Winch decisions
 

So for those of you that know, I got a trailer. I want to toss a winch on it and while most folks know I'm not scared to blow apart my wallet, I'm weighing out the pros/cons for spending significantly more money for likely limited pay off. I'm going to assume a 4K or better winch should do whatever I need to as long as the car is rolling. I hope to never have to use it but you know.....

Here are the options I found.

Badlands Harbor Freight Special
https://www.harborfreight.com/9000-l...ake-61346.html

Pros: Good reviews, way more capacity than I should need, can get it down the street from me and throw it back at them easily if it stops working.

Cons: No clue how long it will work and last.

SmittyBilt
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXS3BXI...=250FVPI3UX379

Basically same as the Badlands except I get Amazon the opportunity to take more of my money.

Warn VR-8
https://www.amazon.com/WARN-96810-VR...winch%2B8&th=1

Pros: Better brand (assume) so maybe it will work better and last longer?

Cons: Price

I will also need to get a battery, box, cover, etc etc to finish this all up.

Thoughts?

Personally, I would rather pay more for something that is most likely going to last a long time, compared to something that is likely to fail, especially when you need it. I want to get a Warn, but I will need at least a 12k pound, so I haven't gotten it yet. I do buy some stuff from Hazard Fraught, but it's mostly stuff that I won't depend on when I am having my worst day.

Also, you can probably do better on price than Amazon, I would shop around a LOT before you go there, especially since you're going to have to pay sales tax on it too


"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten"

I have a smitty built winch on my jeep truck. For the money they are very good, ive never had a problem. Same one you have linked too. Its a little big for a trailer, but would work fine.

Smittybuilt has a solid product, only think I've noticed is that they do not like to work right when they get wet.

Go OL school and get a manual hand crank like they use for boats.

I know it's not the same, but I have a Warn on my ATV that has served me well for about 10 years. Truth be told, I don't use it much, though.

The Warn sure is pretty, although I'd probably go with the Smittybuilt because the price is right and it has a warranty.

In the long run, relatively speaking the few extra bucks should sway me towards the better brand but dammit if I sometimes don't want to spend all the monies.

:kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap: :kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap: :kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap::kneeslap: :kneeslap:

You don't know me at all.

The open trailer I used to pick up my current camaro has the cheap harbor freight on it and my buddy's enclosed trailer has the same winch as well.

Both work flawlessly and are easily 5 years old. The one on the open trailer had the plastic housing smashed when I hauled my old camaro to the scrap yard. It also has sat outside its entire life. If that doesn't say something about the quality then IDK what else to say :p

My brother has warn on all his offroaders

I have always had Superwinch on or in my trailers with no issues. My current S4000 has been on my trailer outside in the weather for 10 plus years. I hook it up via Warn winch plugs to a battery that I carry with me. I did mount it on/with a trailer hitch mount so I could remove it and use on another trailer. That being said I know many people using the Ching Chong brands in their enclosed trailers with winch rope and having zero problems.

Side note: I have never used winch rope only cable. Obviously the cable sucks for stray wires but I have never known if winch rope holds up being left in the elements.

I have a 5500 lb badland in my hauler, and its been good. I thought i would hardly use it, but being a enclosed trailer, its easier for me to lay down hook up my tie downs outside, and then winch it in so its straight in the center.

The Badland is the same one I lent you when you borrowed my trailer. I've had it for 5+ years and it's still like new. My recommendation is to make a quick disconnect setup like I did. That way you pull a pin, remove the winch and store it in the garage. I would also recommend that you purchase this with it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/Wirele...rol-69229.html

We use a few Warns at work. One is always doing boneyard duty and really gets abused. They all seem to work well, even with monkeys like me using them. Lol

Thanks for the input. Decision time soon!

Just a FYI-

https://images.harborfreight.com/hft...7/images/9.jpg

Thanks. Harbor Freight sends me a lot of monthly love in the mail.

Figure I'd finish of the thread. Decisions were made. I'm happy with how it all came out. The fairlead required a custom bracket since the one they sell for $130 would have required all the butchery.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...psuohkhr1b.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...psljlyrod5.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...psu6q9kadk.jpg

Very spiffy sir!

You guys with your fancy al-u-minium trailers!

Nice setup, bet it beats trying to push 'em up there!

Sew fuuhncy. Yes, no one wants to push shamu anywhere.

Does the battery get charged via the trailer hookup, or is it completely stand-alone?

If not its easy to do. I removed the little tongue battery and my big battery is tied into the truck and break away.switch.

Stsndalone. I bought a solar battery tender to keep things topped off. Jump box will go in the truck just in csse.

Nice setup bud, Looks like you are now ready for "alltheboost"

Thanks man. No one wants to try and push my car on the trailer. Still working out the bracket for the tow hook install on the bird.