what winch do you recommend for use in california?
- Thread starter poomero
- Start date
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
I think it depends on what kind of wheeling you plan on doing 8000lbs should be good. I went with a Smitty built due to cost I paid 260.00 for mine. However I am not doing Cal rocks or Top truck challenge so not needing something with a fast winch speed or something that's going to need to take a lot of abuse. I would have rather had a Warn but at 500.00 dollars it was out of my price range. I have had my winch on for around a year now and have used it 4 times once in the mud and 3 times this last weekend to pull down trees out of my way at Stonyford it works fine for my needs. I wonder about it sitting out in the Pacific Northwest rains though. Hope this helps.
You may try the search function to get more info on winches.
You may try the search function to get more info on winches.
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
That's the type of wheeling I find myself doing however I found myself on some narley double black diamond trails this last weekend I would like to try Fordyce or Rubicon however i never think my truck is ready for that kind of abuse.
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Make sure that you get springs rated for a heavy bumper and winch I have Rubicon 5.5 ZJ V8 springs it sits pretty good. I had Old Man Emu then put on the bumper and winch and lost 2". I run 32" that's a pretty good combo with 5" you will need to cut some sheet metal though. I know a couple of people that have run Rubicon with 32" and open diffs but expect a lot of dragging sliders or in his case rockers and gas tank.
SharkXJ
NAXJA Member #1177
- Location
- San Jose, CA
Warm M8000 is a good option.
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Only for you rich people Mark he he.
crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
I would go with the warn then its hands down the best winch. Its made in USA i think there headquarters are down the road from me in Portland Or. That's also why its 500 dollars. I really try to stick with buying products made in the USA its getting really tough though. Just couldn't afford it at the time and didn't want to wheel alone with out a winch a come along would have gotten me by but I am old and outta shape I probably would have been found dead by my rig of a heart attack. Maybe I should buy that winch after all.
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- Location
- West Sacramento, CA
WM-8000
Most the time a tug off a rock stuck is not much work for a winch, but you get in to even a small mud hole and you will give your winch a work out. Snow stucks can also really work out your winch, the longer pulls in snow can really push your winch.
I have seen the Warn 8000 fail, where my Warn 9000 got the job done, but I have been told the warn 9000 is more then I need. The one time I was able to drive back to camp and others had to leave the jeep over night was more then worth the money to me.
I have watched a friends Ramsey (9500 I think) pull him and me out of lots of stucks.
I would never buy a mile marker, NEVER! Over heating will make the winch a large and heavy boat anchor!
If you are only going to buy the winch once, my advice is to spend the money the right way now.
I have seen the Warn 8000 fail, where my Warn 9000 got the job done, but I have been told the warn 9000 is more then I need. The one time I was able to drive back to camp and others had to leave the jeep over night was more then worth the money to me.
I have watched a friends Ramsey (9500 I think) pull him and me out of lots of stucks.
I would never buy a mile marker, NEVER! Over heating will make the winch a large and heavy boat anchor!
If you are only going to buy the winch once, my advice is to spend the money the right way now.
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crazymoose1990
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beavertown
Amen Dave. So anyone want to buy a winch just kidding. I guess i will just have to do a bunch of short pulls so I don't overheat my wimpy winch. So i guess you will get out faster but I will still get out is what your saying. I do have a question for you Dave your telling me your winch pulled you out and you left all your buddy's stranded or am I miss understanding cuz that sounds wrong. I was just wondering 
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Sitting in front of your computer it might seem like it sounds wrong, but you were not there.Amen Dave. So anyone want to buy a winch just kidding. I guess i will just have to do a bunch of short pulls so I don't overheat my wimpy winch. So i guess you will get out faster but I will still get out is what your saying. I do have a question for you Dave your telling me your winch pulled you out and you left all your buddy's stranded or am I miss understanding cuz that sounds wrong. I was just wondering
Even in the summer time the privet property we were at can put you into a unsuspected stuck. The first few rigs would break up the hard ground and the third or forth rig would fall into the nasty mud under the hard crust. Here is a shot of my junk from 2002:
In early of 2005 we left 3 rigs at 2am as the cold was just too much. After working on getting every ones rig out for over 5 hours the fear of frost bite and the possibility of putting more rigs into trouble then helping the rest out was what made our decision very easy.
Everyone trying to cut fresh tracks to not break into the mud under 2 feet of snow put us all far apart but side by side with noting to winch from.
The snow was very cold and wet, then the mud mixed in was a mess. Most every rig was built up, good tires, lockers etc. etc. etc.
The one with street tires was in deep and we had to leave it:
That is my junk with the head lights pointing at us, the Warn 8000 was on the Yellow TJ, it just could not pull me out, not enough power. He gave up and wanted to leave my junk over night. We ended up using mine my Warn 9000 but it was really ugly, there was a large bush under my front axle and I pulled over it. Very scary pull.
Another shot:
Another shot:
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