Budget Winch options
 

Has anyone had a good experience with a budget winch? Ive heard mixed reviews about Harbor Freight's Badland winches, but does anyone know anything about these others?
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couple guys in my group run the badlands. Its actually a pretty decent winch.

I have used a harbor freight winch a few times. not a lot for off roading, but I have used one to pull downed trees and even lower a wind turbine. (i can explain if you wish :blink:.) but the only issue I had was letting the cable go out too far while the clutch was disengaged and whatever I was pulling took off freely and ripped the cable right off the spool. It was a good winch in my book.

the badlands winch's (Now) really aren't that bad. REGARDLESS though you should pay for Harbor Freights extended warranty. Bring the winch back before the 2-yr period and have it warrantied out. They give you a new winch and you pay again for the extended warranty and your set again. Done this for many years now. Started with a 8k winch (it developed some slop issues between the motor and spool) warrantied it out and "at the time" they upgraded me to a 9k because they discontinued the 8k. before the 2 yr mark again I had to warranty the winch-this time it just had intermittent clicking from the control box. Though this time I returned for cash and then used the cash and coupon to get my 12k winch at the cost of the 9k.

They really are a nice bang for your buck, especially for someone's first winch (not implying this would be your first) and to give you an idea on if you really should invest $$ into a really nice winch.

That's what I'm really looking at. There's a Harbor Freight in like every town in SoCal.

How much walking are you prepared to do VS how much money can you spend?

I am going to get a winch sometime this year and I am still debating between the Harbor Freight 12K or one of these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smittybilt-...daEFaE&vxp=mtr
Has anyone used the Smittybuilt one?

One of my YJ's came with a Badlands on it. It's actually an older one and according to the PO he had used it quite a lot. I've only used it a couple times but it damn sure performed when needed. Even used it to pull a van out of a heck of a hole. I'd like to swap the old cable out but IDK... for the money and what the average joe needs / uses a winch for I'd guess it's good enough.

you can buy a Smittybuilt 9500 Xrc for just a smidge over $260. thats more than youl ever need for an XJ

That's what I was considering, do you have any experience with the smittybuilt winch?

I'd like to know more about this as well. I'm limited on mounting height at 11in.

Any thoughts on the Traveller brand that TSC sells. I have one It's a 9000 or 9500 lb that I got in trade a while back and was thinking of using it when I build my new bumper.