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Best Winch for the $$

Discussion in 'Recovery & Gear' started by DexterL, Oct 22, 2019.

  1. Oct 22, 2019 at 6:42 PM
    #1
    DexterL

    DexterL [OP] New Member

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    Installing a C4 hybrid front bumper on my truck end of Nov/ early Dec and want to toss a winch on the front. Use will be very minimal- I seem to get stuck 1-2 times a year and usually end up pulling people out of boat ramps and ditches (especially during winter). Thinking a 10k would be more than sufficient with a synthetic line to keep the weight down. I know warn is king... but I dont feel like dropping $1,500-2,000 for something that will rarely be used. Looks like a relocatable control box is ideal for this bumper.. let me know what to get!
     
    Rica25 and Bakelite like this.
  2. Oct 22, 2019 at 6:50 PM
    #2
    BreyTundy

    BreyTundy New Member

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    I had a smittybilt xrc10 winch with a synthetic line on my old Fj and loved it. It worked for me one time when it was like 5 degrees out and never left me stranded. I'd take a look at that one for a great price point.
     
    Rica25 and Sunnier like this.
  3. Oct 22, 2019 at 7:07 PM
    #3
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    I’m in the same boat. I’m looking and researching winches and can’t justify the price of the winch per use.
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  4. Oct 22, 2019 at 7:09 PM
    #4
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    TuwaPro rack, Z1 Offroad stuff, NISMO suspension stuff, FlowmasterFX Extreme exhaust, AIS, OVS, J&L can, other goodies on the way
    New Gen Smittybilt wireless X20
     
    Rica25, Sunnier and Zero One Actual like this.
  5. Oct 22, 2019 at 9:05 PM
    #5
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    Best for the money? Can't go wrong with the warn m8000.
     
  6. Oct 22, 2019 at 9:10 PM
    #6
    mountainpanda

    mountainpanda New Member

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    I ran a smittybilt on my fj and used it a total of 6 times, it worked every time but the clutch was a little finicky. In my experience the winch paid for itself after 1 use, the other times it was just nice to have.

    If I had to do it over again, and I’m sure I will here soon, I’m not sure I’d do the smittybilt again. Like I said it worked every time, it just wasn’t the most confidence inspiring.
     
    Rica25 and Sunnier like this.
  7. Oct 22, 2019 at 9:39 PM
    #7
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Right? Good overall winch. Snatch block and you have really good winch setup.
     
  8. Oct 22, 2019 at 9:41 PM
    #8
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    I paid less than $800 for mine and it came with the synthetic rope. Brand new
     
  9. Oct 23, 2019 at 7:52 AM
    #9
    Kerch71

    Kerch71 Surgical Precision

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    CM TRD Pro glass panels, Icon 2.5, TC long travel UCA/LCA, Toyota supercharger, Airlift rear suspension, Warn winch, custom front and rear bumper, Coachbuilder roof rack, lengthened chassis 12", 37" Nitto Grapplers, custom graphics, Magnaflow Flowmaster 4" SS Exhaust
    Warn or Smittybilt.
     
  10. Nov 14, 2019 at 6:40 PM
    #10
    Spoolnms

    Spoolnms New Member

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    The harbor freight winches have great reviews. I have a Bandlands 12k winch on my car trailer and its been used countless times, left in the weather and still works as the day I bought it.
     
    Oakman, Red13, NueveTundra and 5 others like this.
  11. Nov 15, 2019 at 9:41 AM
    #11
    Scuba

    Scuba Sober member

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    Smittybilt is good. The one on my Tacoma currently is the second one. I spooled in the 1st one too much and it broke itself. :rofl:

    I did this line with my Tacoma right after this pic and my winch kept me upright. (you can see the winch line spooled out)

    I didn't use my winch to get up this one.. but it is a cool picture from the same trip..
     
  12. Feb 16, 2020 at 6:06 AM
    #12
    codename607

    codename607 New Member

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    Bandlands 12k...not sure about the new one tho. The old one was awesome for me. Used it on my FJ for several years. When I sold the truck I gave the winch to another FJ buddy and he is using it today.
     
    Rica25 and texasrho83 like this.
  13. Apr 8, 2020 at 6:42 AM
    #13
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    I second Badlands winches. Buddy of mine did offroad recovery with it. Was amazed at what that thing could pull out and under some adverse conditions to boot. If I ever buy one it'll be Badlands with the lifetime warranty. Harbor Freight will replace it should it ever go down.
     
    NueveTundra likes this.
  14. Apr 8, 2020 at 7:12 AM
    #14
    frichco228

    frichco228 Valued Member

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    I am going to buck the trend....winches I have purchased in the past (to be very budget friendly) were Ramsey. I have never had an issue with any of them....always worked when I needed them. They cost less than some of the newer brands. Cost aside, Warn is great too.

    [​IMG]
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  15. Apr 8, 2020 at 8:53 AM
    #15
    ARMYGREEN

    ARMYGREEN New Member

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    Warn. Reliable like Toyota.
    You want it to work when you need it.
    You will find uses for it beyond what you think.
    I use mine for yardwork pulling trees and bushes.

    8CDA0F6F-4F04-4C90-97BF-ADC29F0B4935.jpg
     
    Darkness, fasteddie565, chugs and 7 others like this.
  16. Apr 23, 2020 at 9:04 AM
    #16
    ckkone

    ckkone New Member

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    Best for the money are Smittybilt and Harbor Freight. Really no need to spend over $1k on a winch unless you work/live very remote and depend on it everyday.
     
  17. May 30, 2020 at 12:20 AM
    #17
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    Looks like Katemcy! Apologies for the derail.
     
  18. May 30, 2020 at 1:04 AM
    #18
    Wallygator

    Wallygator Well Zippedy Da Do!

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  19. Jun 2, 2020 at 6:02 AM
    #19
    msikk

    msikk New Member

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    I'm looking at Badlands and Smittybilt. My co-worker has a lot of winching experience and gives great reviews for the Badlands (but the warranty though!).
     
    Rica25 likes this.
  20. Jun 2, 2020 at 7:02 AM
    #20
    GiantsFanDan

    GiantsFanDan New Member

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    Been using a smittybilt since 2018. Works great but it's been used more for pulling tree's on my parents property for firewood than recovery.

    [​IMG]
     
    Wallygator likes this.
  21. Jun 2, 2020 at 7:24 AM
    #21
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    I’ve had warn and smittybilt. No issues with either. But unless you are using it daily, no reason to spend more for the warn name. Smittybilt actually has better specs than the comparable warn. Any winch can crap out on you in the middle of nowhere.
     
  22. Jun 3, 2020 at 11:53 AM
    #22
    pnw.tundra

    pnw.tundra PNW Tundra

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    Having run a smittybilt myself, I'm going to splurge on a Warn this time around. I personally haven't had issues with my X20, however, I've seen other brands fail out on the trail. The main reason I'm getting a Warn this time around is for the wireless and clutchless features. Having recovered people and myself many times in the snow, it will save so much time and effort.

    Secondly, I compare a winch to insurance. You need it when you need it. I prefer to have peace of mind from a company backed by a limited-lifetime warranty from a local company (Clackamas, OR) than from who knows where.

    But, in the end, having any winch is better than not having a winch...
     
    equin likes this.
  23. Jun 10, 2020 at 6:11 AM
    #23
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    Where do you guys find the best deals on winches? Where should I look besides ebay and 4WheelParts?
     
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    #23
  24. Aug 24, 2020 at 10:09 AM
    #24
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    Got a bead on a Mx6085 d1 for $30. Essentially an older Warn m6000. Think it’ll be enough with a snatch block? Is it even worth bringing back? Unfortunately, I believe this is a different type of motor so can’t upgrade it with more HP to make it similar to a m8000. Could be wrong though..
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2020
  25. Aug 24, 2020 at 1:52 PM
    #25
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    Or Amazon. I got an x20 last Black Friday for under $400. It was off eBay though.
     
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    #25
  26. Aug 28, 2020 at 6:36 AM
    #26
    rpeltz

    rpeltz New Member

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    I've had a Warn xd9000i series for over 15 years on my 2000 Jeep Wrangler. It more than paid for itself on the 1st use. The only issue that I've had with it was due to the salt used on the roads here in Ohio after having it for about 7 years. The load holding brake rusted to the inside of the drum and ceased the winch. Luckily I worked with a friend to disassemble the winch, we honed out the inside of the drum and reached out to Warn customer support for advice on the spring tension for the load holding brake. Due to liability reasons they said that they could not provide any guidance at all. They said that we would need to ship the winch to them, pay for a repair and pay for shipping back. We decided to just make our best effort and it has worked since.

    My more recent purchase has been a Smittybilt x2o. I mounted it on a portable receiver hitch mount and used it on the rear of my 4runner. The clutch is a little funny but it works. I've used it for moving dead Jeeps on and off of flat bed trailers as well.

    I just picked up a fabfours premium hd bumper for my 2008 Tundra and I'm planning to move the x2o into that bumper. I'll let you know how it works out from there, once it's installed.
     
  27. Aug 28, 2020 at 7:37 AM
    #27
    DexterL

    DexterL [OP] New Member

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    I went with the x20 gen2 12k winch, got it off ebay with a synthetic rope last fall for $299. Only used it once (of course!) and it has been flawless
     
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    #27
    FirstGenVol likes this.
  28. Aug 28, 2020 at 8:25 AM
    #28
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    You were one of the few who picked it up off the seller who set the price too low and then deleted the listing a few hours later, correct?
     
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    #28
  29. Aug 30, 2020 at 1:02 PM
    #29
    CaptainGrumpus

    CaptainGrumpus The Mailman

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    Harbor Freight Badlands..Nice winch for $600 when its on sale.
     
  30. Aug 31, 2020 at 10:50 AM
    #30
    DexterL

    DexterL [OP] New Member

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    Yep, was watching ebay every day and saw it and jumped!
     
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    #30
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