Adding a winch

[tonythehomie]

hey there

i am a complete noob when it comes to offroading and am trying to learn as much as i can before making a winch purchase, and would appreciate some guidance in this arena...

Firstly, I am looking at either a smittybilt x20 with synthetic line or a superwinch exp with synthetic line. Thoughts on whether or not the superwinch really $800-$900 better?


Secondly, should I be looking at upgrading the stock battery or is there enough juice to handle a winch from the factory?

Any and all opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

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[Chocolate Thunder]

Battery has enough grunt. I have the X2O 10K synthetic but haven’t installed it yet. It’s all the winch you should need. Find good information on winching basics (search Youtube) and make sure you’re familiar with what you’re doing before you need to use it. Also, you’ll need a winch mounting plate if you’ve got the OEM steel bumper because it doesn’t have one.

 

[tonythehomie]

Battery has enough grunt. I have the X2O 10K synthetic but haven’t installed it yet. It’s all the winch you should need. Find good information on winching basics (search Youtube) and make sure you’re familiar with what you’re doing before you need to use it. Also, you’ll need a winch mounting plate if you’ve got the OEM steel bumper because it doesn’t have one.

Awesome thats the exact model i was looking at.

I’ve already installed the artec industries stubby bumper so should be good to go as far as a mounting plate goes i believe.

Have watched some instructionals on youtube but you know how theory vs actual practice goes.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[XJrider]

2 newbs helping eachother out... its a beautiful world.

 

[XJrider]

2 newbs helping eachother out... its a beautiful world.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Battery has enough grunt. I have the X2O 10K synthetic but haven’t installed it yet. It’s all the winch you should need. Find good information on winching basics (search Youtube) and make sure you’re familiar with what you’re doing before you need to use it. Also, you’ll need a winch mounting plate if you’ve got the OEM steel bumper because it doesn’t have one.

You still haven’t installed at thing yet?

Brett

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

You still haven’t installed at thing yet?

Brett

Cut me some slack dude. Lol. I’ve owned it since Saturday. Day 1 I bought it. Day 2 I drove it to New Orleans and back. Days 3-7 I’ve gone to work every day from pre dawn through dark thirty. Tomorrow and Sunday back to New Orleans. Monday through Friday I’m working again. Next weekend, it’s on!

 

[rustyshakelford]

Cut me some slack dude. Lol. I’ve owned it since Saturday. Day 1 I bought it. Day 2 I drove it to New Orleans and back. Days 3-7 I’ve gone to work every day from pre dawn through dark thirty. Tomorrow and Sunday back to New Orleans. Monday through Friday I’m working again. Next weekend, it’s on!

At that rate you’ll have more miles than I do and ours is over a month old. I think we’re around 1100 miles so far. Next week should be good, this week is going to be nasty and cold

Brett

 

[Axlenut]

At that rate you’ll have more miles than I do and ours is over a month old. I think we’re around 1100 miles so far. Next week should be good, this week is going to be nasty and cold

Brett

Define nasty and cold for Texas

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

Define nasty and cold for Texas

 

[rustyshakelford]

Not as bad as they were saying but doesn’t show the 20-30 mph winds we’re going to have today!

Brett

 

[Sgt Beavis]

That’s cute...

 

[Jeepjunkie]

I am looking at either a smittybilt x20 with synthetic line or a superwinch exp with synthetic line. Thoughts on whether or not the superwinch really $800-$900 better?


Secondly, should I be looking at upgrading the stock battery or is there enough juice to handle a winch from the factory?

Any and all opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

I have a smittybilt XRC8 on my TJ currently (came with it) and my old TJ had a Warn 9.5Ti. I wheeled with both hard.
I can honestly say the XRC has really surprised me. I have no intention of replacing it on the TJ. Yes the line speed is a little slower than the Warn, but it’s pulled me out of nasty, sticky deep mud no problem and dragged high-centered JKs over hard rocks. It’s worked so well by brother-in-law is buying one instead of a warn, and using the extra $$ for other mods. I still loved my Warn, and when I’ve got gobbs of money that’s what I’ll buy for the JL, but I think the XRC is a great value.

I also had stock batteries on the TJs and while you can’t run the winch on hard pulls forever, the batteries did just fine. I will replace the TJ battery soon with an optima yellow top (deep cycle). The stock batteries are not designed for deep discharges and can have a shorter life span powering a winch.

 

[tonythehomie]

I have a smittybilt XRC8 on my TJ currently (came with it) and my old TJ had a Warn 9.5Ti. I wheeled with both hard.
I can honestly say the XRC has really surprised me. I have no intention of replacing it on the TJ. Yes the line speed is a little slower than the Warn, but it’s pulled me out of nasty, sticky deep mud no problem and dragged high-centered JKs over hard rocks. It’s worked so well by brother-in-law is buying one instead of a warn, and using the extra $$ for other mods. I still loved my Warn, and when I’ve got gobbs of money that’s what I’ll buy for the JL, but I think the XRC is a great value.

I also had stock batteries on the TJs and while you can’t run the winch on hard pulls forever, the batteries did just fine. I will replace the TJ battery soon with an optima yellow top (deep cycle). The stock batteries are not designed for deep discharges and can have a shorter life span powering a winch.

Thank you for the insight. It seems like depending on the forum you are on Warn is the only option and its shittybilt... or they are great. I think i will take my chances on an x20 as I am in the northeast and don’t really expect to be getting into anything too ridiculous. I will probably replace the wireless switch with a fully waterproof one before install as this seems to cause some people issues.

 

[Sheepjeep]

I would suggest look at supper winch tiger shark line is more in line to what the Smittybilt x20

From taking to personal experience superwinch stands behind their products where Smittybilt is hit or miss. Also superwinch is local to you they recently moved their hq to or from CT but still maintain a big presence in CT. And if you ever have issues I know people that physical went to their CT site to get issues resolved

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