which wench in the wenching best

[Capt. Nemo]

If you want speed and reliability, get a Warn 8274 and don't look back. I ran one on my CJ, and I just picked one up for my XJ. It is by no means compact or light, but it is by far THE workhorse of winches. They're rated at 8000#, but I know they'll go further than that without stalling or burning up. In addition, this winch pulls FAST. You'd be hard pressed to find another winch that will keep up with the same line load.

 

[BRIANHO13]

I have a hydraulic MM winch. Yes it is slow, but it will pull all day. and I have pulled out some very very stuck people.

 

[bj-666]

can you winch while driving with hydrolic?
with hydrolic you cant winch with the engine off.

 

[INI SLDR]

Is it possible to drive a MM hydro with an electric pump? This might be the ticket for me b/c I would like reliability without the weight.

Could carry a spare electric pump and still not be as heavy as a quality electric.

Also: Has anyone ever put a hydro winch on a receiver hitch type of mount?

Sorry to hijack, have similar question

 

[Kejtar]

Is it possible to drive a MM hydro with an electric pump? This might be the ticket for me b/c I would like reliability without the weight.

Could carry a spare electric pump and still not be as heavy as a quality electric.

Also: Has anyone ever put a hydro winch on a receiver hitch type of mount?

Sorry to hijack, have similar question

SO you're proposing to have a hydraulic winch driven by an electric pump (which requires an electrical motor) instead of an electrical winch (which requires electrical motor)

And receiver mounted winches..... I don't think I've ever known anyone actually use on the rear receiver and everyone that I know that has a receiver mounted winch complains of the approach angle.

 

[Harvo]

I have a Warn 9000xdi on my CJ7 and I have owned a Harbor Freight (Mile Marker/ Chicago / el cheapo / all the same) electric that was on a 4Runner.

The Warn never let me down until I burned it up pulling my entire club up a muddy, rocky hill in a thunderstorm. I don't think it would have burned up then if someone would have told me that the cable was binding to the point it was stalling the winch out. Even burned up, it will still pull me out of a bind, but not as effectively as before. I will get the motor rebuilt this winter.

The cheapo (pick the brand name) had a selinoid (sp) problem. When it would warm up, it would quit. After 5 minutes it would cool and work again. I could winch a load for about 30 seconds at a time. I have a buddy with the same winch and the same thing happens to him. Another friend got the Chicago. After one submersion, it corroded up. Apparently the winch body is not sealed in any way. Another friend has a Mile Marker. He has been pretty happy, but he has had to replace two selinoids.

 

[NotMatt]

Here's where I put in my opinion on the subject.

I've seen Warn winches used time and time again to extract vehicles from the most stuck, most precarious, most dangerous, and possibly most deadly situations people have gotten themselves and their rigs into. Sometimes it's not just about getting yourself out of the mudhole you got yourself stuck in, it's your lifeline to make it up (or possibly down?) that scary obstacle you're attempting, or to recovery a rig from the side of a mountain, and on and on. These are the times you don't want your equipment (vehicle or winch) to fail, because it could have serious consequences, other than just maybe having to walk home.

Personally, I love my Warn M8000. It's gotten me out of some of the aforementioned "sticky situations", and I've never had to worry about whether the winch itself will work or not. It just does, even after being soaked in rain for years, used and put away wet, had too much cable spooled on it, and various other things that I and it's previous two owners did to it. I'm starting to push its limits though, and will start looking for either an 8274 or a 9500.

However, there is more to it than just the winch. The winch is just one part of the equation. Safe operation, maintenance, and an electrical system that's up to the task are just as important. I think for most practical purposes, any of the major winch manufacturers make a good product, but you need to know how to use it smart, maintain it, and make sure your rig's electrical system is up to extended winching.

Buy the winch of your choice, but remember you get what you pay for in this case... namely speed and reliability. Get a battery with lots of CCA's, something heavy duty that's designed for quick discharges and recharges (optima, odyssey, stinger, etc etc... NOT deep cycle), keep your cable in good shape (toss it or cut it short if you have kinks, frays, or any other questionable spots... or maybe use synthetic line, something I have not upgraded to yet), and when you do need to use the winch, don't get all riled up and bothered... settle down, take your time, keep your head straight, and be safe. Oh yeah, and buy a snatch block too because you'll use it.

 

[vegas_baja]

cheap Wenches are usually the best, they work really hard to make a buck, but you gotta be careful not to catch anything with them, the more you spend the better she will look and the less chance of getting something

I think you're wrong on this one.
I spent top dollar on mine, didn't work all that good and I still had to get fixed at the free clinic.


Can't comment on a winch, nothing to grab onto in the desert.
A good tow strap and a buddy's truck is all we needed.

 

[Bent]

Im going to get a wench, but I not to sure which is the best I know theres ramsey, warn, mile marker, and so on I was just woundering if any one has any pros and cons about whenches.

Warn 9.5si
No solenoid, sealed against moisture, 125" 5/16 cable and allows heat monitoring by the operator.


EDIT: Hydraulic winches are of little value when your rig is sitting on it's side (or top, but I wouldn't know) and you are the only one that is there to get you on all fours again.

Don't spend any more than what your butt is worth.

:lecture:

 

[Cox89XJ]

I have a Warn M8000 and love it. One of the first things to get along with the winch is a pulley block (snatch block) and "use it" when needed. The pull rate goes well beyond 8 or 9 K when you are stuck up to your axles and pulling out of a mud hole.

 

[BRIANHO13]

Is it possible to drive a MM hydro with an electric pump? This might be the ticket for me b/c I would like reliability without the weight.

Could carry a spare electric pump and still not be as heavy as a quality electric.

Also: Has anyone ever put a hydro winch on a receiver hitch type of mount?

Sorry to hijack, have similar question

There are write ups on the internet about people using electric hydraulic pumps. They ussually have better flow therefore increasing the winch speed. You can use reciever type mounting with them you would just have to plumb disconnects.

 

[BRIANHO13]

Hydraulic winches are of little value when your rig is sitting on it's side (or top, but I wouldn't know) and you are the only one that is there to get you on all fours again.

Don't spend any more than what your butt is worth.

:lecture:

I never wheel by myself, thats just a bad idea. you can right a rolled rig with a hi lift and a come along if it comes down to it. And MM stands behind their hydraulics like no other manufacturer.

 

[Harvo]

Hydro winches are worthless when the vehicle quits running. Electrics will still pull for a little while.

I have seen hydro winches stop working when the driver had to fight the steering wheel during a winch pull. If your steering system isn't in tip top shape, either the winch or your steering takes a back seat to the other when you are trying to use both.

I can fix a broken electrical wire on the trail. I can't field fix a busted hydro line.

I have never once seen a hydro winch outperform a name brand electric winch.

Those were all my reasons for going electric. I got my winch when hydro winches first hit the scene, so I debated the two. And as far as going to the trouble of installing a second pump... the best I have seen was another steering pump mounted to the motor, belt driven, just for the winch...

 

[BRIANHO13]

Hydro winches are worthless when the vehicle quits running. Electrics will still pull for a little while.

I have seen hydro winches stop working when the driver had to fight the steering wheel during a winch pull. If your steering system isn't in tip top shape, either the winch or your steering takes a back seat to the other when you are trying to use both.

I can fix a broken electrical wire on the trail. I can't field fix a busted hydro line.

I have never once seen a hydro winch outperform a name brand electric winch.

Those were all my reasons for going electric. I got my winch when hydro winches first hit the scene, so I debated the two. And as far as going to the trouble of installing a second pump... the best I have seen was another steering pump mounted to the motor, belt driven, just for the winch...

With an upgraded pump you can steer and winch at the same time.

The only reason I would go Electric of Hydraulic is speed. Because the electric is he11a faster.

there are trade offs going either direction.

 

[Capt. Nemo]

With an upgraded pump you can steer and winch at the same time.

The only reason I would go Electric of Hydraulic is speed. Because the electric is he11a faster.

there are trade offs going either direction.

So now you've got to buy a better steering pump ($$$) to run an average stall speed, slow line pull, won't work unless your engine is running, uses lines that can potentially leak and seals that could fail - hydraulic winch.

or

Buy a good electric winch that connects to the car battery which every single XJ (or any other vehicle on the trail) has and be done with it. Upgrading a battery is recommended, but is optional depending on how hard and how often the winch is used.

I don't see the trade offs going either direction...

 

[Oatmeal]

Here's my 2 cents: A winch is something you don't want to skimp on, you want it to work when you really need it. I would go with an electric, a hydraulic winch will do nothing for you if your truck is drowned out in a rising creek! Motor selection is also important. Most of your lower priced winches have permanent magnet motors (think of a slot car motor) and will lose oomph the more you use them (it will demagnetize over time), they put less of a load on the battery, though. Warns and some others use series wound motors (they create their own magnetic field) which pull hard and never lose their potency but, do pull more amperage. I have an ancient Warn 8274 on my early Bronco and it still pulls as hard as ever.....never let me down........Hans

 

[MDXJ]

i have the t-maxx and i love it fast line speed 6.6 hp motor it has a 10000 lbspull rate it was priced well i paid 750 with s\h

 

[Panthers65]

I would highly recommend a Warn Winch. There is a reason why they are a little more pricey, and if money is a big factor for you, the Tabor series by warn is a very reliable winch for pullin every now and then. You can usually get the Tabor 9K for right around $500. Same Warn quality, just without all the fancy stuff.

 

[CartsXJ]

I would suggest if its in your budget a Warn 9.5 XP or Si. Really depends upon your bumper style, but the 9.5XP has one of the fastest loaded line speeds, And with that 6P motor it just doesn't want to quit. That a good friend of mine has a PE8000 MM and it is reliable but slow, alot of the time she has to wait for the winch to catch up, which in some situations can be a little scary. Well at least thats what we can tell from her eyes :gag:

 

[Bent]

.....can right a rolled rig with a hi lift and a come along if it comes down to it.

Brrrrrrrrrrttt! Wrong!

Apples and Oranges. As with any mod, winch selection is a balancing act that will not always be the 100% best of all worlds. The best you can do research thoroughly. Take your time and make an informed decision based upon your needs.
Never confuse price with dollar value.