This Guy Thinks Harbor Freight Winch Better Than Warn

[mgroeger]

I’m the first to admit I’m not the most talented mechanic, but I found reassembling my Warn Zeon a colossal pain in the ass. I had to crack mine open to replace the 180 degree clutch lever with the 90 degree lever, a process that’s supposed to be easy, but it took me forever to get the alignment right. I wish you’d been here to slap it together for me while I drank a beer. I put the pile of gears down twice
In frustration, but the third time it all fell together easily.

I was under the impression that the Zeons had American-made components, including the gears, but it sounds like that’s incorrect. I’m going to try to cal the guys at Warn tomorrow to see if their top tier stuff really is all Chinese components assembled in Clackamas. If true, that will be another discouraging development, and another nail in the American manufacturing coffin.

Please post what Warn tells you.

Sponsored

 

[Red Willy]

I had the Badlands 12k synthetic on my JLURD that I "had to have" because we were going out west and planned on a lot of off road. Used it once to pull a Toyota out. It worked.

 

[entropy]

This. It's a big dumb electric motor and a big metal gearbox with an on-off switch. Not exactly rocket science. I'm sure the high end Warn units are better but I'm not sure ultimately how much it matters or if it's worth triple the cost every time.

Edit, should add that I bought a Warn VR Evo 10S over the Badlands and Smitty options in the price range because of the brand name and simple non-gaudy logo and winch body design. I figured it may have a better warranty, but I knew they were all going to pull my 3800lb jeep out the same either way and I didn't want the huge BADLANDS logo on the front of my Jeep.

Lol I didnt want that giant logo either, plus the badlands is really heavy. I ended up with the SB cause I didn't mind their design and warranty is the same as china warn. I've pulled myself out of tricky situations a few times. works well.

Sponsored