Gorilla winches

[Darton]

Does anyone have any experience with these? Specificly the Silver Back Series? I've eyed them for awhile and Think I'm getting close to taking the plunge but am looking for someone who's used or heard about them.
http://www.gorillawinches.com/truck-jeep-winches/8000lb-recovery-winches

 

[off-roader]

In the case of this winch, you get what you pay for. A friend who's currently reviewing one doesn't think too highly of them. It died during the first use & wasn't able to recover the vehicle. Ended up having a rig w/ a Mile Marker SE12000 complete the recover.

 

[computeruser]

I have no personal experience with this brand of winch. I do have experience with Ramsey and Warn, and would recommend either. Considering how reasonably priced the M8000 from Warn is if you shop around online, I really don't see the point in taking a $100-150 gamble on a no-name, no-service winch. Particularly one with integrated solenoids...sure is gonna suck if they're integrated AND proprietary, eh?

Anyway, my $529 M8000 successfully pulled my TJ and Opie's Chevy Colorado across his neighbor's yard with breaking a sweat, while we were trying to remove a stump from his yard today. Even after we re-chocked the wheels, it still dragged mine (wheel chock included) through the dirt. The winch didn't even get warm, never made funny noises, and did finally pull the stump out.

If you want to try your luck on an off-brand, knock yourself out. But if you actually want to use the darned thing, and particularly if winch failure could represent a substantial risk to life, limb, vacation plans, or your pocket book, I'd find some other place in my life to save a few bucks...

 

[Bigjerm]

I think I might would speed the money on the Smittybuilt XRC8 winch. I know 4 Wheel Parts was just running a special where it was shipped for free so you got an 8,000 lbs winch for $299.

I know normally folks say Smittybuilt is the bottom but I have seen quite a few of those winches on the trails making long pulls and/or several pulls with no issue. One of our club members has the old (slow) version and has used it for awhile and it is still kicking. The newer model they sell now is much faster than the old.

 

[Stumpalump]

There are two types of winches. China winches and all the rest. The rest are Super winch ,Warn and Ramsey. Almost all other winches are China winches. They all come from the same China factory. Just because it says Smitty, T-Max, Mile Marker, ect. doesn't mean a dang thing except you pay more and it may have a fancy LED light. It's still the same China winch. Harbor Freight sells the same China winch and have I heard that it got a few more hardened steel parts in it than the others. It's a Chicago Electric and it's as good as all the China winches. With the deals on Superwinch and some Ramsey products when they are on sale you can get a lot better winch for a few more dollars.
Me.... I have a Superwinch with synthetic on my off road rig because I use it all the time but my truck got a Harbor freight job when they went on sale. I haven't ever used it but understand that they are OK for what you pay. They are just painfully slow and thats not good if you are hill climbing and need to power the vehicle once the winch gets you moving. The speed keeps the line spooled in so you won't run over it and if you slip backwars you won't have a lot of slop snaping tight when it catches. A real winch is way safer if you think you will use it often.

 

[daveslawson]

worm drive winch

Have a 9000# Pierce worm drive winch. No problems, and will pull as much as a 12,000# winch will. Just harder to mount. Looks same as a Ramsey winch.

 

[CYi5]

Summit has their summit 9,000 lb (tmax ew9000) on sale right now for $349.95! FYI

 

[Warn Industries]

Not to sound like a shill, but our WARN VR winches are our new Entry Level Series products. They included a VR8000, VR10000, and VR12000. After $80 mail-in rebate, the VR series is $399, $499. and $599, respectively. Same lifetime warranty as our other WARN winches.

You can check them out here: http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/entry_level_series_winches.shtml

- Andy

 

[ExploringNH]

Not to sound like a shill, but our WARN VR winches are our new Entry Level Series products. They included a VR8000, VR10000, and VR12000. After $80 mail-in rebate, the VR series is $399, $499. and $599, respectively. Same lifetime warranty as our other WARN winches.

You can check them out here: http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/entry_level_series_winches.shtml

- Andy

Where is the VR line made?

 

[Warn Industries]

Where is the VR line made?

Designed, engineered, tested, and assembled in Oregon. We do source some of the parts from a variety of contries, but some of the parts are made in-house in Oregon, too. These winches are on our assembly lines in Clackamas, OR right now.

- Andy

 

[Ryanmb21]

Warn: cool.

 

[CLynn85]

There are two types of winches. China winches and all the rest. The rest are Super winch ,Warn and Ramsey. Almost all other winches are China winches. They all come from the same China factory. Just because it says Smitty, T-Max, Mile Marker, ect. doesn't mean a dang thing except you pay more and it may have a fancy LED light. It's still the same China winch. Harbor Freight sells the same China winch and have I heard that it got a few more hardened steel parts in it than the others. It's a Chicago Electric and it's as good as all the China winches. With the deals on Superwinch and some Ramsey products when they are on sale you can get a lot better winch for a few more dollars.

Agreed. I used to own a HF 8000lb one that I ran on my original jeep from 04-07. I will say, it never let me down, and it always functioned as intended. That said, I only bought it because I was a poor college kid who frequently ventured out alone and wanted the safety blanket. Now, however, I would rather spend a little while longer and save for the new VR series Warns. I know they have to be cutting costs somewhere, but at least they're not all showing up in a container from the people's republic. The quality on the Chinese products has improved immensely, and it's more a matter of pride now for me.

 

[chasespeed]

What I would love is, an electric, with the duty cycle of a hydraulic. I am a big fan of Warn products, but, I make long pulls, and value the 2 speeds, 100% duty cycle, AND, the ability to lock the winch.... if ya'll can give me that, in an electric, I will sell my hydraulic. But, I am in the market for a rear winch, but, it needs to be nigh on indestructable..... whaddya say?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Warn Industries]

What I would love is, an electric, with the duty cycle of a hydraulic. I am a big fan of Warn products, but, I make long pulls, and value the 2 speeds, 100% duty cycle, AND, the ability to lock the winch.... if ya'll can give me that, in an electric, I will sell my hydraulic. But, I am in the market for a rear winch, but, it needs to be nigh on indestructable..... whaddya say?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

We do have such as winch, but it's an industrial unit called the Olympus 25. It isn't applicable to the recreational market, though.


Our Endurance 12.0 is a heck of a winch. It's fan-cooled, and has an amazing duty cycle. Only one speed, but it pulls all day.

http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/12.0-endurance.shtml

- Andy

 

[Borrego60]

Love my warn 9000 never let me down.GO PREPARED Or GO HOME.