8k-9.5k winch best bang 4 buck???
- Thread starter hovenator
- Start date
Trikebubble
Adventurer
Another happy Superwinch Tigershark owner here. I have the TS9500 synthetic line winch and it's done it's job when asked.
Inyo_man
Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.
hovenator
Explorer
Reviving this thread! I ordered the WAM bumpers hidden winch mount. Should be here in a week or so and am debating over 2 winches on my current budget. The Smittybilt xrc 9500 comp (synthetic) and the Superwinch Tiger Shark 9.5 SR (synthetic). Both are about the same price and have similar features. As I have stated before, I have always liked Superwinch. What is the con census of the winch gurus on here?
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Here is a smoking blowout deal on Warn winches. I may order one for the rear.
http://store.rc4wd.com/RC4WD-110-Warn-95cti-Winch_p_3734.html
hovenator
Explorer
So, after much research, I am going to go with Superwinch. I can get a Talon 9.5 steel line for $621, a Tiger Shark 9500sr with synthetic for $455 after a local discount, or Viking gs9 (Superwinch EP9) with no line or fairlead for $569. Thoughts? Opinions? Ideas?
Really like the new Comeup Seal 9.5 synthetic too, just don't want to spend a $1k.
Really like the new Comeup Seal 9.5 synthetic too, just don't want to spend a $1k.
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Superwinch used to show up at off road events with Warn and Ramsey winches in parts next to Superwinch parts. They are impressive and I bought a 9.0 12 years ago. It got used Saturday to pull a CanAm off of a rock ledge. Never a problem. I always thought it was made by Comeup because they look the same. The winch pulled the heavy XJ thru every hard trail in Colorado like Carnage and Mt. Blanka. Every hard trail in Moab like Pritchett and Area BFE as well. Some of those have you swinging from the cable. The Van runs a Warn 9.5 EXP. It's a great winch as well and it won't stop pulling until the winch line breaks. Warn will always be king but for the money Ramsey and Superwinch are great. Get the steel line version of the Superwinch. China synthetic sucks worse than name brand synthetic. Unless you run a Subaru or Kia and desperately need to save weight then go with steel cable. I've broken steel more than once but the synthetics I've run have all broken. They suck. Here is my Superwinch with its last POS synthetic line on it.
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Unless you plan on pulling the rig up waterfalls and being the trail hero that offers to winch everybody then you can't beat that $349 dollar deal. You could look up line speed as a comparison. Fast unloaded line speed is probably the most important aspect of a winch.
You may get stopped half way up a climb and need a winch. One you are unstuck you may need to stay in the gas to continue the climb. A slow winch leaves slack that gets run over or worse yanks and breaks. Bad things happen when the rig slides back against slack in the cable. You want the winch to be able to keep up with a slow moving vehicle. My Ep 9.0 was very fast in its day vs cost. Run the numbers and get the best bang for the buck as far as unloaded speed goes. I'll poke around...
MNCarl
The Moose
I have a SuperWinch TS9500 on my Nissan Frontier.
The TS9500 is nice because it has a sealed solenoid pack.
If you get the TS9500 and want to run synthetic rope make sure you get the TS9500-SR (It ships with the synthetic rope), as you cannot put synthetic rope on the regular TS9500 (Ships with Steel cable / The drum is different).
Also I rotated / clocked the clutch release handle so it is easier to reach inside my Shrockworks bumper , not sure if you have to do that with your hidden winch mount?
The TS9500 is nice because it has a sealed solenoid pack.
If you get the TS9500 and want to run synthetic rope make sure you get the TS9500-SR (It ships with the synthetic rope), as you cannot put synthetic rope on the regular TS9500 (Ships with Steel cable / The drum is different).
Also I rotated / clocked the clutch release handle so it is easier to reach inside my Shrockworks bumper , not sure if you have to do that with your hidden winch mount?
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Talon 9.5 is 62' per minute line speed
Viking gs9 is 44'
Tigar shark 9500sr is only 19 feet per minute.
So you have to decide If you want a winch to pull you over a log or a mud hole or a winch that will help you climb up hills you are stuck on. They call the Tigar Shark an entry level winch and line speed is why.
Now you could go back and research the other brands and cost based on those line speeds. Cost of foot per minute @ no load vs dollar spent will answer the best bang for the buck question you asked in the beginning. If a very slow cheap winch happens to win then just remember slow winches are dangerouse when you are stuck on a slick mountain side and you need to stay hooked up until you can drive out of it.
Viking gs9 is 44'
Tigar shark 9500sr is only 19 feet per minute.
So you have to decide If you want a winch to pull you over a log or a mud hole or a winch that will help you climb up hills you are stuck on. They call the Tigar Shark an entry level winch and line speed is why.
Now you could go back and research the other brands and cost based on those line speeds. Cost of foot per minute @ no load vs dollar spent will answer the best bang for the buck question you asked in the beginning. If a very slow cheap winch happens to win then just remember slow winches are dangerouse when you are stuck on a slick mountain side and you need to stay hooked up until you can drive out of it.
VinceAtReal4x4's
Winch repair and 4x4 rescue specialist
The answer to most newbie's winch questions is as follows: "Warn M8000"
If you care, spend the money, if you don't, support China some more and get a Smitty or Harbor freight or the like, and hope it doesn't burst into a cloud of smoke. (Seen it happen)
If you care, spend the money, if you don't, support China some more and get a Smitty or Harbor freight or the like, and hope it doesn't burst into a cloud of smoke. (Seen it happen)
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Don't be a Warn hater. That M8000 is not a bad bang for the buck. It's fast enough. People on the trails all know how to use them with out asking. I met with a Warn rep at Overland Expo when I needed a winch for my 9000 pound van. Granted it does not rock crawl and I don't beat it. The rep said he would put on an EXP9500. I said that's too small! Nope, they are underrated products and it will pull more than 9500. I bought it and tested it. I left the emergency break on and tried to pull the van up a hill. It slowed to a crawl and snapped the line. Warns do not stop. They just get slower and slower but keep on pulling. The only bad thing about Warn is that they are a theft magnet and cost. Do add the Warn into line speed and comparisons with the others you like and assume their M8000 will hang with the others 9-9500 pound winches. I thought I saw them in the $650 range and with decient line speed it may just be the best bang for the buck.