Smittybilt winch

[hovenator]

I was researching winches yesterday and came across the new Smittybilt XRC10. 4-Wheel Parts.com has it for $359 + s/h right now. Does anybody have any experience with these winches? I've also read that they are made by T-Max (not sure if this is true). I would only need a winch on rare occasions, it's more of a piece of mind thing for me. It sounds like a great deal for a 10000lb. winch with a 5.5hp. motor. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Alaska Mike]

For occasional use they're fine, but I will caution you that the electrical connections do like to corrode. Most of the Chinese-made winches are 2 solenoid designs, and it doesn't take much for them to fail. However, for that price it would be worth it to carry along a spare solenoid or two.

For serious winching, I wouldn't consider them in the same league as a Warn or Superwinch.

Search the forum, there are a lot of threads about Champion, Milemarker, and other Chinese-made winches.

 

[98dango]

i used o be a milemarker dealer. I stress used to be. i burnt up a 12k MM on a yj in a gravel parking lot. All i was doing was re spooling the cable.
I ran WARN befor no problems with ither my XD9000I OR 8274. I have also owned Tmax it worked fine but slow. I have a 8274 on my yj now it is 20 years old and works like a champ

 

[BKCowGod]

This has been discussed a few times before - the Smittybilts are just rebadged T-Max winches.

 

[motomech]

I see 8274's all the time on Graig's list for $300.
Its how i got mine.

 

[madizell]

If you can find a working 8274 for $300, you can afford to buy the parts to rebuild it and still have less in it than most other winches sell for. If you rig can mount and use an 8274, you won't find a better winch of any size rating.

 

[Tumbleweed]

If you strip off the outer insulation coat on the wiring on a SB winch-it will say TMAX on the inner wiring.
They are slow, but I would still prefer having one over nothing.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Let's talk about your need for a winch on rare occasions for a minute.

By rare, I'm assuming a once a year use for the winch, if not less. That's just based on my experiences when I lived in Florida. Lots of sand, some mud, and a whole lot of flat.

That winch weighs 94lbs. A good winch bumper for the Titan would probably weigh in excess of 100lbs, so let's call it 200lbs as a nice round figure. The winch costs $350 (not including shipping), and a good bumper will be in the neighborhood of $500+, depending on options. You can certainly fabricate your own bumper and save money. Receiver hitch mounts scare me- compare the hitch rating to the winch rating sometime, and the realize that the hitch rating isn't designed for side pulls or dead weight. When you get a winch, there are certain accessories you generally buy, so add another $100. Let's call it $1000. Just throwing out some numbers. Your math may vary.

For most southeastern wheeling short of the harder trails in Tellico or a few of the other hardcore spots in Georgia/Tennesee, winching was pretty much a short-duration affair on a relatively flat surface. A tug from a buddy was more often than not all that was required to extract a stuck rig. Again, your mileage may vary.

Nobody likes to be completely helpless and dependent on others for extraction, so may I make a few suggestions:

• First, what about a HiLift jack with accessories? Properly used, it's a versatile extraction tool that is easy to service in the field.
• Second, consider waffle boards. There are some cheap-ish ones available now and they work well in sand and mud.
• Third, how about a Tifor or other, heavy duty hand winch? Easy to remove from the vehicle and doesn't require expensive upgrades to use.

I'm a big proponent of winches (especially quality winches) in the right environment. Where I live, I consider them one of the first modifications people should make to a trail rig. If I don't pull cable on a trail ride, I don't consider it four wheeling. They're one of the few things that you can have that will get you out of trouble instead of just getting you in deeper. That said, they are also a heavy, expensive hunk of metal hanging off of the front of your vehicle. It puts extra strain on your front suspension, and if not maintained properly may end up being dead weight.

All for once or twice a year? Food for thought...

 

[hovenator]

Alaska mike.......Right you are. I just thought it would be wise to have a winch for the "just in case" times I am alone on the trail. You suggested a HiLift jack....Funny thing is I just bought one a couple of days ago. You are probably correct about not carrying around all the extra weight if not needed. So, I guess maybe I should get a good accessory kit for the HiLift for starters. Any suggestions? Is the actual HiLift accessory kit worth it, or should I get something different? I am new to this, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kerry]

[*]Third, how about a Tifor or other, heavy duty hand winch? Easy to remove from the vehicle and doesn't require expensive upgrades to use.
[/LIST]
.

I've been checking prices and a used Tirfor capable of pulling 10k is more expensive (typically) than a new Smittybilt 10k winch and it's about the same size as a Smittybilt plus you have to store the cable somewhere in addition to the winch itself.

 

[Alaska Mike]

First off, the equipment is useless without the knowledge, so may I suggest Getting UNStuck with Bill Burke , available at www.overlandvideo.com/.

There are also several books available, among them:

• Off-Road Recovery Techniques: A Practical Handbook on Principles and Use of Equipment
• Backcountry 4x4 Recovery Tools & Techniques

I find the books a bit dry at times compared to the video, but it's more effective to throw the books in your glovebox for reference. It really depends on how you learn and apply information.

As for the accessories, the Hi-Lift Jack ORK Off Road Kit is a good place to start. To that, consider adding:

• Hi-Lift Jack ORB Off Road Base
• Hi-Lift Jack LM100 Lift Mate
• Depending on the strength of your bumper, you could also consider a Hi-Lift Jack BL250 Bumper Lift Attachment in place of the wheel attachment, although I prefer the wheel mount for recovery purposes.

A good jackstand of the proper height helps with tire changing or axle repair jobs and it's safer than leaving the vehicle supported by the Hi-Lift. You can substitute your vehicle's bottle or scissor jack if it's of the proper size- considering tire and suspension changes.

A properly-rated towstrap (no hooks) and frame-mounted recovery points front and rear are must-haves in my book if you don't already have them.

While it may add up a bit, they can easily be moved from vehicle to vehicle over the years. I still use the same HiLift I bought when I started wheeling, and it's seen a lot of abuse. I fully expect it to keep on chugging along for decades more.

 

[Alaska Mike]

I've been checking prices and a used Tirfor capable of pulling 10k is more expensive (typically) than a new Smittybilt 10k winch and it's about the same size as a Smittybilt plus you have to store the cable somewhere in addition to the winch itself.

Tirfor winches are somewhat expensive, but there are some advantages:

• They can pull from any direction, as they are not hard-mounted to the vehicle.
• They do not require the vehicle to be running or have a power source (battery) other than the operator.
• They can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle. This is especially helpful on multiple vehicle trail rides on narrow trails where you can't get a good angle on a stranded vehicle.

What you need to add into the cost of any electric/hydraulic winch is the mounting system. Even the cheapest mounts for Jeeps cost $100. There also may be upgrades required to the electrical system (alternator, battery). It's certainly not a $350 and you're done proposition.

 

[hovenator]

Checked out your link to the videos.....Great website! I'll definitely check out some of those videos including the "Unstuck" video. Thanks.