Winch opinions?

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
For all you guys who say that your Chinese made winch works great, I'd really like for you to qualify what that means. I mean, when I say my WARN winch works great, this is the kind of stuff I use it for...

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The above was a 4Runner that rolled 3 times end on end down a 25' ravine.

Here are a few shots of my WARN winch recovering a rig that flopped on it's side...

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Of course, here's a shot of Cindy putting all her trust in our WARN winch to help pull her up and out of Carnage Canyon BV...

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These are just a few samples of how we use our WARN winch. In over 7 years of hard work, it's never let us down and has proven itself time and time again. So I ask again, when you say how great your Chinese winch works, I think it would really help people to understand what you mean if you could show exactly how you have used yours.
 

Sharkey

Word Ninja
Not trying to derail, but every time I see pics of that Rubicon flop I scratch my head.

The Carnage pics of Cindy are great. Better have a lot of faith in your winch to tackle trails like that.
 
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suicideking

New member
If you don't mind me asking, got any pics of the last 4 winch uses you've seen? Just curious to see what you guys are getting into and why one was needed at all? Not being facetious here, just sincerely curious.



Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know I had to show an exact color and fake carbon fiber look to prove ENGO's are all made by the same manufacturer in China. :rolleyes2:



Please, based on that lame logic, I should know better than to offer up my opinion on here being that I run a WARN. :naw:



Nobody said it wasn't a good deal - just that for people who actually need a winch, there are things that are more important than a "good deal".

I don't have all of the recent ones on camera, here's a few though:

Here's a recent video on Dishpan (Big Bear, CA)

This one was a Smitty X8 (or whatever the 8K is lol)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89pnFGt2GEA

Next was a while back. Also a Smitty 8K

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZKcM1NEthM

Next one was last Saturday. Thought it was a Smitty, but checked and it's actually a Warn M8274. So one point for you, but a cool pic nevertheless.

Pumpkin Eater (Stoddard Wells, CA)

Lots of winching that day. Probably 60/40 Smitty to Warn and no failures. Unfortunately I didn't get to use mine though. :doh:
 

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wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Yeah, what I thought. I was kinda hoping to see pics or videos where a winch was actually needed. Thanks just the same.
 

CaliCrusher

New member
I got high centered at John Bull two weeks ago at the toughest section. I have a Warn Zeon 10S. It took everything my winch had to get me off the rocks.

I have to say, I much rather depend on a product that's made by people who WANT to make winches, rather than those who could give a shit about making winches.
 

Leocon

New member
I got high centered at John Bull two weeks ago at the toughest section. I have a Warn Zeon 10S. It took everything my winch had to get me off the rocks.

I have to say, I much rather depend on a product that's made by people who WANT to make winches, rather than those who could give a shit about making winches.

I will prob never have to use my winch like Eddie and you guys but, I still wouldnt want anything other than my warn!!!
 

jeffj

Caught the Bug
I don't have any pics but I do have a real world experience I'll share. Me and my brother had a really steep and long 70 foot winch out of a canyon. I had warn 9500 xd I think. I went first it was very scary and was glad I had that winch. At the top it was pulling so much juice all my lights were coming on the dash but I made it up the hill. My brother on the other hand had saved money on a smitty built and it was a really bad situation. It crapped out half way up and his brakes wouldn't hold him. We did get him out with my winch. He learn a big lesson from that day. Even if you don't use your winch much it's that one time that can get you.
 

Jkjamesdawson

New member
Is your winch really where you want to cut corners? The OP stated he realized he had a "need" for a winch...if you've uttered these words you need a Warn winch. By the time you "need" your winch it's the only thing that will get you home. Your suspension, tires and lockers have all failed you...you've aired down to no avail, you've tried your jack and failed. You're buddy just hooked up to you and ripped his budget tow strap in half...time to pull your winch line. It's 2:00 o'clock and your anniversary dinner reservation is for 5:00, if you want to make it in time buy a Warn. If you want to get a divorce buy a cheap knock off.

If you can afford a JK you can't afford not to have a Warn winch.
 

WOKNROX

New member
Yeah, what I thought. I was kinda hoping to see pics or videos where a winch was actually needed. Thanks just the same.
I'm still trying figure out what your trying to say here? I'm sure you've been around the trail a few time but your starting to come across like an ass here with this one. Everyone has their own needs and budget so they need to come to a decision based on that not because someone on a forum bullies them into feeling bad about what they have or what they are going to purchase.
I'm the guy with the Warn 8274 Suicideking is referring to on Pumpkin Eater last Saturday. I was running recovery for multiple rigs that couldn't make the Waterfall. A winch was definitely needed if they wanted to clear it.
With all that said I love my 1980 Warn 8274 on the front of my jeep just as much as I love the 25 year old Mile Marker on the front of my Scout II. I'm one of those guys that actually uses my winch...Both of these winches have seen more pull time over the years then yours has been built..I'm the first guy to step up to help with a recovery every time one is needed and after all these years neither one have let me down.
Cheers
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
I'm still trying figure out what your trying to say here?

Funny, seems to me like you have it all figured out but hey, what do I know.

I'm sure you've been around the trail a few time but your starting to come across like an ass here with this one.

Of course I am - You don't like what I have to say and so I must be coming across like an ass.

Everyone has their own needs and budget so they need to come to a decision based on that not because someone on a forum bullies them into feeling bad about what they have or what they are going to purchase.

"Forum bullies"? You honestly know people who actually feel bad about what they want or have bought because of what someone said on an internet forum? :cheesy: Of course everyone has their own needs. For me, dependability and safety is a must and so I put them before budget. Clearly, others don't have the same needs and so budget is a priority for them. :naw:

I'm the guy with the Warn 8274 Suicideking is referring to on Pumpkin Eater last Saturday.

Oh, I'm sorry, did I bully your buddy Suicideking to the point where you had to come on to the internet and defend him :naw:

I was running recovery for multiple rigs that couldn't make the Waterfall. A winch was definitely needed if they wanted to clear it.

Funny, I don't recall any point on Pumpkin Eater where a good strap couldn't do the job but hey, you're the expert here. Nice winch you got by the way, about the best and most expensive you can get and one I would trust too.

With all that said I love my 1980 Warn 8274 on the front of my jeep just as much as I love the 25 year old Mile Marker on the front of my Scout II.

Unless I'm mistake, both of those old winches were made in the USA, were they not? I mean, that is what we were talking about here - Chinese vs. USA made winches. :thinking:

I'm one of those guys that actually uses my winch...Both of these winches have seen more pull time over the years then yours has been built..I'm the first guy to step up to help with a recovery every time one is needed and after all these years neither one have let me down.
Cheers

Wow, you're so cool. When I grow up, I hope I can be just like you. So, tell me about how well one of these new Chinese winches work. :daydream:

Cheers
 

DKronk42

New member
Where I live I will never have a need for a winch like you birds out west do. That being said im still budgeting for a warn... I would rather have a rock solid dependable winch that is proven than one with a questionable track record. Its the condom theory, ide rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it... With how much money we put into our rigs i dont see how we can justify cutting a corner on recovery.
 
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wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Where I live I will never have a need for a winch like you birds out west do. That being said im still budgeting for a warn... Ide would rather have a rock solid dependable winch that is proven than one with a questionable track record. Its the condom theory, ide rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it... With how much money we put into our rigs i dont see how we can justify cutting a corner on recovery.

It's funny how people will justify the cost of a lift or getting bigger tires but then try to rationalize why they bought a cheap winch especially being that the prior can get you into trouble and the later can get you out of it. :crazyeyes:
 

DKronk42

New member
I know how tight my budget is, and i know how long my build is going to take... That being said, i feel like its even more important for me to have the best recovery gear because i cant afford for anything disastrous to happen to ny jeep...
 

WOKNROX

New member
Funny, seems to me like you have it all figured out but hey, what do I know.



Of course I am - You don't like what I have to say and so I must be coming across like an ass.



"Forum bullies"? You honestly know people who actually feel bad about what they want or have bought because of what someone said on an internet forum? :cheesy: Of course everyone has their own needs. For me, dependability and safety is a must and so I put them before budget. Clearly, others don't have the same needs and so budget is a priority for them. :naw:



Oh, I'm sorry, did I bully your buddy Suicideking to the point where you had to come on to the internet and defend him :naw:



Funny, I don't recall any point on Pumpkin Eater where a good strap couldn't do the job but hey, you're the expert here. Nice winch you got by the way, about the best and most expensive you can get and one I would trust too.



Unless I'm mistake, both of those old winches were made in the USA, were they not? I mean, that is what we were talking about here - Chinese vs. USA made winches. :thinking:



Wow, you're so cool. When I grow up, I hope I can be just like you. So, tell me about how well one of these new Chinese winches work. :daydream:

Cheers

Yep....you still sounding like an ass...lol

I'm not sure how long it's been for you on Pumpkin Eater but if you slip off to the left you stand a chance of a flop. It's all dug out. For one of the guys this is what happened and he was able to stop before he flopped. I was able to climb up the bank above the trail and pull him to the right and forward up the waterfall. Also the 4 doors have a tendency to slip the rear axle off to the left and land on the ds once again requiring a pull. We had 14 rigs on that one ....Great day though.
 
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