Winch buying advice needed

[TheRaven]

They simply aren't more reliable in this testing or the real world in my experience.

Yes you've made very clear how you feel. My experience differs.

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[Ratbert]

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/129-1107-massive-multi-winch-shootout/ This is why I hate the pay for reviews industry. The warn is #1 in the shootout even though it's one of the only ones that broke? Makes perfect sense. It's got the nicest packaging, the best instructions (hook the red wire to the positive and the black one to ground?), and it's the quietest (especially after it's broken), so it wins? As you said, I need it to work, don't care what the box looked like, don't need instructions, and could care less if it's loud. Most expensive and broken by the end of the testing but still number 1 because it's got a shiny red w on it.

I'm fairly sure I've never seen that Warn winch. Why the hell would they test such an unusual / bizarre variant?

 

[JP52]

I'm fairly sure I've never seen that Warn winch. Why the hell would they test such an unusual / bizarre variant?

That test was from 2011 so I'm not too sure how relevant it is to what's on the market now

 

[roaniecowpony]

If this is a gift (Christmas?) for your wife, think about whether you want to buy a Chinese gift for her. Gifts for your wife are where you splurge. Synthetic, if you want safety for her. A snapped steel cable can easily kill or mame. Synthetic, not hardly.

 

[Bill_P]

Just because a thing is made in China doesn't mean that it's as crappy as the crappiest thing made in China. "China" builds what is ordered...if the cheapest thing is ordered, then cheap crap is what will be produced. But if a designer orders a quality item to be built, "China" will build a quality item...the difference is that it's going to cost more.

More importantly, Warn winches, whether made in the US or in China, are backed by Warn. Badlands winches are backed by Harbor Freight. Who would you rather work with to get your broken winch fixed?

I fully agree that it's a subjective choice, but i'll gladly pay $700 for a Warn winch rather than $400 for a Harbor Freight winch.

Honestly? I would rather work with Harbor Freight because they won't repair it, they'll just give you a brand new one off the shelf. I got my Badland Apex and got a 1 year extended warranty. The manager told me to bring it back at the end of the year and tell them the line got a lot of sun exposure and they would give me a new one. They have told me similar on a few things I have bought in there. I've never done that because I don't see the need if the thing still works, but with that attitude, at least at the two stores right by me, it's a lot better than having to send it in to get repaired and wait for them to send it back to you.

 

[TheRaven]

Honestly? I would rather work with Harbor Freight because they won't repair it, they'll just give you a brand new one off the shelf. I got my Badland Apex and got a 1 year extended warranty. The manager told me to bring it back at the end of the year and tell them the line got a lot of sun exposure and they would give me a new one. They have told me similar on a few things I have bought in there. I've never done that because I don't see the need if the thing still works, but with that attitude, at least at the two stores right by me, it's a lot better than having to send it in to get repaired and wait for them to send it back to you.

You paid extra for a warranty, and have a store manager that offered to bend the rules. So that means you got lucky and have a great store to work with. See that's the issue - just like Jeep dealers, it depends on the dealer. My HF store is a complete mess, staffed with people who barely even speak English...they are completely clueless and almost totally useless. I would never buy something of that kind of value from that store.

Warn (and, in this context, brands like Superwinch too) is a single company with a single (office) of contact for all my issues with their products. Now one can certainly argue that that doesn't guarantee anything because FCA is one company too and they're also useless...but I know from personal experience that Warn is going to take care of me.

So in this context, with HF, your experience may vary. With a company like Warn, it won't.

 

[Bill_P]

You paid extra for a warranty, and have a store manager that offered to bend the rules. So that means you got lucky and have a great store to work with. See that's the issue - just like Jeep dealers, it depends on the dealer. My HF store is a complete mess, staffed with people who barely even speak English...they are completely clueless and almost totally useless. I would never buy something of that kind of value from that store.

Warn (and, in this context, brands like Superwinch too) is a single company with a single (office) of contact for all my issues with their products. Now one can certainly argue that that doesn't guarantee anything because FCA is one company too and they're also useless...but I know from personal experience that Warn is going to take care of me.

So in this context, with HF, your experience may vary. With a company like Warn, it won't.

I've heard the same from many others, in different places and even different states. Maybe the issue is that you have a bad store while the majority of people don't? Either way, I may have paid for an exteded warranty, but even with that factored in, I paid about half of what a comparable Warn would cost me. If I got a good deal on a Warn I would probably buy it but as it sits, I got a good deal on the Badland and it does exactly what I need it to do. I'm not bashing Warn, but the fanboy mentality and excuses to tell anyone who doesn't buy a Warn that they screwed up is actually kind of funny. I have a cheap Superwinch on my Tundra that has been on there almost 10 years, no cover and very little preventative maintenance, and it has never failed when I needed it. I just don't see the desire to pay several hundred more because of the name on it. Someone else may have had nothing but trouble out of their Badland, shittybuilt, superwinch, or generic name winch, but my experiences with the cheaper brands hasn't been bad at all.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

My $0.015 worth.

Yes, one can by the made in China/oversees stuff.

For my JLR figured since the Jeep is made in the USA, might as well by quality made in USA stuff.

Installed Artec bumpers and a Warn winch.
Yes, those parts cost mare than the oversees parts, but worth it.

Pro tip: When you buy your front bumper, see if you can get it without it being painted or powder coated. Then have it powder coated locally.

The nice thing about the Artec bumper is that you can reused the factory fog lights.

Did you write this on your American made phone?

 

[TheRaven]

I've heard the same from many others, in different places and even different states. Maybe the issue is that you have a bad store while the majority of people don't?

Maybe, maybe not. This was exactly my point. You don't know, you can't count on it.

Either way, I may have paid for an exteded warranty, but even with that factored in, I paid about half of what a comparable Warn would cost me. If I got a good deal on a Warn I would probably buy it but as it sits, I got a good deal on the Badland and it does exactly what I need it to do. I'm not bashing Warn, but the fanboy mentality and excuses to tell anyone who doesn't buy a Warn that they screwed up is actually kind of funny. I have a cheap Superwinch on my Tundra that has been on there almost 10 years, no cover and very little preventative maintenance, and it has never failed when I needed it. I just don't see the desire to pay several hundred more because of the name on it. Someone else may have had nothing but trouble out of their Badland, shittybuilt, superwinch, or generic name winch, but my experiences with the cheaper brands hasn't been bad at all.

There's only been one fanboy in this thread, and he's very clearly ANTI-Warn.

I think the main point that myself and the other guys advocating for the Evo had has been largely obscured. At the VR Evo's RRP ($900ish), there is a strong argument for the budget winches...or at least the GOOD budget winches. What is the Badland RRP...something like $500 right? At those prices, I agree the Badland wins. It's still not as good as the Evo, but it's definitely not $400 worse. But that's not the situation right now. Right now, the Evo is $430 BEFORE the rebate...so even if you don't wanna deal with the rebate BS, you're getting the Evo slightly cheaper. If you go for the rebate, IT'S ALMOST HALF THE PRICE. That's a no brainer.

This discussion wandered into pretty long tangents and lost it's focus, and we all forgot that while we were discussing minor differences, were weren't talking about a $400 price difference. Apparently that's where this whole "Warn fanboy" thing came from...but I have no problem admitting that at $500 vs $900, i'll take the Badland winch all day...and I think anyone else advocating for the Warn in this thread would agree.

To summarize another way, really it's pretty simple - unless you are running a Zeon, chances are pretty good that at some point you are going to need support for your winch - whether in or out of warranty. The pricier winches like Warn and Superwinch are going to be FAR easier to get service and parts for out of warranty, AND their warranties are longer. Is that worth an 80% price premium? I don't think anyone here would say it is. But a small premium, or in this case, a LOWER PRICE makes it a slam dunk.

 

[Bill_P]

Maybe, maybe not. This was exactly my point. You don't know, you can't count on it.



There's only been one fanboy in this thread, and he's very clearly ANTI-Warn.

I think the main point that myself and the other guys advocating for the Evo had has been largely obscured. At the VR Evo's RRP ($900ish), there is a strong argument for the budget winches...or at least the GOOD budget winches. What is the Badland RRP...something like $500 right? At those prices, I agree the Badland wins. It's still not as good as the Evo, but it's definitely not $400 worse. But that's not the situation right now. Right now, the Evo is $430 BEFORE the rebate...so even if you don't wanna deal with the rebate BS, you're getting the Evo slightly cheaper. If you go for the rebate, IT'S ALMOST HALF THE PRICE. That's a no brainer.

This discussion wandered into pretty long tangents and lost it's focus, and we all forgot that while we were discussing minor differences, were weren't talking about a $400 price difference. Apparently that's where this whole "Warn fanboy" thing came from...but I have no problem admitting that at $500 vs $900, i'll take the Badland winch all day...and I think anyone else advocating for the Warn in this thread would agree.

To summarize another way, really it's pretty simple - unless you are running a Zeon, chances are pretty good that at some point you are going to need support for your winch - whether in or out of warranty. The pricier winches like Warn and Superwinch are going to be FAR easier to get service and parts for out of warranty, AND their warranties are longer. Is that worth an 80% price premium? I don't think anyone here would say it is. But a small premium, or in this case, a LOWER PRICE makes it a slam dunk.

Like I said, with the price right now on the warn it is a better deal than the badlands of the pull weight and everything is equal. When I got mine that wasn't the case, at least when I was pricing them

 

[c20040215]

How about install it correctly, cover it when not in use, regular maintenance, and make sure it work properly prior to a wheeling trip ?
My personal experience is that most name brand winches are good enough for average joe, gives you a tug to clear the obstacle.

This is not to say Chinese made ones are just as good as Warn Zeon. I am a firm believer you get what you pay for. However, I have seen, more than once, a Warn winch fail to deliver due to lack of maintenance.

My Smittybuit hasnt let me down when I need it. I put some effort to ensure it functions like it should. I make sure it was installed properly. No wires are kinked, connections are solid, pre-tension the rope. I use winch cover so it is out of rain, dirt, and sun. I unspool the rope and clean it at least once a year. I run the motor by unspool and spool the rope every once a while..etc.

At the end of the day, you choose a winch based on your user case, budget, and vehicle weight etc. Don't go the cheapest unknow brand, but not everyone need to spend over $2000 on a winch, either.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Maybe, maybe not. This was exactly my point. You don't know, you can't count on it.



There's only been one fanboy in this thread, and he's very clearly ANTI-Warn.

I think the main point that myself and the other guys advocating for the Evo had has been largely obscured. At the VR Evo's RRP ($900ish), there is a strong argument for the budget winches...or at least the GOOD budget winches. What is the Badland RRP...something like $500 right? At those prices, I agree the Badland wins. It's still not as good as the Evo, but it's definitely not $400 worse. But that's not the situation right now. Right now, the Evo is $430 BEFORE the rebate...so even if you don't wanna deal with the rebate BS, you're getting the Evo slightly cheaper. If you go for the rebate, IT'S ALMOST HALF THE PRICE. That's a no brainer.

This discussion wandered into pretty long tangents and lost it's focus, and we all forgot that while we were discussing minor differences, were weren't talking about a $400 price difference. Apparently that's where this whole "Warn fanboy" thing came from...but I have no problem admitting that at $500 vs $900, i'll take the Badland winch all day...and I think anyone else advocating for the Warn in this thread would agree.

To summarize another way, really it's pretty simple - unless you are running a Zeon, chances are pretty good that at some point you are going to need support for your winch - whether in or out of warranty. The pricier winches like Warn and Superwinch are going to be FAR easier to get service and parts for out of warranty, AND their warranties are longer. Is that worth an 80% price premium? I don't think anyone here would say it is. But a small premium, or in this case, a LOWER PRICE makes it a slam dunk.

I am anti-warn as they are over priced in my opinion. Even still your comparing a steel cable winch on sale to the full retail price of a synthetic cable winch from a store where anyone can get 25% off with a simple email? Not sure how I'm a fan boy of anything by not being a warn fan? I've never owned a badlands. I've owned a warn, a smittybilt, and 2 xbull winches. For the money the xbulls have exceeded expectations in every way. That I am a fan of. As far as inevitably needing customer support, I haven't? Even when I break a line I just order another 1. I can replace my entire winch for just over $300 with a click of a button. Not investing any time or energy on returns or waiting on hold at that price.

 

[TheRaven]

I am anti-warn as they are over priced in my opinion. Even still your comparing a steel cable winch on sale to the full retail price of a synthetic cable winch from a store where anyone can get 25% off with a simple email? Not sure how I'm a fan boy of anything by not being a warn fan? I've never owned a badlands. I've owned a warn, a smittybilt, and 2 xbull winches. For the money the xbulls have exceeded expectations in every way. That I am a fan of.

Chill man...none of this makes a measurable difference. I compared RRP to RRP and then sale price to sale price. You can use coupon codes for the Warn deal too...but this is all situational just like the whole HF store situation. You can put synthetic cable on the Evo for $80-120 and the steel versions of the budget winches are like $80 cheaper. None of this significantly changes the equation.

We are all pretty much in agreement here and no one is giving you a hard time about your choice. It's cool.

 

[Terrymo]

Bring up winch brands, catch cans, or cold air intakes and people start acting like someone threw out a yo mamma insult.

 

[Ratbert]

That test was from 2011 so I'm not too sure how relevant it is to what's on the market now

Seriously? People are using data from 2011 for their analysis???

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