I am looking at installing a winch in the near future and would like to start looking for good deals. I did a search and all I came across is which winches people are using.

I want some debate here...which winch do you think is better and why? I am looking at getting 85-9500 lb capacity. Right now leaning towards the tried and true warn 9.5xi

 

I dont have one but when I spend the money Im getting a Warn. I have just heard way to much good about them and if Im already spending hundreds on something why go cheap. Just my .02

 

Mile Marker Hydraulic winches. This is what I plan on getting.
When compared too an electric winch:
Wont overheat
Can pull all day long, non stop.
Will work under water.
Can run off your power steering pump.

This is the where the electric winch people will freak on you...
A hydraulic winch, will only run when the engines running.
IF youre running off the power steering pump

SOLUTION! Wire the pump, to the battery, with a switch. And it will still probably pull longer than an electric winch. This does however require a separate pump & fluid resevior though.

 

Ive herd some good things (not fantastic but still good) things about vortex. Im about to buy one, an 8000# for only around $280. I think that they make a 12000# for low $300's.

 

I went cheap with a Mile Marker 9000# and had it fail on me when I needed it. Then I bought the Warn 9.5ti. I don't regret spending the money one bit. One side, I thought I would not need the line speed on the Warn being used to a PTO winch, but I really like it and would not be satisfied with anything else now.

 

I know nothing about there electric winches, because I dont care for an electric winch.

But there hydraulic winches are pretty hassle/trouble free & easy to use. Plus, I wouldnt call $1000 "cheap".
If they were so "failure prone" why is the US Military using them?

Dont get me wrong though...Warn does make good electric winches.
Ive just done my research, and know that hydraulic is the path for me.

 

I dont have a winch, yet. But most of the guys I wheel with do. Something that we have all learned is customer service. So far, when it comes to that Warn has the best all the way. We (the club SWMJ) has blow apart just about all the cheep winches out there. We have even burned out and blew up Warn ones. When ever we have blown a Warn winch, they have either sent the parts to fix it.

In one case they paid for the shipping back to them and sent my friend a brand new one. They couldn't believe that we had blow it apart they way we did (Using properly mind you).

Just something else to think of.

 

I don't have any objection to hydraulic winches, although I have seen one fail due to the priority valve in the power steering line. Their electric winches though seem to be mostly if not all import parts. The Mile Marker solenoids are known to fail when hot. I had mine under the hood and needed to open the hood when used to keep them cool. The motor on the winch itself just quit. I have been told this is likely due to sticky brushes on the motor armature not making contact. I haven't taken it apart to find out why yet, but I can verify it is deader than a door nail, which is pretty dead.

 

That warranty and customer is part of the price tag for a Warn. But to be fair, Smitty Built also has a good warranty and customer service that is on a par with Warn.

 

Before i invested in a winch i researched the more popular brands, talked to people tthat used them, and more inportantly looked at what people used that recovered vehicles for a living used.

Next time you pass by a tow truck, flatbed tow or otherwise, take a look at what they use day in and day out.

I bought the same brand.

Ramsey FTW.

 

when i get a winch its going to be a ramsy, without a doubt. These guys http://shipbottomboattow.com/ use ramsys all day long everyday. never once has there winches failed on them. and they last for 10 years. the marina i work at is the same story. ramsys on every trailer. we use our winches hard at least 10-15 times a day and our ramsys hold up for years, i can't actually remember ever getting a new one, our ramsys are old as s*** and work like champs. i don't think i've ever seen anything other than a ramsy on a commercial boat trailer.

 

The only experience with Warn or any winch other than 18000 hydraulic on a faltbed....is my buddy's Warn on the front of his Four Runner and over the past weekend I watched him pull himself almost vertical with it up a rock wall after busting the front cv axles. The winch didn't skip a beat. I am hoping to land a used one.