[BamaLonghorn]

Does anyone have any of these winches? I came across them today, they look good and the price seems to be cheap for what you get. Let me know because I am in the market for a winch and am on a budget due to being in college.

[john NC]

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f27/harbor-freight-winches-lets-finish-argument-146369/

[Benderff]

You get what you pay for. I'd stick with a better brand myself.

[bigchevyman24]

I have to give mine an A+++++++ two thumbs up!!! I have pulled myself out 3 times, a full size chevy out buried up to the headlights, a land rover in the ditch, an s10 in the ditch, and straightened a buddy's bumper with it. One of those times I pulled myself out was 4 hours worth of pulling with the jeep sitting on the tub...very very bad night lol. I highly suggest them. But, people will always put them down. Just like anything, you may get a lemon. But, I feel I have definately gotten my $300 worth even if it poops out on me tonight. By the way, look around or do a search for a 20% off Harbor Freight coupon...you should be able to find one...

[TheBoogieman]

One of them (Chicago electric 9000)out did the higher priced winches.
Paying for name brands is buying a BMW 4x4 over a Jeep

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=353

[Brown Dog]

When selecting a winch, look for the "made in China" sticker...then keep looking.

[Dog Man]

I have the 9000 it works great, it is not a fast pulling winch but it will pull for days.4x4 magazine did a winch shoot out and the only winch that out did it was a warn and only due to the line speed. the magazine was shocked with how well it works and for the price they would take the chicago hands down. They said they tryed to kill the chicago winch but could not, it just kept on pulling nice and slow.

[nbrege]

You can get a Smittybilt 8000 LB winch for $300. Not sure how the quality compares to the HF/CE winch, but Smittybilt is a fairly reputable brandname. Might be worth considering if you're looking for a budget winch...

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=1041&plID=10130&partID=40271

Heres the HF winch:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40764

[edzakory]

I have the 9000 as well and for the price/value I am satisfied.

If I were in search/rescue I may have considered a different winch. Since I usually travel with others who have winches, then reliability was not my main objective.

Reliability, however, has not been an issue, just slower line speed. Since I'm not pulling people out of a canyon and only other Jeeps or abandoned cars, speed isn't an issue.

[BYuen]

Just my opinion, but if I were you I would at least aim for a Warn M8000 or Superwinch Epi 9k. Can't beat the quality and price on those.

[BENG]

I must say my HF 8000 doesn't owe me a dime. It's never missed a beat and keeps on chugging along, I think it was a great buy. Granted for recovery I am never without at least two different methods and maybe I feel differently about it because of that.

Funny I haven't been stuck enough yet to save myself--snatch strap usually (only had it since Feb. I think)--but I have been using it in the woods to pull and drop many large trees that were leaning against the barn or the house. The Jeep is, after all, a Utility vehicle!

Can't even count how many times I've used it that way--and many times I've had to use all the cable it has--it's never missed a beat. I know I'll regret saying something like that tomorrow!

I just pulled a decent-sized maple tree from across a trail tonight after cutting it in half and still not being able to budge it by hand. Guess I should add the chainsaw to the list of recovery gear.

I may not yet know much about it's rescuing abilities, but for hardcore farm-type utility work, it's top notch. And I'll use it 100 times more that way than I will at recovery.

And I gotta look at it this way--I believe my alternators are Nippon Denso, and one TJ has 185,000; the other has 159,000. Both on the original alts. Can I expect that kind of service out of a made in China winch? Hopefully I'll let you know in a few years.

[carpekd]

Usually you can look at the craftsmanship of the actual product and make a sound decision .

[cpleasant]

4weelparts.com has the Smittybuilt XRC8 for $300 and free shipping. Orders of $300 plus are $25 off. Since the price is five cents below this you only get $10 off, unless you add a $1.95 plastic CJ mirror bushing like I did. $276.90 to the door (Unless you can find something cheaper than the bushings to add to your order).

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by Brown Dog

When selecting a winch, look for the "made in China" sticker...then keep looking.

I'll pay more to avoid a Chinese winch, that is for sure. Not only do I PERSONALLY think they aren't a good long-term investment (i.e. won't hold up as long), I don't like sending any more of my $$$ to China than I absolutely have to. To me, it's as much principle as it is I don't like the quality of any Chinese-built winch I've seen. Even those made for Milemarker which are probably built to better specs have their problems.

People brag about their American-made Jeeps but they can't spend a little more for an American made winch?

[Dcomf]

You can debate politics and throw around atavistic statements all you want what remains is the OP wants a good, cheap winch. The ones he mentioned have proven themselves time and again and he can obviously research that here on JF with a search. Every winch has its issues, even the big red W goes sizzle pop and lets the magic smoke out. If they didn't, then there would be no need to sell 'repair' parts. Why does every thread about cheaper winches get hi-jacked and the OP get subjected to the ranting of how their choice is futile? Besides everybody knows if you are going to save your money for a "good" winch then hydraulic is the way to go. No big solenoids to go pop and pulls all day without a rest period.