I'm on a mission to find a decent Winch for my Cherokee at a great price, and was wondering if anybody has a Harbor Freight Badlands Winch and what they think of them? Are they any good? Are they worth buying? Because I have the chance to buy a 12,000LB. Winch at a realy realy affordable price. Just $299.99

So I just wanted to get some feedback from anyone running a Harbor Freight Badlands Winch. Here's the cupon that came in my monthly newsletter flyer.

 

If you were to line up a bunch of winches of different brands next to eachother, you would find they all look almost exactly the same. One of the 4x4 mags did a test of a bunch of different brand winches including the Badlands. It did just as well as the other less expensive brand. They picked Warn as the winner even though it was not able to finish the testing. I still have not figured that one out. I would say you can't beat that price, I would go for it.

 

Ya I have that magazine that article was in but if I remember correctly they couldn't even test the badland harbor freight winch because it didn't even work right out of the box.

 

So I would like to try and get some feedback from some other cherokee owners that run a Harbor Freight Badland Winch? If they are any good and if they like them?

 

Ya im looking at gettting that same winch for mine but really with Warn and smittybuilt ur mainly paying for the same and warranty otherwise they are the same winches. I would def get the 299.99 one.

 

Warn has a lifetime warranty, I've never had a Warn not work. They aren't the same.
I've been wheeling over 35 years, buy the best you can afford. Why would you buy a winch that didn't even work right out of the box?
Why 12000 lb winch for a 4000 lb Cherokee? One and a half times the rigs weight is the minimum, two times the weight is perfect.

 

I think your memory is off if I'm thinking of the same article. I still have it.

Yes sir! Rated the second worst winch out of 8 brands.

Here's the list rated from worst to best by. Fourwheeler mag
Summit racing
HARBOR FREIGHT
Kodiak bruin
Bulldog alpha
Engo
T-max
Superwinch
And of course warn.


Best value engo
Most dependable tmax
Most complete kodiak
Best looking bulldog
Best exterior finish harbor freight
Fastest to your door summit
Judges choice warn


There's a reason competitors all buy warn. Because they are the best. The last forever. Warn knows it and that's why they stick a lifetime on it.

 

I know warn is great and all im not doubting that. Im asking about the Harbor Freight line. Im on a tight budget I wish I could afford a warn but my pockets don't go that deep. Around 300 Is all I can afford maybe 400 But even that's pushing it. So I just want some feedback from people who actually have a Harbor Freight winch and if they like it or not?

 

hf winch is trash, a friend didnt even run his for 6 months and it leaked full of water and rusted out internally.

There are better options than the warn winch for under 400$

 

ive got it on my jeep. works great and has pulled me out of every situation needed. WOW 300?! ha i might have to find that coupon and get one for the rear hitch lol

 

anything from hf will fail on you sooner than later.

with something as important as a winch you want it to be dependable.

I would MUCH rather buy a used quality than a new hf winch

wasnt there a thread about the smaller one like last week...

 

HAHAHAHHAAHHAH Has NO ONE heard of the XRC8, smittybuilts 8,000lb winch thats always $299.00!!!

Look they even have it coming with a free XRC8 winch cover at 4WP.com
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-a...FSg1gwodEzTCJQ

I'll buy little trinket tools from HF, but when it comes to the one tool that can make or BREAK your day on the trail... HF is not the way to go. (period)

I run the XRC8 on my rig, & use it on just about every outting! Just plain works.

 

on every outing? lol sounds like you need to do a few upgrades or choose better lines lol.

 

good stuff! much rather have that than the hf.

 

Only reson I ask about the HF Winch is cause its a 12,000LB vs a 8,000-9,500LB from other companies for the same price. I was also looking into Ruff Countrys 9,500LB winch they have for 299.99 I think. But figured the extra pulling power might out weigh that one for the same price? Don't know decisions... decisions... decisions...