I got a great deal on a M12000 Warn Winch last week, Guy wanted $400, I offered $300 online providing it worked, when I showed up it did not work, so I offered him $50 and he took it (Ya I was surprised)

I brought it home, looked up how to bypass the solenoids and BAM !!! it works bypassed, so I am going to upgrade to a Contactor from Superwinch (best price $50) used on their winches up to 17,500lbs (I checked amperage and it matched up with my Warn)

So in short I will have $100 into my M12000 Warn Winch, My thought is to sell my daughter my Warn 8000xi Winch and Winch Bumper at a deal. Then build a new mostly Hidden Winch mount and use the M12000.

Warn 8000xi weighs around 85lbs
Warn M1200 weighs around 135lbs

I have Front and Mid Frame Stiffeners, and run 35's

I like the idea of having a 12K winch because I will be wheeling with a lot of heavy 4 door JK's and I am sure I will need to winch them through everything (-:

BUT - I am worried the 12K winch is just too much for my Cherokee - weight and maybe damaging frame/unibody on a hard pull.

So should sell it for $700-800 and buy something smaller or go for it.

Thoughts?

 

In my opinion, its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I would keep it providing you have proper frame bracing.

 

A little over kill but you got a deal run it

 

Invest a little more and get winch rope shed a few pounds.

 

agreed. Keep it and run synethic lines

 

Thanks for the input, that was kind of what I was thinking, better too much than not enough, and get a Synthetic Rope (safer and lighter) - The cable on it now is in ok condition, but the end has been cut and a trail fix was done for the hook.

Anybody have any suggestions on a Synthetic Rope that does not cost a mint, I have had them before but they came with the winch.

Thanks

 

Do some serious frame tie-ins for your bumper. there's a bolt on brace kit if welding isn't an option

 

http://www.westechrigging.com/synthe...ne-516x75.html
75 ft. 13.5K $150

 

BTW I'm running a 10k. I'd rather have it and not need it...

 

JMO
If you are using your (lets all face the fact it's not a truck) ride for a tow truck, you'll be needing one (or a medic) soon enough.

 

I plan on some good tie-ins, I did the same with my Rear D-Ring Bumper and certainly would for my winch bumper.

Thanks though, I hate when people don't bracket bumpers right into the unibody.

 

Any experience using this Synthetic Rope?

I am considering this one by dyneema which seems is used a lot with OEM winches.

 

good price on that one. Haven't used it personally, still running the cable that came on mine. Found it as an alternative to $300 ropes. In the link details, it says its Spectra, supposedly more durable than dyneema. also says "We have one local customer that retrieves off-road vehicles for a living. They have put this rope to the test time and time again, expecting it to fail. Guess what! It hasn't! They have had a few straps (yes, we can splice straps for you too) in service for years, and they're still performing well. You won't be disappointed!"

 

Be careful with synthetic line. Some winches won't work with synthetic and you can end up destroying the drum. Expedition Portal did a winch shootout and ended up ruining the drum on a warn because they switched it to synthetic.

 

How did it ruin of you don't mind me asking.

The heat from the internal brake is only a problem when letting line out under load on extended runs, which for anyone that winches a lot is more rare than it may seem.

My 30+ YO m8000 (also bought on CL for $50 and all it needed was solenoids haha) has been using synthetic for a while, on some long and tough pulls with no problem so far.