MileHigh
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Kraig
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2020
- Threads
- 5
- Messages
- 50
- Reaction score
- 70
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Vehicle(s)
- 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon Unlimited
- Vehicle Showcase
- 1
I just came across this thread. We purchased a 2018 JLUR in January and was needing to put a winch on it. A friend of mine had been doing a lot of research on winches and came to the conclusion of purchasing the new Apex winch from HF. I did some searches of my own and felt comfortable enough to pull the trigger and mount up the Apex on the front of our JLUR. I used the Warn winch plate to mount the winch with the stock steel bumper.
As discussed here there are a few differences compared to the Warn winch but these two winches are essentially the same winch! Two things that are different are: 1) The free spool lever needs to be rotated 180 degrees. The Warn one only needs to go 90 degrees. This 180 degree swivel causes the lever to interfere with the stock steel bumper. Now, if you're running an aftermarket bumper then most likely this is a non issue. 2) The main power wire comes out the back of the control box which does rub on the Jeep plastic grill. If you relocate the control box then problem solved which some do.
I purchased this winch because we were mounting snow tracks to the Jeep and planned a trip up to a snowmobile paradise. Of course, getting stuck was going to be part of the fun! And it did get stuck and it was fun to get it out! Winching a Jeep is not super hard, but add 200lbs of tracks to each wheel hub and the added weight and drag of winching through snow and you have a situation to challenge your winch. Well, before we ever got stuck we decided to cut down some dead trees and drag them back to camp. However, they were inside a grouping of trees where the Jeep could not get to. No problem! Engage the new winch! And Wow did it do well! We pulled out two trees together on one trip, through 4' of deep snow and around another tree. Then another time, late in the evening after dark I took a few friends out for a trail ride through trees. We were about 4 miles from camp I'm hauling ass down the trail and around a left curve. The front right track caught the edge of trail and pulled us into a deep area of fresh snow. Oh shit, we stuck and bad!! No problem! Pulled out the winch line and stretched it out in front and across the trail. Up and out it came and back onto the trail! Another time I got it stuck on a hill above the parking lot where everyone was camped. The next morning we pulled out the line and attached it to a truck down below in the lot. Down she came without an issue!
We put this winch to Work on this trip and Wow did it perform well! If anyone is hesitating putting the Apex on their rig all I can say is Do It! I got it on sale for $629 then minus the fames HF 20% off coupon so it's final cost was $504 plus tax. The comparable winch from Warn is (Depending where you get it) $1791-$1900. I'm sorry but that is Way overpriced! Smittybuilt winches are priced well too and they perform as well. In my research on this winch I came across a few comments by guys saying that HF has been making winches longer than Warn has been. If you look at the Warn and the Apex they look almost identical! I'm guessing either the Apex is made by Warn or both brands are made by the same factory in China.
As for the two issues on mounting the Apex with the factory steel bumper, there are solutions. I listed one earlier on relocating the control box. Now, while some like that I personally do not. I like the look of the control box on the winch plus is protects the line from the sun. Yes, I can run a cover and i most likely will do that in the future. I like the look with the Badland name on the box. As for the lever, take an angle grinder and grind off the bottom part of the lever. It only slightly interferes with the bumper so just taking a small amount off the bottom of the lever is all that is needed. The lever is quite large so it's not an issue. And again, if you're running an aftermarket bumper then this is a non issue.
I absolutely love this winch; the looks, the fit inside the stock steel bumper, the wireless remote, synthetic line, 12,000 lb rating, it all makes for one hell of a winch for $500! Oh, and it's not just waterproof and dust proof but it's also waterproof up to 1450 psi. I noticed that additional rating on the Apex but not on the Warn..... I am planning on putting this winch to work throughout the rest of this Winter with the snow tracks on as well as into the Summer. If I start to have any issues I'll post up here and update on my issues!
As discussed here there are a few differences compared to the Warn winch but these two winches are essentially the same winch! Two things that are different are: 1) The free spool lever needs to be rotated 180 degrees. The Warn one only needs to go 90 degrees. This 180 degree swivel causes the lever to interfere with the stock steel bumper. Now, if you're running an aftermarket bumper then most likely this is a non issue. 2) The main power wire comes out the back of the control box which does rub on the Jeep plastic grill. If you relocate the control box then problem solved which some do.
I purchased this winch because we were mounting snow tracks to the Jeep and planned a trip up to a snowmobile paradise. Of course, getting stuck was going to be part of the fun! And it did get stuck and it was fun to get it out! Winching a Jeep is not super hard, but add 200lbs of tracks to each wheel hub and the added weight and drag of winching through snow and you have a situation to challenge your winch. Well, before we ever got stuck we decided to cut down some dead trees and drag them back to camp. However, they were inside a grouping of trees where the Jeep could not get to. No problem! Engage the new winch! And Wow did it do well! We pulled out two trees together on one trip, through 4' of deep snow and around another tree. Then another time, late in the evening after dark I took a few friends out for a trail ride through trees. We were about 4 miles from camp I'm hauling ass down the trail and around a left curve. The front right track caught the edge of trail and pulled us into a deep area of fresh snow. Oh shit, we stuck and bad!! No problem! Pulled out the winch line and stretched it out in front and across the trail. Up and out it came and back onto the trail! Another time I got it stuck on a hill above the parking lot where everyone was camped. The next morning we pulled out the line and attached it to a truck down below in the lot. Down she came without an issue!
We put this winch to Work on this trip and Wow did it perform well! If anyone is hesitating putting the Apex on their rig all I can say is Do It! I got it on sale for $629 then minus the fames HF 20% off coupon so it's final cost was $504 plus tax. The comparable winch from Warn is (Depending where you get it) $1791-$1900. I'm sorry but that is Way overpriced! Smittybuilt winches are priced well too and they perform as well. In my research on this winch I came across a few comments by guys saying that HF has been making winches longer than Warn has been. If you look at the Warn and the Apex they look almost identical! I'm guessing either the Apex is made by Warn or both brands are made by the same factory in China.
As for the two issues on mounting the Apex with the factory steel bumper, there are solutions. I listed one earlier on relocating the control box. Now, while some like that I personally do not. I like the look of the control box on the winch plus is protects the line from the sun. Yes, I can run a cover and i most likely will do that in the future. I like the look with the Badland name on the box. As for the lever, take an angle grinder and grind off the bottom part of the lever. It only slightly interferes with the bumper so just taking a small amount off the bottom of the lever is all that is needed. The lever is quite large so it's not an issue. And again, if you're running an aftermarket bumper then this is a non issue.
I absolutely love this winch; the looks, the fit inside the stock steel bumper, the wireless remote, synthetic line, 12,000 lb rating, it all makes for one hell of a winch for $500! Oh, and it's not just waterproof and dust proof but it's also waterproof up to 1450 psi. I noticed that additional rating on the Apex but not on the Warn..... I am planning on putting this winch to work throughout the rest of this Winter with the snow tracks on as well as into the Summer. If I start to have any issues I'll post up here and update on my issues!
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