SAR_Squid79
Explorer
"Anybody that sells a part with a Lifetime Warranty expects it to break".
Winch Choice
- Thread starter DarioCarrera
- Start date
"Anybody that sells a part with a Lifetime Warranty expects it to break".
I Leak Oil
Expedition Leader
And this data is where?
garrett
Supporting Sponsor
Yes. SEALs and Rangers do. It's a great vehicle and used worldwide. Though their versions run about $300K a pop. Ceramic armour, IR, bead locks, ARB lockers f/r, winches/bumpers, gun mounts, storage, new suspensions, tricked out interiors, etc. The armoured Hiluxes weigh in at 9K lbs.
Youngunner
Adventurer
i went with the smitybilt xrc8. Read some good reputations and i got it brand new for cheap. Have yet to mount it...
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
x2. My experiences in the field are completely different. We have a major winch repair facility here in SLC (Six States) that does winch/PTO repair for their stores in the Western US, all models and brands even some of the lower priced re-badge imports. Interestingly enough they only sell Warn units in their stores and the winch techs run Warn's on their personal vehicles. That speaks volumes to me.
michaelgroves
Explorer
You're absolutely right about the first statement, but I can't agree with the latter at all. Firstly, it doesn't gel with my own observations of winches in action (or inaction, as is often the case when a winch is needed). Secondly, while I have no doubt that Warn trade hugely on their brand image, they couldn't continue to do that year after year if they didn't have a product that is up there with the best.
However, the Asian manufacturers are gradually doing for winches what the Japanese did for cars. They are making cheap rubbish, and then slowly improving the reliability each year, while maintaining their huge price advantage. I can't see Warn winches continuing to command such premium prices indefinitely.
In the meantime, they are about the only profitable winch to sell, since the brand image allows bigger margins, whereas the relative unknowns have to attract buyers by cutting prices to the bone.
Warn's other ace-in-the-hole is the 8274. No-one else has a winch with that mix of qualities.
For me, well, I favour hydraulic winches, and I have had great experience with Milemarkers. I'd definitely give a Warn hydraulic a try, if only they made a two-speed version! (Spooling in a single-speed hydraulic is a chore).
I Leak Oil
Expedition Leader
Absolutely agree Michael. If Warn were smart they'd price their M8000 closer to the imports to take back that market share. In my opinion I think Warn needs to pull back on all the gadgets they're pushing on the new stuff.
Does anyone remember the Megawinch? That was a 2 speed electric if I remember right. Are they still around???
Does anyone remember the Megawinch? That was a 2 speed electric if I remember right. Are they still around???
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
You bet, we used to be a dealer for them back in the late 90's when I was just a shop grunt. They had a cult like following that derived from their rock solid reliability. They were bricks though, huge & heavy! I honestly don't what became of them, they kinda quit updating us with product info and at the same time we started having less and less inquiries about them. Then I could never reach them after took over the business and started cleaning up some of our old vendor accounts.
Here is their old website: http://www.tempserver.net/megawinch/winch.htm
Another odd ball winch is the Hickey Sidewinder, later sold by Advance Adapters. I have a brand new-in-box Sidewinder that I scored from a friend (Sami here on ExPo), he picked it up from the guy that bought it, it had sat in his garage for 10+ years and he finally just gave it away. They are very unique and also had a cult like following. They are ideal in tight mounting setups and especially rear winch applications.
The Sidewinder pulls through a small 'fairlead' as the roller spins on a vertical axis versus the horizontal access of a standard winch. This allows for some really 'tucked away' installs.
The Sidewinder:
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
I've got a new in box one here if your really interested :sombrero:
Unfortunately I've never seen one in action, I know of a few others here in town that are mounted on full-size Jeep like rigs, they swear by them. The motor seemed to be pretty powerful and the one that did suffer a failure after many years was able to get it re-wound by a local electric motor shop (A&E). Maybe one of these days I'll be lucky enough to see one tugging away.
DarioCarrera
Adventurer
I do agree on the gadgets parts... but the same thing is happening on a lot of industries. Look at the car industry... gadgets everywhere.
Momrocks
Adventurer
I find it "interesting", I am not "interested". If I ever decide to put together a "retro-rig" with white spoke wheels, double tube show bars and underdash 8 track...I will keep you in mind.
I like hearing about the vintage stuff. It reminds me of my Junior High days pouring over my Fourwheeler magazine reading the first review of the "just released" Scout II.:drool:
Antichrist
Expedition Leader
I actually might be interested. I've been looking for one on craigslist. Found one for $75 but can't decide if I want to pay shipping for something that may not even work (the person who has it doesn't know) and may need parts that aren't available.
Hicky was a pretty interesting guy.