of boulder crawling here. Each individual winch doesen't get used much, the winching duties are spread between them. So in my case, I went for the Champion, it's main drawback, that it's slow, doesen't come into play much.
Costco has a lifetime warranty, if at any time in the future I don't like the winch for any reason, take it back and they will replace or full refund, no questions asked. Hard to beat.
The 8000lb Champion comes with a "universal" mounting plate, snatch block, series wound motor, integrated solenoids, and a really ugly 12ft remote. Champion also makes larger winches 9500lb, which curiously have permanent magnet motors. The 8000lb works fine for me, so I stuck with the series wound.
Be clear, it is not a bad winch, but is in a different class than a good Warn, but it is literally 1/2 to 1/3 the price.
It's the kind of deal you have to think through. Some guys really need the Big Name on the front bumper to look cool crawling the mall, some guys need that same winch because they actually NEED a fast, reliable every time winch in the rocks.
Me? I like the $300 price for the Champion package (winch, plate, block, remote, cable w/hook) from Costco, and I really like that warranty. Couldn't ask for more for my use. I thought I was going to get the chance to take it back skidding some 4 1/2 x 10 ft sections of a fallen pine up a 45* slope this summer, but it would not croak. It's just slow. You will get all sorts of grim stories about Chines made winches, but if you Google the Champion, I don't think you'll find many complaints. I suspect Costco specifies a certain level of quality from their vendors, Costco's warranty would necessitate it. FYI, Champion's website:

http://www.cpeauto.com/winch.php

Good luck with your choice!

 

R)

FYI, I've seen those Champions abused pretty bad, and I don't think you're gonna kill it. As far as I can think of, the line speed is absolutely the only downfall to them. If most of your trail rides consist of having to use it once or twice here and there then you will never even pay attention to the line speed. As with alot of this stuff though, sometimes the line speed is a tradeoff on the strength too. That 8274 has fast line speed, but I've also seen times when it would just quit pulling.

 

paid $300 for a used Warn 8274 with the mount.
Deals are out there.

 

Asking what size winch you need is like how big a welder do I need. Get the best and biggest you can afford up to a point. On the mounting plate you could consider a section of 6" c channel 3/16". that would be plenty strong. You will need access to a good drill and bits to mount it. You will also need access to a welder for mounting the fair-lead. I would think a 3000lb winch wouldn't be good for much more than pulling a disabled jeep onto the trailer.

 

Damn dude, you scored.
I spent $200 for a used Ramsey REP 6000 and tray, then another less than $100 for a custom multi-mount system.
Point is though, if you shop around and can do some of your own work, it can be done on the cheap.

 

Typcial rule of thumb is 1.5 times vehicle weight. Since most of our Jeeps are right around or over 3000 lbs, a 3000 lb winch is a bit on the light side for much more than that.

 

As was just stated, the rule is to go a minimum of 1.5x your vehicle weight. The safe rule #2 after that first one is to buy the most winch you can afford above the 1.5x up to a reasonable point (probably no more than a 9,500 for our jeeps). Anyway, I had this same debate for a very long time while trying to save money for a winch and contemplating how nice a winch to get and what brand, etc. I was wondering about the $400 mile markers, then saw an integrated solenoid Superwinch for 600 that people said would be better. I like the look of the integrated solenoid for some weather resistance and whatnot. However, I think a Warn M8000 is like $589 and a piece of 1/4" or 3/8" plate to mount it to on the front of the jeep will be like 25 bucks and go get it welded on for another 30 if you don't know anyone. I know this bill comes to about $650 but if you can save 400, you can save 650, just wait and be happy. I kept saving for so long while trying to figure it out that I found a Warn XD8000i for $820 shipped, then after ordering it the guy called and said it had been discontinued, so I muscled him into a XD9000i for the same price, instead of 979 plus shipping, so I got very lucky there, and ended up spending way more than I had originally anticipated but will never ever wish I had a better winch. The other thing I thought of while trying to pick was I wanted a very good winch because its purpose is to get you unstuck and you don't want it to fail on you and keep you stuck or to not be able to pull you out. I don't do super gnarly comp. stuff, but I figured if I'm in the rocks and I should break a steering knuckle and lose a front wheel or whatever, I want my winch to be able to pull me through whatever or up whatever needs to be done to get me to where I need to be. Another thing is hopefully you have thought about getting a battery that can handle some winching without toasting it. Just another part of the whole winch fun. Sorry for the long post, hopefully it helps. Save some money and watch for sales on that Warn M8000. Good luck.

 

you guys kill me all very good points, keep a eye out on e bay, $400 aint even gonna come close for me bought a rph8000 hydraulic unit for $600 on e bay shipping included, figure i can sell my old one for about half, only draw back to the one i chose is now i am looking for a pto to power my hydraulic pump 3000 lb might be usefull with a snatch block or 2 ,1 block would put you right up there in the 6000 lb range,just not sure how long it would last definetly need to find a buddy with torches and welder that knows how to use them, you can fab this stuff easy,and a whole lot cheaper than store bought

 

just on a side note, i chose the one i got for a good reason, i use my jeep and winch to do other stuff besides 4 wheellin, so my winch may get used to skidd a log,pull out a truck bigger than the jeep,or simply pull the jeep out when its stuck, but i would recomend staying with a name brand i.e.warn,ramsey,tulsa,braiden,pierce,are the ones i looked at,ramsey just turned up used at the right price and good luck finding what you want

 

I paid $3,000 for a used 6000# Bellevue winch but it had a 3B attached to itR)R)

 

agreeing with you here... some say it is all about line speed, and being fast is nice, but when there is a REAL tough pull, sometimes the slower ones do have a little more leverage on the spool, kinda like having a lower gear ratio in your axles and tcase to have more torque on the tires... like MCSCOTT says, a 'faster' one will have a hell of a time with a real tough pull unless it has the monster motor to keep it going. speed is not always the #1 necessity, unless of course you are 'winch racing'

that champion sounds like a good unit, and i agree, you can't beat a 'lifetime warranty'.

*another note, you don't need to over power the jeep with the winch- a 12,000lb winch is overboard, but me personally, i don't want to count on just a 5 or 6k winch (let alone a 3k)... when i'm stuck/broke/busted in a real predicament, i want to know that i can drag my rig up, over, through whatever the hell is in the way.

 

this is the one i am looking at however i don't like the 2 inch reciever hook up. I want to go with a standard deal but I could make that and sell the mount http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=363733

I can not find any champions at costco website but they do have a milemarker PE8000 for the same price but does not come with any mount

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

I know milemarker is a better name but i would loose the extra power(not that i need it) and the mount(that i would not use) lol. Don't remember but it is going on a cj7.

 

why not a reciever mount? winch aint worth a dime if you find you need to pull yourself out the way you went in ahh nevermind just thinkin out loud again