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Did Some Winch Research

3K views 32 replies 15 participants last post by  Filthy-Beast 
#1 ·
I did a little research into winches tonight and a couple of things stuck-out.
  1. I could not find full specs for the Quadratec winch and the numbers they posted were for 8000# pull, not full capacity.
  2. Superwinch has a really fast 0 pull but the slowest full capacity pull
  3. The Warn cti has an incredibly strong pull with 4 wraps on the drum at 77.9% of capacity, while both Superwinch and Engo where under 60% of capacity.
  4. The price jump from the Warn Zeon to the cti gets you faster line speeds, higher pull power with lower amp draw at 4 wraps at a lower weight.

I was planning on getting a Talon winch for my JKUR based on the performance of the EP9.5i I have on my LJ. Now that I look at the numbers, the line speed at capacity, plus the pull strength at 4 warps has me looking hard at the Warn cti. Big question, is it worth 400 bucks more?

I probably average 30 pull or more a year. Very few of my pulls or others I have watched happen with only one warp on the drum so I keep coming back to that 77.9% pull strength at 4 warps.
 

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#3 ·
It does have good line speeds and low amp draws. There is drop off in pull power with 4 wraps, but you got a TJ not a heavy JK 4 dr. There are many happy user on the forums.

I'm not sure of the build quality or longevity, I've never seen one. If you only wheel a few times a year and there are always other jeepers around with winches I wouldn't worry about it. I use my winch a lot and often go with just my daughters who like to get stuck so I'll stick with Warn or Superwinch.
 
#4 ·
I've got no complaints with my Superwinch EPi 9.0: Rated at 9,000 lbs, amp draw at capacity: 350, line speed at capacity 6.4 fpm, 0 pull speed: 44 fpm at 55 amps. Weight with steel line: 95 lbs.
 
#6 ·
that's the one on my LJ I've abused it hard and it still works great.
 
#5 ·
Filthy-Beast said:
It does have good line speeds and low amp draws. There is drop off in pull power with 4 wraps, but you got a TJ not a heavy JK 4 dr. There are many happy user on the forums.

I'm not sure of the build quality or longevity, I've never seen one. If you only wheel a few times a year and there are always other jeepers around with winches I wouldn't worry about it. I use my winch a lot and often go with just my daughters who like to get stuck so I'll stick with Warn or Superwinch.
Thanks Filthy. I know I got stuck hardcore yesterday, and my buddies smitty built came to be quite useful. Engo just seems to be in the right price range, and the YouTube videos seem to prove its worth.
 
#9 ·
No complaints with my Superwinch LP10000. Dunked in water and frozen, pressure washed, 2 hours of constant winching up a 30* incline with no assist from the motor. Still runs perfect.
My Warn XD-9000I, I do admit to a heavy draw from it, prolly won't run 15 minutes at a full weight pull without starting worries or motor assist(or burning up and the winch carries a heavy duty rating).
 
#8 ·
I have a rookie question for anyone on winches?

What about the cheapie winches from Harbor Freight? I know you get what you pay for, but I won't need a winch very often. I'm assuming even a cheap winch will last for more than say 10 - 20 uses. That would probably be 10 - 20 more times than I would need it.

I'm not an extreme offroader. Don't plan on putting my jeep in that position.

Any comments....which cheap winches are the best? When I say cheap, I mean under 500.00.

Thanks
 
#10 ·
What about the cheapie winches from Harbor Freight? I know you get what you pay for, but I won't need a winch very often. I'm assuming even a cheap winch will last for more than say 10 - 20 uses. That would probably be 10 - 20 more times than I would need it.

I'm not an extreme offroader. Don't plan on putting my jeep in that position.

Any comments....which cheap winches are the best? When I say cheap, I mean under 500.00.

Thanks
Depends on the definition of extreme:p to me extreme has a high pucker factor and most times I use a winch are mild wheeling in slippery or muddy places. Like stuck in a mud hole or unable to get up a wet slippery hill.

That said, with all I've read I'd go with Engo long before a HF or Quadratec.
 
#12 ·
Go with a MileMarker hydraulic winch... then you can pull all you want with no issues. Mine has worked perfectly for 7 years with not one failure or slowdown.
 
#13 ·
I would have to give the thumbsup to that MM hydraulic winch. Don't have one, but do have a MM 9500 electric and it has been a great winch. And, using my 15,000 Warn hydraulic winch shows the difference between an electric and a hydraulic. The hydraulic operates effortlessly pull after pull not working up a sweat on the hardest pulls. And, the stats on that MM H 10.5 are pretty good. Should have considered it when I built the XJ.
 
#14 ·
There are three things I want from my winch
#1 dependable.
#2 fast
#3 replacement parts
I know #1 and #3 kind of offset each other but lets face it, parts break and wear out.
#2 People say hey if I am stuck I am not in a hurry.
Alot of the time you are using a winch it is to get up over a obsticle that your Jeep is not up to the challange of getting over, or maybe you just feel better having the winch cable attached.
I do not want to be driving over the cable or waiting for the winch to catch up.
 
#16 ·
Jerry Bransford said:
Two problems with Milemarker's hydraulic winch that would not make it a good choice for me personally... 1) It won't work unless the engine can be started. I have had to winch my TJ three times when the engine couldn't be started so I was happy to have an electric winch. Yes I was able to start the engine off my single battery after finally getting the engine where it could be started so no, the amount of winching I did without the engine running didn't drain the battery. 2) A hydraulic winch is ungodly slow. Many new offroaders would say who cares if the winch is slow but there are many times you need to also drive/steer the Jeep to assist the winch. I had to do that 3 weeks ago while struggling up a very tough rock water fall climb. Only an electric winch will be able to keep up during that type of use without the winch line snarling when your Jeep's forward progress under its own power outruns the winch. Which is why line speed is a factor for many, it certainly is for me.

I actually won a brand-new 2-speed Milemarker 10,500 lb. capacity winch years ago at a 4x4 event. Without a second thought, I sold it in favor of my well used Warn HS-9500i winch.
Real world advice is worth a good deal of headache relief if you listen. This is the kind of info that keeps you from buying 3 winches before you get the right one. :)
 
#17 ·
As they say, to each their own Jerry but to your points:
1. In 37 years of wheeling, I've only not been able to use the engine once and in that instance, I used the Hi-Lift to get to a position where I started the engine, thus thiis has been a non-issue.
2. My winch is plenty fast and I have used it with the rig running/steering many times without overrunning the winch line.

I had an 8274 before switching to a hydraulic winch and I can flatly state I will never go back to electric.
 
#25 ·
I've not seen a failure during winching, I've seen a few that would not work at all, but that was probably a power cable, controller or solenoid issue. I've seen several with such bad maintenance that I didn't want be around. To answer the tow truck question it has to due with duty cycle, those winches can run continually and an electric winch needs a breather to cool down.

I think the argument has more to do with ease of install and maintenance for most people than what's better. I've been around a lot of hydraulic farm equipment and plenty of leaking connections and broken lines.
 
#29 ·
This thread has veered off track. But to add to its current situation, ill add this.all winches have their place. Hydraulic,best suited for equipment and 'get the job done situatio' do wrecker operators care how fast? No. They want to pull that broke rig off the street and get to the next guy. Does a hyd winch have other uses? Of course. Off road recovery. Yes. Uprooting trees. Yes. Same with an electric winch. Stuck truck. Sure. rotten tree threatening your house? No problem. Hand crank winches. Loading a boat onto your rig. Who frankly gives a ****. Use your damn winch and get **** done. What you use it for defines the type you need. Its not which is better. We all wheel differently. We all put ourselves in different situations. We all use our winches differently. Maintenence is a huge factor in how a winch operates when called upon. Proper operation is an enormous portion of how effective the winch is. Now stop arguing like ten year olds and 'my dad can beat up your dad.'

That being said, yes, you get what you pay for. So that in itself will make the choice somewhat difficult for new jacks. But, look at warn(yes I have an older 8274 that I rebuilt, so I am biased) but look at their line of winches. They make tons of winches for trucks. Why? Because they all have their own strenghts. if you want to buy cheap but don't know which one and speed and amp draw is important, then look and warns lineup, then compare it to the cheaper ones. When you find a cheapie similar to a warn(as far as numbers are concerned) then look at what that warn was designed for. You will find out exactly what that cheapie will do. Obviously cheap charleys winches are, well, cheap, so you read jf and other sites for opinions, remarks, horror stories, etc. Then you know if its worth throwing your lunch money at. Its not hard. Its not complicated. just use your head. If that's not attached you don't need a winch.
 
#33 ·
That's some winch with a price tag to go with it. Do any US competition teams run one? I've decided to get also get tires, bumpers and armor instead of just a Gigglepin, so I ordered a 9.5 cti-s on Friday.
 
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