Worm drive VS Planetary

When I first got my Jeep I started reading about winches, no not wenches.
I learned the follow:

• Heat is an issue and can harm synthic line.
• Spooling out line can take time depending on type.
• Heat can come the winch break (and other).
• Worm gear +low heat +"built-in" break -SLOW.
• Planetary +"fast" -move moving parts -hotter than worm.

Most Warn (10,000 lbs) winches are cheaper than the ONE electric worm drive winch I have found.

I don't plan to crawl up rocks or cliffs, but I will likely need to rely the winch should I get stuck. I don't want to buy a winch that I need to modify or alter to get a highly dependable winch. Are the costs worth a worm drive winch? Are the problems of a planetary drive (heat, breaking) seldom or real? Is a worm drive better than a planetary? Do I buy a cheaper Warn winch or the pricey SuperWinch.

Buy a higher end warn and your done.

Have you found that Superwinch is more expensive then Warn ? I can't believe that . I'm sure some will disagree with me but most of the time I have found that people usually just need a little tug, not a big long pull that will create so much heat that things begin to fray and melt.

Check out the midwest JKX vids and you will see Mel from ORE do a long pull through deep heavy mud. Its impressive what that warn winch was able to do. So far in all the vids this is the longest pull I have seen.

dahreno said:

Have you found that Superwinch is more expensive then Warn ? I can't believe that . I'm sure some will disagree with me but most of the time I have found that people usually just need a little tug, not a big long pull that will create so much heat that things begin to fray and melt.

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dahreno the Superwinch are cheaper when comparing planetary vs planetary. As far as I know, Warn does not make a worm gear winch. When comparing Superwinch's worm-gear winch to most of Warn's planetary winches, Superwinch is more expensive.

Have you considered the spur gear Warn M8274. Fast, strong, no drum heat issue. Gears are in oil not grease.

Indefatigable said:

Have you considered the spur gear Warn M8274. Fast, strong, no drum heat issue. Gears are in oil not grease.

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That Looks like it is an $1,800.00 dollar winch, and for that price I would get a worm drive.

Geekbsd said:

That Looks like it is an $1,800.00 dollar winch, and for that price I would get a worm drive.

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They really have not changed much since 1974. Mine was made late 70s that I have had for a decade.

Used they can be had for a few hundred and usually a nice used one is 500. Craigslist can be your friend.

I am a believer in this winch. In my opinion, nothing really comes close. The newer -50 series motor can retrofit onto the older ones easy bolt in application. I have run both the older and newer style motor.

We 8274 types are "different". Just like the winch!

But if you are just looking for a lay down style for a JK. I would go with one of Warn's HS9500, 9.5 or whatever they are going by these days. Lots of flavours available in that winch edition - just pick the options that work for you. It is faster than most. (no load line speed really really matters- loaded line speed not so much)