UglyDuck

Looking at a getting a winch for the XJ. I have my eye on a couple different ones. I know I get what I pay for, and some will tell me to get the most expensive like a warn, but I like others, am on a budget, need the most bang for the buck so to say.
The two I'm looking at and would like to know if anyone has had any experience with are, the Moto Alliance Viper Classic 10000# http://motoalliance.com/Site.Store.g...tDetails&id=48 and Viper Max 9500# http://motoalliance.com/Site.Store.g...tDetails&id=49,and the MileMarker 8000 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MMK-77-50141/. What are the pros and cons on an integrated contactor compared to non integrated? I would like to use it front or back, so which is best for that. Any problems with running wires and disconnect to run the winch at both ends? Are these winches any good and/or have any known problems? What other winches would you recommend for 300 bucks? What about Smittybilt winches?

Thanks

mr white

Engo winches in the vendor forum. 10k for $315 shipped right now. Haven't used mine yet, but check out this review:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...t/viewall.html

brookhart63

Warn. Hands down the best and made in america.

Edit/not for 300 bucks. Go to harbor freight and pick one up.

UglyDuck

Thanks, that's some good info!

xjmarc

Only one of those I have any experience with is the MileMarker, never heard of the others. MileMarkers are tough but slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Make sure not to get the end bolts too tight or you can't disengauge for free spooling.

EVILXJ

I just got my engo installed last week. I havent had to use it on any hard pulls yet but I've done some testing. Love it so far

DaddyGreenGenes

I have used the crap out of my Promark Silverback. Dead dragged a hydro-locked Grand Cherokee that was sitting on its frame, out of a pit, and up a long hill. Today I pulled a full-size 80's Suburban out of the same crazy mud hole. Never had a problem with either extraction. The first one was 5 full pulls, and the suburban only took 1 full pull. The suburban weighed about 7000lbs, though.

matholland

I just bought a smittybilt xrc8 from 4wd with a 5 year no question asked warranty for 344.98 i believe it was..I would highly recommend it....used it a few times, its pretty quick and pretty quiet!

SeriousOffroad

Have you looked in the Vendor Forum here?

wiggles

Get this one!! $285 for a 12.5k winch that comes with extras like a ****** block and cover. It works great for me, I used it a little over a week ago to pull a broken hummer out of a mud hole without any issues
http://truckandwinch.com/tuff-stuff-...0-b-winch.html

caronaxtr

I haven't used either of them. I was on a tight budget with my build and found the Smittybilt XRC-8 winch worked great for me. No problems, not too expensive & gets me out of trouble when i need it. I don't go Hardcore Wheelin' anymore but perfect for a weekend worrier.



http://www.quadratec.com/products/92122_1000_07.htm

** Don't cheep out tooooo much, I did on my winch on my Honda 4 wheeler & now I gotta buy another winch because the cheap one is crappin out on me. Now it'll cost me more, should have bought a Warn from the start. I do use that winch a lot!!

Lowrange2

I have 3 of these. One on my trail rig, one on my DD and one on my Samurai. 2 of them are the older models (Not pictured) and the one on my DD is the newer model.

Smittybilt has made strides in improving the XRC-8. The newer one is half as loud, twice as fast and I've yet to have trouble out of any of them.

For as cheap as they are... they're a good buy.

With that in mind, I'd love to be able to afford a Warn.

Gee oh Dee

Moved to Chat.

jcwclm

Sell all three and you can.

zr2toxj

I just missed a very nice, fairly new M8000 Warn with synthetic line for $450. I was not happy. Then a friend in the club decided to sell his XRC8 that had been used twice in a year for $200. Another club member was buying the bumper from him and gave me his old one that had some damage, but was still usable. So for $200 I got an XRC8 winch and bumper. Can't beat that.

I will say I had trouble with it though. I used it a couple of times around the house, then went on a run on the woodlot and it started arcing from the cable to the bumper. I checked the ground on the Jeep and all was fine, so I knew it was shorting out internally.

I took it off and went to a local motor shop and he fixed it for $20. He said the brush holder inside the motor was never installed correctly and was arcing on the case of the motor. After talking to the original owner, he said he was sent a new controller because at times it only worked in one direction. Now I know it was the brushes hanging up.

It's fixed now, and I'll see how it holds up from here.

Another thing I've noticed is the grease is so thick that they don't free spool well. I've read the write ups on taking them apart and cleaning out the old and putting synthetic in. For now, I removed the cover and sprayed some WD40 in around the gears to thin it out some, that helped a lot.