2 winch options

one is from someone locally who ive talked down to 400$
its a smittybilt xrc12 with steel cable for 400$

or i can spend 50$ more and get one with a synthetic cable
roughcountrys 9500lb with synthetic cable for 450$


this is for a 96 xj, so i know 9500 is plenty of winch to save me.
but 12000 cant hurt can it??
and whats the real pros and cons of synthetic vs steel?
ive always thought id go for the synthetic cause its slightly more therefore must be better?? or am i wrong there haha

any opinions are appreciated

 

I'm steel cable all the way.
12k is over kill but it's all what you want. I use a smittybilt 8k and it's never let me down. And there 300

 

Get the smittybuilt and replace the cable with synthetic. Thats what I'm running and have never had an issue. I'm not a steel cable fan.. It's got memory which means when you pull it out it's gonna wanna coil up in some cases.

 

I've got RC's rs9500 with Synthetic and I really like it. It's noisier than a XRC, but not that bad.

 

the 12k is really only for like big trucks huh..
would the 12k get me anything that the 8k wouldnt?
like would there ever be a situation the 8k wouldnt be enough for a jeep? or old yota ( cuz thats what my buddy drives. )
would one be faster or slower or louder? im guessing the 12k is gonna be heavier.

what happens if you max out a winch?
will it just provide 8k of help and you have to gas it to get out if your over 8k.
or would running an 8k winch when its maxed out and not moving as fast be bad

 

****** blocks. I pulled a lifted zj sideways on dry pavement. That's a straight pull.

 

i dont wanna change the topic of the thread but could someone explain how you use a ****** block to increase your winches pulling power??

the way i think of it the winch has a certain amount of pull, how would doubling up the cable make it have more pull??

would i be picturing it right if i tried to imagine one strong guy pulling a rope tied around a tree vs 2 strong guys pulling both sides of a rope wrapped around a tree?
is that similar to the effect your getting when you double up your cable?

 

Search what a ****** block does. How it works.
I've doubled up with them to put less strain on winches before.

 

Look up the vid of the army pulling a hummer out of sand by hand using a rope and 20 ****** blocks. And 2 guys I think.

 

Post a link I'd like to see the video

 

well it looks like they copy righted the vid.... lame but it was the 100th episode of dirty jobs... so if you can find that you can see...

but for a good read to understand here!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snatch_block

 

but basicly per ****** block you x2 your pulling power
8k winch
1=16000
2=32000
ect

i have pulled a 2010 chevy out of snow to there axle with a camper on it and a trailer with 4 quads with my 8k and 2 ****** blocks.... big winches are expensive.... ****** blocks are not lol

 

so with that said,
you dont think the 8k will have any cons compared to the 12k?

seems like 12k has all the cons.
- slower
- heavier
- more expensive

8k
- faster
- lighter
- cheaper
- capable of 12k winching with 1 ****** block.?

so doesnt seem like much of a competition anymore.
sounds like the 8k is a better choice.

but now theres the question of

450$ for smittybilt 8k 94ft synthetic cable 172.8:1 gear ratio 65lbs
ORRR
450$ for roughcountry 9.5k 85ft synthetic cable 265:1 gear ratio 95lbs

 

Flip a quarter... I'm a smittybilt owner and never been happier.