Which winch is the best???

[dwaxman1]

But it is only the plane ticket for me to get here...anyways I understand, maybe we should all go together on a group buy, I could use another winch for the back!

[Sugarphreak]

Great thread; enjoyed the read!



I don't see Smittybilt winches mentioned, are they of poor quality or just overlooked?



I was thinking about getting the XRC-10 Comp. for my H3; it has a pulling capacity of 10,000lbs using a 5.5hp wound motor

http://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/65.htm



The price is competitive and I like the fact synthetic rope comes with it. I noticed that winches that use synthetic rope often forego on the roller fairlead. The standard XRC-10 comes with rollers while the more expensive comp. version does not.



The only negitive thing I am seeing between the brand & no-rollers is the #4 point mentioned called "Solenoids SUCK!!".

[whitehumh2]

I looked thru all the data and eventhough it is not on the list, it does have all the good stuff! So yes it would be a good winch on paper...hopefully real world testing will also agree!



Kev

[Sugarphreak]

So I have been giving this a lot of thought lately, the Smittybilt winch(es) seem to offer a hell of a bang for the buck; they even have an XRC12 (12,000lb, 6.6hp) available now for a killer price. This is a Canadian web site I have been watching http://www.zoneoffroad.ca/default.cfm?fa=products&ProdCategoryID=142



But with that said in the past most of the times I needed a helping hand my headlamps were nearly underwater. Something waterproof wouldn't just be more ideal... it is almost a necessity.



I have been reviewing some other winches, with the above information on hand I think I may end up going with a T-Max 9500lb performance series. I keep hearing awful things about Warn from almost everybody I talk to, enough to steer me away from that brand for now. I spotted the 10K Superwinch at Princess Auto recently for 400$... but something was wrong and didn't feel right, it seems like a re-packaged value version.



On another note who is a good dealer for Westin T-Max products? I know Summit Racing carries this winch for about 1000$ USD.



Anyway this is the one I was thinking about, would like to hear your insight on it Kev.



http://www.westinautomotive.com/pages/PRODUCT_TMAX_PEW-apps-.html

[img width=500 height=307]http://www.westinautomotive.com/hires/ko/KO47-1895.jpg[/img]

[whitehumh2]

You can't go wrong with a T-Max!!! While they are made in china they are designed in Australia and tested in Australia and they are built to ISO 9001 and NATO standards. I have had mine for 4 years and have abused the snot out of it, only this year did I have a problem with the ISM, but it was an easy replacement and back to working. I also disassembled the entire winch to verify whether on not it ran with bearing not bushings and I am proud to say it does! Even the high dollar Warns don't have that. Also I have had mine submerged several times in everything from Mud to deep water over the past 4 years and I am not talking splashes, I am talking sitting and working in the deep stuff under water for long pulls and when I disassembled the winch there where no signs of contamination inside the winch, none at all! The seals did a great job of keeping everything out!



I did a bit of research on the Superwinch at PrincessAuto and it is made for Princess by Superwinch as a model exclusive to them...it does not have the same quality or the same high dollar parts as the rest of the Superwinch line.



Btw, why are you looking at the 9500lbs winch??? Your bumper can take a 12000lbs one!! Get the 12500lbs one, you will love it!!! It will pull and pull and pull and pull no matter what! Ask Hummerht and Hummerht2 they both have one and on our trail last june they got a super workout and never even got hot! We even had to transfer it to Citiboys H2 to get him out!



Hope this helps!



Kev

[Sugarphreak]

[quote author=whitehumh2 link=topic=1187.msg12094#msg12094 date=1262526612]

You can't go wrong with a T-Max!!! While they are made in china they are designed in Australia and tested in Australia and they are built to ISO 9001 and NATO standards. I have had mine for 4 years and have abused the snot out of it, only this year did I have a problem with the ISM, but it was an easy replacement and back to working. I also disassembled the entire winch to verify whether on not it ran with bearing not bushings and I am proud to say it does! Even the high dollar Warns don't have that. Also I have had mine submerged several times in everything from Mud to deep water over the past 4 years and I am not talking splashes, I am talking sitting and working in the deep stuff under water for long pulls and when I disassembled the winch there where no signs of contamination inside the winch, none at all! The seals did a great job of keeping everything out!



I did a bit of research on the Superwinch at PrincessAuto and it is made for Princess by Superwinch as a model exclusive to them...it does not have the same quality or the same high dollar parts as the rest of the Superwinch line.



Btw, why are you looking at the 9500lbs winch??? Your bumper can take a 12000lbs one!! Get the 12500lbs one, you will love it!!! It will pull and pull and pull and pull no matter what! Ask Hummerht and Hummerht2 they both have one and on our trail last june they got a super workout and never even got hot! We even had to transfer it to Citiboys H2 to get him out!



Hope this helps!



Kev

[/quote]



I knew there was something fishy about that Superwinch



I was kind of hoping to get a winch with the Synthetic Rope as a package, the only winch they offer with it is the performance series 9500. That rope is about 500$ if you buy it separately.

[whitehumh2]

Actually I am lately on the borderline with synthetic rope. While there are a ton of benefits, lighter, safer, floats, etc. I have broken the one on my ATV several times(Masterpull Superline) and have looked into Viking Off-road synthetic rope with the special rock guards but even the guys there told me that if you have a lot of rock and mud that the cable will be working in that nothing beats a Steel cable for durability! So when my Steel cable died after 4 years of abuse on my T-Max, I was going to put the Viking Off-road Synthetic line but based on their recommendation I put back a Steel cable and kept my Winchsaver cable weight. Plus Synthetic rope requires a lot of maintenance in order to keep it in working condition, but if there happens to be a small fray you need to replace it or it will break! With the trails we run here in Quebec, I will probably be sticking with steel!



Just my two cents!



Kev

[Sugarphreak]

Some good points to consider; I don't really have anything against cable, just want to give Synthetic rope a try and see how it stacks up.



I will likely buy a winch before May Long, so I still have some time to mull it over a bit... I am expecting to see a few more winch packages offering synthetic, would be nice if they have one with an 11 or 12K towing capacity.



I was reading up on an article over on Moab Jeeper called "Winches in Hell"... it was a bit of a let down though because they DNF'd more than half of them on technicalities (including Mile Marker & T-Max). It is still a decent read though.

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=353

[Sugarphreak]

WHere is the best place to buy a Westin T-Max?



I have been looking around, best prices I can find are at Summitracing.com

[T.C.]

[quote author=Sugarphreak link=topic=1187.msg12099#msg12099 date=1262582062]

Some good points to consider; I don't really have anything against cable, just want to give Synthetic rope a try and see how it stacks up.











IF YOU NEED SYN. ROPE MATER PULL IS THE BEST ...IF IT'S GOOD FOR THE US ARMY!!!!!!!! <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... >/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... >/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... >/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> I AM SURE ITS GOOD FOR YOU......IF YOU NEED LET ME KNOW WE HAVE A DISCOUNT FOR THE CANADIAN HUMMER CLUB.... FOR THE WINCH I AM ALL WARN <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... /smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> SORRY <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... >/grin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';D' /> <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... >/grin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';D' />