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Best Winch for the $$

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

  1. Sep 4, 2020 at 5:16 AM
    #31
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    They have lowered the price and now if you use a twenty percent off coupon you can get it for around $480. I can only imagine Black Friday pricing for it.

    I have watched a lot of professional and individual YouTube reviews on the badlands 12000 and it seems like it’s the real deal. For me, I brake something down price wise per use. Meaning how many times per year will I use a blower or pole saw or whatever. A winch for me is an accessory like a maxtrax recovery board. For just a bit more than a recovery board I can get this badlands winch and be happy with it.
     
  2. Sep 4, 2020 at 11:35 PM
    #32
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    Anyone have experience with the Badlands Apex 12,000 winch here in the forum? With a 20 or 25 percent off Harbor Freight coupon, that puts you in around $450-$480. All the videos and reviews from the Jeep community and a few others seem to like it for the price point. Just curious if anyone here has one or has seen one in the wild.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn1mdtl4qXE

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1nNkCuPWNlg
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2020
    kittyhawk likes this.
  3. Sep 5, 2020 at 4:01 AM
    #33
    Asimov2025

    Asimov2025 Not Sure

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  4. Sep 10, 2020 at 4:02 AM
    #34
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    I just got the Warn Evo EV 12,000 for $780 plus tax and free shipping on eBay with a best offer deal if anyone is looking. PM me and I will send you link to the company’s eBay page.
     
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    #34
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  5. Sep 18, 2020 at 3:56 PM
    #35
    LA184

    LA184 Living the Dream

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    4 in lift, 35s, Black Rhino Armory Wheels, Custom Rock Sliders, SDHQ ABS Guards, Warn Winch Bumper, Warn Evo VR 12-S Winch, 4.88 Re-Gear, Rear E-Locker.
    I also run the Warn Evo 12k capacity Winch. I have been happy with it. My motti is: buy once, cry once. Hence the reason I bought a Toyota.
     
    wandering_boy and ColoradoTJ like this.
  6. Sep 18, 2020 at 7:19 PM
    #36
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    Winch arrived as described with no issues.
     
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    #36
    ColoradoTJ likes this.
  7. Oct 20, 2020 at 3:08 PM
    #37
    kittyhawk

    kittyhawk New Member

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    I ran an older model of HF 8000 on my Jeep LJ from 06 to around 12. For a sub $300 winch it work great till It got so slow winding in. I upgraded to a Smittybuilt 9500 with synthetic rope. Now that thing was a great winch. I'm looking at the HF Badlands for my ranch jeep just need more than a comalong.
     
    Zero One Actual likes this.
  8. Dec 8, 2020 at 8:03 AM
    #38
    plumber802

    plumber802 New Member

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  9. Dec 8, 2020 at 8:15 AM
    #39
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    I got the Warn 12,000 Evo for $740 with synthetic. The Evo line is made overseas but you still get Warn customer service and warranty.
     
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  10. Dec 8, 2020 at 8:19 AM
    #40
    plumber802

    plumber802 New Member

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  11. Dec 8, 2020 at 10:08 AM
    #41
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    This is purely speculation but it seems like the prices of winches are up this year. Maybe because of covid? Supply issues or more demand from people getting outdoors? I waited for a Smittybilt sale on Black Friday but never found anything even close to the deals I saw last year.
     
  12. Dec 12, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #42
    Mwray8909

    Mwray8909 New Member

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    I have the harborfreight 12K badlands. For $480 +tax you can't beat it. I spend hours of time doing research as well. Not just youtube but researching and reading other forums as well. Im super excited with my purchase and I'll update after I build my bumper and get it through its paces.
     
    Zero One Actual likes this.
  13. Dec 12, 2020 at 5:18 PM
    #43
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    Ya I looked at that one really hard and got a really good deal on my Warn 12k Evo w synthetic for $720 so I went for it. But I was going to get that thing until the company on eBay accepted my offer. Out of CA, I am guessing Covid was hurting their business.
     
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    #43
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  14. Dec 24, 2020 at 12:21 AM
    #44
    wandering_boy

    wandering_boy Junior Tech Wizard

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    For anyone still looking the Warn Evo 10/12 - S are good options. rated at 10k and 12k respectively. they have synthetic ropes and are priced at $745 and $850 on 4WP. other wise I have heard great things about Smitty built. You just have to be aware of and possible space limitations.
     
  15. Dec 24, 2020 at 12:24 AM
    #45
    wandering_boy

    wandering_boy Junior Tech Wizard

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  16. Dec 24, 2020 at 11:18 AM
    #46
    41bigdawg

    41bigdawg Let the BIG DAWG Eat

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    I have the Smitty X20 Comp 12K on mine and love it...I have heard good things about the Badlands at HF, for the price seems like a good option. If you have the money and are going to use it a lot I would consider a Warn.
     
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  17. Jan 12, 2021 at 11:28 AM
    #47
    rockmup

    rockmup New Member

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    The APEX is the same as the EVO
     
  18. Mar 7, 2021 at 1:22 PM
    #48
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    Looking for a Chinese winch with synthetic line on sale. Looked like $599 for Badlands Apex and $699 for Smittybilt XRC. Don’t see any sales currently.
     
  19. Mar 7, 2021 at 1:22 PM
    #49
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    Looks like the Smitty comes with a much longer warranty and more features. But the apex is well reviewed and the best for my budget.
     
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  20. Mar 7, 2021 at 6:26 PM
    #50
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    You will win with both. I was going for that Apex but scored the Warn during Black Friday for $750 for the 12,000lb synthetic.
     
    Skey44[QUOTED] likes this.
  21. Mar 7, 2021 at 7:14 PM
    #51
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    yeah I think I like the Apex better. It has less electronic "features" and seems to free spool much easier. The smitty looks like it'll pull faster, but not sure thats my most important criteria.
     
  22. Mar 7, 2021 at 7:34 PM
    #52
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    They just ran a 20% off no exclusions last week..
     
  23. Mar 7, 2021 at 7:48 PM
    #53
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    Oops guess I missed that darn!
     
  24. Mar 8, 2021 at 2:44 AM
    #54
    Zero One Actual

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    If our big trucks are stuck, why are we in a hurry? The whole faster line speed is marketing to people that aren’t competing. It’s like going 80 on cruise control or going 90 swerving in and out of traffic. Maybe you save a minute or less of time and in a recovery situation I’m taking my time since I put myself in the situation anyways.
     
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  25. Mar 8, 2021 at 3:42 AM
    #55
    Skey44

    Skey44 GreenvilleOverland

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    Yes I agree and it’s also not like I do trails where I’m stuck repeatedly winching. I’ll be using it for hopefully infrequent/surprise events and chores or moving a tree off the road. Also the slow control of winching is a nice alternative to a snatch in certain scenarios. I’m not concerned with line speed. I do like the robust freespool mechanism on the apex as well. I’m probably gonna just buy one on my way to Columbia tomorrow :cool:
     
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  26. Mar 8, 2021 at 5:46 AM
    #56
    Zero One Actual

    Zero One Actual Member among Members

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    Be careful in the big ol city!
     
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  27. Apr 6, 2021 at 5:09 AM
    #57
    eick

    eick New Member

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    Apex Badlands 12k on sale this weekend for 499. Not sure how much an extended warranty is
     
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  28. May 29, 2021 at 3:44 PM
    #58
    Tundra18overland

    Tundra18overland Traversing the million mile road

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    To the Guys running the synthetic rope...I know it’s a great debate steel cable vs synth rope. Can someone sell me on synth rope? It’s $200 more for the warn vr evo 12 with synth rope.
     
  29. May 29, 2021 at 3:53 PM
    #59
    TravisJr

    TravisJr New Member

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    Lots o’ mods
    Lighter (if that’s a consideration for you), and safer if it breaks.
     
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  30. Jun 4, 2021 at 11:27 AM
    #60
    2mchfun

    2mchfun Yeah it'll pull it, just don't expect to stop!

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    Just my opinion, but a 3 ton come along seems like a better choice than any winch. First of all price, secondly reliability. Plus a whole bunch of other reasons. Am I missing something by skipping the winch? Convenience comes to mind, but not valid from my perspective.
     

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