Winch selection guidance

[besthaticouldo]

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 need it, I'd like to have it. Already have the bumper, so may as well fill the void.

Need some guidance, are there any threads that point you towards budget winch options and pit them against each other?

What are major things to look at when looking at winches, aside from the obvious LB capacity?

Quadratec Q9500i
Smittybilt XRC9.5 Gen 2
Superwinch Tiger Shark 9500

Those are the three that I'm really looking at. I've read that you want something that can pull double the weight of your vehicle. Estimate of my jeep is probably right around 4500lbs. So a 9500lb winch is perfect.

Any suggestions?

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.

 

[nickexperience]

Buy a Warn. Sorry, I had to.

 

[besthaticouldo]

So not helpful -_-

 

[hawaii]

Can you afford to not buy a Warn?

Out of the provided three, Superwinch would be a preferred choice.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Durability, quality of build, and line speed are what I look at.
I currently have a Smittybilt XRC8 w/synthetic rope (about 3 years old), and a Warn 9.5CTi with wire rope (about 3 months old). Previously I've only used hydraulic winches, commercial and non-commercial.
The XCR8 runs louder, warmer and slower. The slower part is not a disadvantage for me. With the Warn I am continuously "bumping" the switch. Where on the XRC8, I can normally keep it engaged continuously.

Had I to do it again, I'd have two American made Warn winches with steel rope. I'd like to see how the 9.5CTi compares to the Warn M8000, or 8724. I'd like to have just a bit slower running than the 9.5CTi.
Hope this helps.

 

[besthaticouldo]

Can you afford to not buy a Warn?

Out of the provided three, Superwinch would be a preferred choice.

Yes, pretty easily. Everything I've read and what everyone has told me is not that the Smittybilt or Superwinches are unsafe (my main concern) or unreliable, it's that they are slower and run slightly louder. Neither of these are things that are major concerns to me to be honest. The cost difference between an equivalent Warn and SW/SB is about 250ish.

Durability, quality of build, and line speed are what I look at.
I currently have a Smittybilt XRC8 w/synthetic rope (about 3 years old), and a Warn 9.5CTi with wire rope (about 3 months old). Previously I've only used hydraulic winches, commercial and non-commercial.
The XCR8 runs louder, warmer and slower. The slower part is not a disadvantage for me. With the Warn I am continuously "bumping" the switch. Where on the XRC8, I can normally keep it engaged continuously.

Had I to do it again, I'd have two American made Warn winches with steel rope. I'd like to see how the 9.5CTi compares to the Warn M8000, or 8724. I'd like to have just a bit slower running than the 9.5CTi.
Hope this helps.

Yes, this helps. That's what I was wondering. I am honestly leaning towards the XRC9.5, it gets great reviews and honestly it's hard to beat that price. Especially with a discount code for 4WD. The price comes down even more.

I'd love to just spend the additional cash on a Warn, however for the amount I actually get to go wheeling and camping and the little use I'd get out of it I can better use that money elsewhere like axles or other recovery gear.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Well I can't speak from personal experience on the XRC 9.5, but on the XRC8 (and the other off shore winches I've checked out) is they don't exude the confidence of the American made Warn. They run hotter, and are noisier. This is what sealed it for me on the Warn.
I *think* the XRC8 will continue to work fine. I *know* the Warn will work fine. It's just a comfort level of working with a finely crafted tool.
That is also what made me go back to steel rope. Very limited care and inspection is required with steel rope versus synthetic. Eventually the XRC 8 will get respooled with steel rope, if I don't sell the vehicle before then.

Look at the used market as well. There are some really good deals on used Warn winches. Guys upgrading to "keep up with the Jones", or selling a vehicle and winch separately, etc.
I wouldn't buy a used off shore winch, because I'd want the warranty. But wouldn't hesitate on an American winch I could hear run.

Good luck with your choice! :beer:

 

[besthaticouldo]

Well I can't speak from personal experience on the XRC 9.5, but on the XRC8 (and the other off shore winches I've checked out) is they don't exude the confidence of the American made Warn. They run hotter, and are noisier. This is what sealed it for me on the Warn.
I *think* the XRC8 will continue to work fine. I *know* the Warn will work fine. It's just a comfort level of working with a finely crafted tool.
That is also what made me go back to steel rope. Very limited care and inspection is required with steel rope versus synthetic. Eventually the XRC 8 will get respooled with steel rope, if I don't sell the vehicle before then.

Look at the used market as well. There are some really good deals on used Warn winches. Guys upgrading to "keep up with the Jones", or selling a vehicle and winch separately, etc.
I wouldn't buy a used off shore winch, because I'd want the warranty. But wouldn't hesitate on an American winch I could hear run.

Good luck with your choice! :beer:

I've been checking the local forums to me, as well as craigslist. Haven't found much but I will keep searching.

A lot of things I've seen about the XRC9.5 are that it's a massive improvement over the XRC8. I definitely though think that I'll be ending up with the Superwinch, it seems like a better deal than the XRC9.5. Also it's sealed, which is a huge bonus. My XJ is a daily and it will see snow, rain, ice, etc.

That's a good point about the steel rope, I didn't even think about that. I guess I'll stay with the steel rope and not switch to synthetic.

 

[Comanche Scott]

I picked up the 9.5 CTi for $700 from a Chrysler dealer new in box off of eBay. If you aren't in a hurry, and you have the time to search daily, there can be some pretty awesome deals out there. It's all about being in the right place at the right time... which takes time, or luck.

To me a winch is like a GPS. It makes life easier, but it's more of a back-up tool so to speak. My first two 4wd didn't have one, and I trekked all over Colorado. I once rented a Jeep from Hertz. It was a 4 cylinder auto with little street tires. Did some exploring up in the Sierra Nevada's. Had a great time, and only puckered up once, when I high centered on a water bar.
So don't feel like you have to have one right now. Unless you really just "want" one. And there is nothing wrong with that either. :beer:
Would be really cool if you could find some folks with winches, that would show you how they work.

Before I got the 9.5CTi, I was sold on "faster is better" marketing, based on the rock racing crowd (after all, don't we all want to be like our heroes?... lol). But the reality is, that most of what I use it for requires a more staid approach, and I'm getting old and ornery. So in my case, the 9.5CTi probably wasn't the best choice I could have made. It was a smoking good deal, I couldn't pass up, and it's a very high quality tool, so I'm getting used to the speed.
Point being, if you can actually get some opportunities to try different winches, even if it's only pulling the vehicle it's mounted to down the street, you would probably get a good feel for the winch you want.

 

[besthaticouldo]

Understood and advice taken. Appreciate the input.

 

[Scott Brady]

If you are looking for a less expensive winch, check out the ComeUp winches. They are the EXACT same winches as the last generation Superwinch, including Albright solenoids, etc. We have beat on them pretty hard, including -40

 

[Scott Brady]

It is also the winch I use for my daily driver, private labeled for Viking Offroad.

Note, neither the Antarctica or G-Wagen winch was sponsored. Both were paid for.

This is also not to take anything away from the Warns. They are next level and what we use on many of our vehicles as well. I am particularly fond of the 9.5XP with the synthetic line and albright controller.

The big problem with these Smittybuilt winches is the controllers. They fail more often than a P38 Range Rover

 

[besthaticouldo]

If you are looking for a less expensive winch, check out the ComeUp winches. They are the EXACT same winches as the last generation Superwinch, including Albright solenoids, etc. We have beat on them pretty hard, including -40

Interesting and man that is an awesome picture! I'll check those out, do you happen to have that pic in 1920x1080 for a monitor?

 

[Scott Brady]

Interesting and man that is an awesome picture! I'll check those out, do you happen to have that pic in 1920x1080 for a monitor?

A few from the crossing of Antarctica.

 

[Septu]

Buy a Warn. Sorry, I had to.

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?