Winch selection guidance

M

mikeJKUR

Adventurer
besthaticouldo said:
Well, I'm getting closer to buying a winch. This will be my first winch, never had one before, never wheeled with anyone before. But if I am out alone and

I know this has been beat to death. Please don't come in and say buy a Warn, I would if I could afford it.
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You sound just like. I have been wheeling for the last 10 years and just recently got a winch. We this new I mostly go out with just me and my wife so winch seems like a good idea.

I just pick up a tigershark 9500 with a synthetic rope this month. Why? It was on sale for $350. Now I did not know before I bought that since shape of the solenoid and that fact that it is mounted on the side I could not mount the winch in my bumper till I relocated the solenoid. So keep that mind since you have a bumper already.
 
T

toymaster

Explorer
About the same as Septu here...

I have a warn on the front of my trucks and jeep but did not want to spend that much for a rear winch on my jeep. So, I went with engo 9K and paid $275 shipped two years ago. I'm sure they have went up due to inflation. When I was buying the best price was through Jeepaddons with a salesmen named chris. Pretty sure if you search the forums you will find it for ~$300 shipped. Here is the link to the aforementioned shootout.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/129-1107-massive-multi-winch-shootout/

I've had my winch two years now and no complaints yet. I did swap to a syn rope for weight savings. The only negative thing I have heard from other users is the housing bolts may be loose when new so just make sure they are tight when you install the unit. Here is the install thread...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...d-on-board-shower-install?highlight=toymaster
 
Cascade Wanderer

Cascade Wanderer

Adventurer
Like Septu, I needed a winch, and didn't have a lot of cash. I'd had a Warn 8000 in the past and it was a good winch. Should have kept it!

This time around I bought a 10k Engo. It's been real impressive. I had to do 7 back to back pulls to get out of a deep, soft, snow drift I'd blundered into... Engo got hot, but it also pulled my JK out of the drift.
 
T

toxicity_27

Adventurer
Septu said:
I had a 8k Warn on my last jeep. Wasn't willing to spend the 1500 on a new one when I got my new JK (wanted more than 8k). I looked at the results of the winch shootout that a fourwheeler mag did (I can't remember which one). And while the Engo came in 4th... it and the Warn were the only two winches that still worked at the end. So I decided to go with Engo's 10k winch. Cost me $350ish. Called once for a question, and they were great (Engo) to deal with.

Have had it for 2.5 seasons now, and it's still going strong. IF/When it dies, I'll buy a Warn... but so far it's been great. I know it's not on your list... but maybe you might want to look into it?
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toymaster said:
About the same as Septu here...

I have a warn on the front of my trucks and jeep but did not want to spend that much for a rear winch on my jeep. So, I went with engo 9K and paid $275 shipped two years ago. I'm sure they have went up due to inflation. When I was buying the best price was through Jeepaddons with a salesmen named chris. Pretty sure if you search the forums you will find it for ~$300 shipped. Here is the link to the aforementioned shootout.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/129-1107-massive-multi-winch-shootout/

I've had my winch two years now and no complaints yet. I did swap to a syn rope for weight savings. The only negative thing I have heard from other users is the housing bolts may be loose when new so just make sure they are tight when you install the unit. Here is the install thread...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...d-on-board-shower-install?highlight=toymaster
Click to expand...

Cascade Wanderer said:
Like Septu, I needed a winch, and didn't have a lot of cash. I'd had a Warn 8000 in the past and it was a good winch. Should have kept it!

This time around I bought a 10k Engo. It's been real impressive. I had to do 7 back to back pulls to get out of a deep, soft, snow drift I'd blundered into... Engo got hot, but it also pulled my JK out of the drift.
Click to expand...

Was going to come in here and recommend the Engo, then I saw a few others doing so. I love my Engo, and like them I didn't have the money to spend on a Warn. I've got the 10k Engo, and it's been great.
 
B

besthaticouldo

Observer
Those pictures are amazing! Thanks for the great wallpapers!

Also, definitely will look into the Engo winches. The 10k is about the same price as a 9.5 tiger shark, so it's just a matter of decision making I guess. Seems to be a lot of support for the Engo winches.
 
T

twiisted71

Adventurer
Don't know your budget, but I'd trust a used warn over most modern popular winches to still be ready to get me out of a jam years after installing it. I know their new prices are absurd. I'd. Suggest hitting up hermtheoverdriveguy (google him).
If you are like most folks you aren't going out every weekend trying to get stuck, so your winch usage will likely be infrequent at worst. My philosophy is I don't need the latest low profile housing or to be able to control it with my cell phone or even a wireless remote or synthetic cable. Yes they'd be nice, but I'd much sooner forgo those geegaws and get an older proven reliable design if the choice was one or the other. You only NEED a winch once for it to be worth every penny you paid.
the 8274 Warn and M6000/M8000 Bellview/Warns are pretty much the last word in reliability and simplicity. The motors will generally give ample warning of impending failure and if the actuating solenoids go bad you can easily bypass them with jumper cables, if you don't have spares. Oddly when advising my friends about winches I suggest trying to find one of these winches in inoperable condition or in pieces in someone's shed. Buy it cheap, replace the motor and solenoids, change the oil, and smile knowing you've got the winch "everyone" else in your group can count on! Even if it has broken or missing parts most every piece of them is still available.
 
Bobs boot camping

Bobs boot camping

in the 4x4 industry
I am eyeballing the Smitty built X20 10, Pretty good value for the size. I have seen one in action, worked pretty well. Fast enough for me. I had a Tmax and i liked it sold it for what i am paying for the x20 10
 
S

Septu

Explorer
oscar the grouch said:
engo e9000 i have well over 100 flawless pulls on mine. i would say there are about 25 in my local jeep club and none of them have failed. and for my money im not going to buy a warn. over priced and same quality.


http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/129-1107-massive-multi-winch-shootout/

the warn won but you can read between the lines and see the bull****. obviously warn paid for the win when the engo clearly out preformed all of them.
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I'm not sure I'd go that far. Warn makes a quality product that's backed up by years of results. If money wasn't an issue I would buy a Warn. Engo while looking promising, still has a ways to go before one can say that they've supplanted Warn.

But one important note from that link:

Once removed from the stall test, the unit continued to work flawlessly in either direction. It's important to note that this was one of only two winches that survived the stall test unscathed. Considering that it survived our thrashing and can be bought at the very affordable price of just $329.99, we had to award the Engo E9000 as the best value of the group.
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G

GFA

Adventurer
The engo seems to have good customer service backing them up but they sound like they have rocks in them. The owner himself sent me a replacement winch body and motor after I called to ask if the noise was normal, and the new one is just as loud. But I do have a spare now I guess. My son bought a smittybilt and its a much better sounding, feeling and looking (in terms of quality not appearance) winch compared to the engo.

I typically don't go out alone that often and those that I do go with also have winches so the cheaper China winch doesn't really bother me. But based on the way it sounds alone, I'd be nervous if I were stuck in a mud hole by myself..
 
bluejeep

bluejeep

just a guy
hydraulic by milemarker - ya that's right! :wings:

just throwing it out there - plenty of prior discussion of pros/cons for electric and hydraulic - let's just not go there!! :smiley_drive:
 
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