I was reading the article in the Oct. 2004 JP magazine where they tested 3 budget winches: the Ramsey REP 8.5E ($399), the Raymart 8000 ($329) and the Superwinch EP 9.0 ($550).

As usual, they dedicated a whole 2 pages to the story, mostly filled with pictures and little information. Here's my question. For someone who has never had a winch before and would only need it as a last resort (I don't do trails that require winching to complete), would one of these work for me? I was looking at the Raymart one, simply because of price. It's made by Collins Bros. and according to JP was really slow, but they were unable to get it to stall. Slow is okay for the occasional stuck isn't it?

Please educate me...

Yes and no.


Slow also creates HEAT...which likes to kill electric motors.


If price is a big concern, out of the 3 you mentioned I'd get the Ramsey. If you can, just pony up to get a Warn 8k.


Budget in money for a snatch block, gloves, some extra cable, tree strap, solid mounting (whether you build or buy), good wires and a strong battery. Those are the basics.


I know you said you won't need it much, but it would be like buying extra u-joints and not bringing the tools to put them in.


Since you the 2.5, I "think" you also have one of the lowest output alternators too. You will see a incredible difference when you put in a good battery and alt.


These are just a few areas you need to concern yourself with when looking at a winch. They should sell "kits" so people don't get all confused when they realize they have to spend X amount of dollars more for the accessory's.



.02



~Jason

have you looked at the t-max 9500? Rockshop is selling it for $559 with free shipping
t-max winch
Im going to be picking one up in the next month

There is a lot of talk going on about them T-Max winches but I have yet to trust one.

I looked into budget winches for a while, I almost got a Ramsey REP8000, but I figured I would just save a little longer and get myself a trusty Warn M8000. I can tell you its a hell of a winch, I have done some really hard pulls with it quite a few times and its held up great so far. Im very glad I got my winch, when I first bought it I though I would only use it once or twice a year and so far I haved used it about 6 times in the 4 months I've owned it, each and every one of those times I would have been screwed if I dident have it.

I know most hate 4 wheel parts but the have killer deals on the Warn m8000. I got mine for 500 shipped to my door So it is right in there with the prices of the others you listed. And with warn or the ramsey you know they will be in business next year if you need parts, etc.

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Originally posted by bluexj89:
I know most hate 4 wheel parts but the have killer deals on the Warn m8000. I got mine for 500 shipped to my door So it is right in there with the prices of the others you listed. And with warn or the ramsey you know they will be in business next year if you need parts, etc.

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Thats exactly when I got mine. I bought 2 (one is mine and one is my dads) it was $1000 shiped to my door along with a tree saver strap, a set of tow hooks, D-ring reciver mount and some other little thing I cant think of right now. It was an awsome deal. Oh yea, and they came with Hawse fair leads.

That's a good price on Warn! I've got an old M6000. I had to replace the motor and cable over the past 3 years. But I bought it used for real cheap. ( $150 for it, a bikini top, 48" hi-lift, and a couple of tow straps). I've worked it pretty hard on a couple of pulls, and it does great. If I wasn't shopping for tires, I'd buy an M8000 myself.

Oh...a friend has the Mile Marker 8000 electric. It's really slow, but has pulled his K5 out of some nasty stuff. I can't speak for the others since I haven't seen them used.

just go for the m8000 and you won't be sorry.i have a 8ooi and in 10ten years its been on 5 different vechical and on my third cable. what ever you buy ,and if you have side post don't hook the winch up to the side post.

i havent really read the thread being in class ans all, but has anyone said anything about the mile marker 9000? its only 459 out of quadratec and the only diference is that it doesnt have the cowling across the top. they have been tested by the military

I'll just add my comments about Warn and Ramsey.
I've not had any problems that weren't easy to correct out of either in 27 or so years of jeeping. I've sure seen a lot of unhappy people that have purchased off brand models and later regretted it.

The cheap off brands and chinese produced winches are pretty good for show. They weigh down the front end and look tough. Many people only need that.

Much also depends on how long you're going to keep your winch and/or Jeep. Its not uncommon for a Warn owner to move his winch over several vehicles. Thats how we can sometimes tell a guy is out looking....his jeep suddenly doesn't have the trusty old winch on the front. Its not at all uncommon to find a 20+ year old Warn still grinding away on someones brand new TJ.

There are a lot of tricks and accessories that go with winching. Many people don't understand that when they first make their purchase. Spending some time and effort can seriously reduce the cost of those items. There is no reason in the world to buy a high dollar accessory bag with the makers name silk screened on the side. Same for gloves, snatchblock, chain, straps, etc.

Chains and straps can be picked up for free on the highway. They just fall off trucks. Be careful and they're yours for the picking. Welding gloves can often be picked up for half the cost of a name brand goodie. Particularly if you don't mind them not matching... Some welding shops get free samples. Beg, its acceptable.

Batteries and alternators can be a difficult subject. Batteries are probably best sized by weight. Heavier is better. Alternators can be deceptive. Just because one is rated at a certain amp level doesn't mean it generates that amount across the RPM range. Most come with a generating curve, but getting your hands on it can be difficult. Size is a good indicator because it disapates heat, the most common cause of failure. Fitting it into your engine compartment can be a thrill. In 1983 I installed a Motorola "oil field and rice patty" alternator. It took a different bracket but was big, had sealed bearings, and put out ton of power. And you pay for that in gas mileage all the time.

Wires are another issue, too. Stock vehicles come with telephone wires, as do many winches.
Just too small (but good for warming your hands.) The best batteries have side and top posts. If you take your factory battery cable and use it to run from your alternator to the battery, you're ahead. Then find scraps of welding lead (0 or 00 gauge) to use as battery cables. Thick is good. Ground wires need to be thick, too.

Many of us also run secondary switches to operate our winches. Its a lot nicer to have a switch inside than to run your control thru the open window. You can also use the control plug as an accessory power source. I had a kit built up that included a ground connection on my Warn contol plug. I just used the 4th contact that they ignored as a ground. Then I had a boat bilge pump to wash my jeep in streams, a spotlight to provide work lights.

You'd be amazed where all that can lead you if you spend some time on it. You can even find snatchblocks at farm auctions or flea markets at a fraction of the cost of "new". Most are stronger, too.

howdy



but i highly recommend a yellow top optima battery!!! and make sure to hook the winch up to the top posts and not the sides.

oh... i bought my warn used 4 years ago and have never had a problem yet!!

later

jason

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Originally posted by Dick Burg:
Its not uncommon for a Warn owner to move his winch over several vehicles. Thats how we can sometimes tell a guy is out looking....his jeep suddenly doesn't have the trusty old winch on the front.

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Thats soooooooo true.

wow i feel dumb, just goes to show you, you need to pay attention, either in class or on the posts. sorry bout that one Dennis

Anyways, ive got the old ramsey 8000 im gonna put on a cj, but it needs new cable, do yall have any suggestions? oh the jeeps gonna be quite large. and i shouldnt have to use the winch much.

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Originally posted by T-Town Jeeper:
oh the jeeps gonna be quite large. and i shouldnt have to use the winch much.

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???? Remember the old line about the bigger they are the harder they fall......

Everyone gets stuck. If you don't, you're not trying hard enough. Or only running the pavement. The key is to have enough equipment and knowledge of how to use it. That way you can just maybe extract yourself. Probably not... What I've found is that my jeep is rarely in the best position to get myself out, but the guy in front or behind is in a great place. Remember, you're not stuck if you can get yourself out.

i agree fully, ive been wheeled a 4banger tj on 31's for a while so i know how to get stuck, and i know how not to. i meant to say that i wont be on trails that winches are needed, at least not for a while. most of what ill be doing is getting myself out of a tight spot every once in a while.

and i also understand that when i do get stuck in my new jeep it will be quite bad. do you think that i should spend the money to replace the cable or just wait till i can get a better winch?

If im hanging by a winch cable, i want to have a warn on my front bumper, and not a winch that i thought to be considered a budget winch. I really didnt want to spend what i did, but i found a 9.5 ti for 870 shipped from durango 4x4. The deals are out their, just look for them. Their shouldnt be a budget involved when considering a recovery device that also involves an aspect of your own personal safety.

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Originally posted by SprungTJ:
Their shouldnt be a budget involved when considering a recovery device that also involves an aspect of your own personal safety.

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The reality is that budget is always a consideration. Thats why the big makers also offer a "value line" of winches. Those may not have all the bells and whistles, but are very good and dependable. They also have spare parts if you need them. Those are available driectly, or thru a pretty wide dealer network.

Maybe the point should be made again. Buying a winch doesn't have to be an expense you look at in the short term. A really good winch will last years and still be pretty dependable. While I've sold 3 jeeps over the last 27 years that had winches attached, I only allowed the winch to go because the vehicles were being purchased by friends. They wanted (and paid for) the entire package. I still might be able to get my 1983 Warn M12000 back if I pushed.

A winch is a long term investment, or could be.
Make sure your auto policy covers it against theft. The accessories you keep will also be good for a long time. I've still got a snatchblock I was using in the 1970s, and its better than most of the new lightweight stuff being sold at high $.

There is a lot to be learned about winches and winching. Almost all is best learned by participating, not books or classes. Pulling yourself or someone else out of a real bind is usually interesting. Its the thing most of us remember about a ride.

I agree with many of the opinions above that quality is worth it. I ponied up and got an $830 deal on a Warn 9.5ti (which sells at 4 wheel parts online for $895 now) and have never regretted it.

If you DO decide on the budget route, go with the Chicago Electric 8000 lb version. $299 at Harbor Freight with a mounting plate AND a fairlead.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40764

I've had good experiences with HF refunding money or replacing faulty products. It'll save you money if you're set on a budget winch. I have a friend that is buying the CE winch this week. I'll report back after we test it out.

I some how was lucky enough to have been given an old "broken" 8274 off of a 76 bronco. It needed a solenoid pack,a controller, and a cable and that beast was running.

My buddy used to run an old m8000. It was his dad's winch but was given to him for his birthday. That winch didn't look like much sitting in the garage but it pulled his lifted K5 all over Alabama.
I would say spend the extra and get a m8000, if I hadn't been given a broke 8274 that's what i would have done.

As far as accessories go, I agree with Dick Burg, I am slowly getting a dry box full of winching accessories, but I am not going to pony up for a warn kit. You can get good recovery supplies at Tractor supply. They got snatch blocks, chains, gloves, and shackles. Also, I bought a new roller fairlead off of ebay for cheap. For straps, I usually go with the yellow walmart specials. They get the job done if you keep them in good shape.
If you need a new cable just go to a cable shop in either Tuscaloosa or Northport. If you can't find one there go to birmingham. I bought a raw piece of cable and just rigged it myself. Warn prices on that kind of stuff is ridiculously high.