Smittybilt xrc8 installed

[Black Dog]

Bud Lime, eh?

Could never get my taste buds wrapped around that stuff. Been drinking a lot of Stella lately.

I'm more of a Labbatt's person myself, but to each his own unless the local store has Bayern Pilsener for a decent price.

I've been looking at those Smitty XRC winches quite a bit lately lately. Its kind of my philosophy that you get what you pay for, so I've been thinking I'd have to shell out big bucks for a Warn winch but if the Smitty ones hold up to the reputation of their brand then they ought to be worth it especially for their price. It'll be kind of interesting to see how they perform in the long run.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I'm more of a Labbatt's person myself, but to each his own unless the local store has Bayern Pilsener for a decent price.

I've been looking at those Smitty XRC winches quite a bit lately lately. Its kind of my philosophy that you get what you pay for, so I've been thinking I'd have to shell out big bucks for a Warn winch but if the Smitty ones hold up to the reputation of their brand then they ought to be worth it especially for their price. It'll be kind of interesting to see how they perform in the long run.

Yeah, its always a crapshoot with a newer brand, but I liked the fact that I was buying a 2nd gen. unit. Upgraded motor, stainless hardware, new remote, different/more reliable solonoids, etc...

Seems like they took a hard look at the stuff that failed on the first gen. and improved upon many points.

This one may still very well have issues, but I'm willing to give it a shot, and like I said, the fit and finish, is leaps and bounds better than the chicago electric/harbor freight winch that worked so well for me.

I'm expecting good things...

 

[john101477]

I have used mine quite a few times. About 6 times in snow (old gear setup and wire cable). between getting other people un stuck and my self stuck in some sloshy snow it was a chore but it worked awesome. I used to show off to a buddy thats looking to buy one. pulled a very large tree out of the way. the worst part of that was the 4runner is so light that even with brakes fully engaged the tree started to pull the truck. broke the tree is 3 spots and the tree was 3 ft tall on the ground. Real weight unknown but it was enough to make the winch work. also it was not doubled up (no snatch block used). I love mine. I see they have a cover for them now but it does not come with it to my knowledge.

 

[barlowrs]

shoot, didn't even think of that. can I pull the parts mentioned to re-grease them while its bolted up to my bumper?

Maybe I'll just let it ride around for a while and pull it off before my next overland trip.

Oh, and I ground terminal/hole on mine didn't seem to have much gunk on it, so I'm good there, but thanks!!!:ylsmoke:

Since your bumper is open, you should be able to pull the cover and gears off with it mounted, dont see why not. As long as you can get the cover (where the lever is) off, then you should be good to go.

Looks good on that bumper

 

[Azlugz]

I had a 1st gen XRC8 on my LJ and used it a lot, including in our SAR group. Only trouble I ever had was a remote problem and it didn't really matter as I also had a homemade in cab setup. Called Smittybilt and they sent a new remote and plug next day shipping and I got it the following day.....I was real impressed.

Now, the LJ is sold and the new Grand is in the build phase and I bought a new 2nd gen XRC8. This has and will be used in the SAR group also and as a general expedition wheeler. Can't beat a great winch for less than $300.

Still painting everything!!

 

[john101477]

Azlugz - that is a pretty sweet rig you got. love the bumper set up.

 

[cocco78]

Warn recommends Molylube#1 or Aeroshell#17 for the XD8000i and other similar winches. These greases have molybdenum particles which continue to lubricate after the grease has been squeezed out under heavy load. I've used this stuff in numerous brands of winches, its a little pricey but a tube will last a long time, good stuff.

 

[barlowrs]

Warn recommends Molylube#1 or Aeroshell#17 for the XD8000i and other similar winches. These greases have molybdenum particles which continue to lubricate after the grease has been squeezed out under heavy load. I've used this stuff in numerous brands of winches, its a little pricey but a tube will last a long time, good stuff.

I had used Aeroshell 33 previously (we use this on mechanical actuators that are loaded into the 100,000 lbf range, so this will work on the winch I am sure).
The latest grease I used (the white stuff in my maintenence thread) is tribolube. Again, we use it on acutators. Tribolue is extremely expensive though ($25,000 for 5 gallon) so for normal consumers I would suggest the aeroshell. Again Aeroshell 33 i have exp with at work and have used, but if warn recommends 17, then that must work as well!

 

[Black Dog]

$25,000 for 5 gallons of the stuff?!?! :Wow1: I hope thats a typo!

 

[john101477]

$25,000 for 5 gallons of the stuff?!?! :Wow1: I hope thats a typo!

it's not, he works for nasa or some crap lol. the Aeroshell 33 is still $14 a tube!!! For our every day purpose thats way out there.

 

[barlowrs]

$25,000 for 5 gallons of the stuff?!?! :Wow1: I hope thats a typo!

haha nope, its not...that was the last pricing. it may have gone up..haha.

It is a very specialized grease that is impregnated with PTFE (teflon). It is desinged to have a very low drag at very low temps where other grease starts to fail, though its works for a VERY large temp range (very cold to very high). but yeah, the price is a little crazy..haha Thats why I suggest going for aeroshell instead..haha

 

[barlowrs]

it's not, he works for nasa or some crap lol. the Aeroshell 33 is still $14 a tube!!! For our every day purpose thats way out there.

haha not NASA, but aerospace industry..haha...yeah, I suggest the aeroshell, and that is the most common grease we use here....it is very good stuff.

Word of warning...if someone does go for aeroshell 33 do NOT get it on your skin, the smell is horrible and does not come off...10 showers later, your wife/gf will still be making you sleep outside!

 

[cyclic]

haha not NASA, but aerospace industry..haha...yeah, I suggest the aeroshell, and that is the most common grease we use here....it is very good stuff.

Word of warning...if someone does go for aeroshell 33 do NOT get it on your skin, the smell is horrible and does not come off...10 showers later, your wife/gf will still be making you sleep outside!

What the hell does Aero 33 have to do with my wife making me sleep outside?!? I do that all on my own :wings:

Hopefully I can get my winch mount built for my ZJ and order one of these some time in the next month or two.

 

[Azlugz]

Azlugz - that is a pretty sweet rig you got. love the bumper set up.

Thanks, its coming along....slow but sure