Jeep Who makes the best winch?? I
- Thread starter Keeanc
- Start date
UNSTUCK
But stuck more often.
Wow! Maybe it's time to try a different brand. I think someone said something about buying it right the first time and then only buying it once.
skiboarder
SkiBoarder
- Location
- No Ogden
I know I'm going get grief but here goes. My friend has a harbor freight 12000lb model. He uses it quite often, and in very hard situations over the past 5 years. He has never had a problem with it. I'm sure tha warn winches are superior in many ways. The harbor freight one has paid for itself in savings. Besides a winch mostly sits on you front bumper waiting to be used
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I don't know that you'll get "grief" and I'm happy he has had good luck with the Harbor Freight unit. Personally if I'm the one in the rig hanging from a cable, I prefer a proven name vs. something that might work as good. With that said, Warn changed hands a few years ago and I'm curious to see how that works out.
Not Being Mean But Doesn'T This Person Know Not To Ask What's Best. The Best Winch Is One That Works. I Run A Rough Country 9500. Although I'm On My Second One In 3 Years And Only Used The First One Twice. The Second Time I Feel It Paid For Itself. Stuck In Snow On Mineral Basin With A Friend And 2 Kids 2 Hours Before Sunset. If You Just Realize You Get What You Pay For. WarN Is Pretty Much Champion But Out Of My Price Range. If The Price Is Close To A UsedWarn, Get The Warn.
- Location
- The Village of Kay
When I was doing research before buying my Warn Zeon 10, I called Warn to talk to them about their VR series and their Zeon series, and how they would respond to questions about what makes their winches better than Smittybuilt and HF. The guy I spoke to was very helpful, and semi unbiased. He said the Warn VR series winches are comparable to the Smittybuilt and HF with regard to components, but he claimed the Warn does use better quality parts and construction, but they are similar winches. He also mentioned that any winch can fail when it simply sits on the front of a rig and is never used. He recommended spooling out the wire and running the winch at least once a month to keep it lubricated for when it is needed.
I also called Smittybuilt trying to get answers on what could have failed on the winch that came on my Jeep. Their answer was "We can sell you the parts to fix it, but it is probably cheaper to just buy a new one then buy the parts to fix what you have." To me, that was enough to know I wanted a better quality product. I chose the Zeon because it has features of Warn Premium winches at the middle range prices. I have loved it for what I have used it for.
I guess when you ask for opinions, you will get them from all over the board, as you clearly see from the many posts in the thread. My personal opinion is based on my personal experience and research. If I ever buy another winch, it will be another Warn.
I also called Smittybuilt trying to get answers on what could have failed on the winch that came on my Jeep. Their answer was "We can sell you the parts to fix it, but it is probably cheaper to just buy a new one then buy the parts to fix what you have." To me, that was enough to know I wanted a better quality product. I chose the Zeon because it has features of Warn Premium winches at the middle range prices. I have loved it for what I have used it for.
I guess when you ask for opinions, you will get them from all over the board, as you clearly see from the many posts in the thread. My personal opinion is based on my personal experience and research. If I ever buy another winch, it will be another Warn.
- Location
- Stinkwater
Exactly my thought. I was saving up for a Warn, and then I needed a winch and didn't have one. Now I have an Engo, and I can go back to saving up for a Warn.
Wow! Maybe it's time to try a different brand. I think someone said something about buying it right the first time and then only buying it once.
lol
I've owned one harbor freight winch for 9.5 years and it still works like new, and I've used it a lot.
- Location
- West Haven, UT
Another WARN fan here. All I have ever owned and all I will ever own.
After rebuilding several brands, including WARN, I will take a WARN any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Mike.
After rebuilding several brands, including WARN, I will take a WARN any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Mike.