While at Sam's club yesterday I somehow found myself in the automotive section, and they had a "one time buy" on a Champion winch w/ roller fairlead, 7500# pull for ~$300. Anyone know about this brand? Should I run back and get one?

 

Check the box...I'll bet it says "made in china by political prisoners."

 

You gotta look at the specs on those bargain brand (yep, mostly made in China) winches. The one they sell at Harbor Freight for $299 all the time is only like 1.8 hp - it's the exact same one, remote and all, marketed by Ramsey and Milemarker at around $450. I bought one that has 4.8hp for $299 ($349 incl shipping) from Proline off ebay. It looks exactly like a Warn M8000 even has the same chrome lever and came with a roller fairlead, and the spec sheet matches the Warn M8000 almost identically too. For the most part those winches are just fine, if you need it for occasional use like most us saving the money over Warn or whatever is a fine idea. I had a Warn on my '85 for 10 years and probably used it ten times - but now that they are so expensive I decided to risk buying the bargain brand. Drawbacks are no warranty (90 days etc...) so if something does ever break on it you might have to consider it disposable. Lots of people use these and they seem just fine, I didn't really find anyone who said it didn't do the job, most all of the bad comments I found were simply brand snobs who didn't even have one. But it IS buyer beware on that stuff.

Comment about Warn: About 2 years after I bought my Warn 8000 the motor died. It came with a one-year warranty. I took it apart and it was rusted up solid. I called Warn to order a motor. The guy told me I needed a new-style motor adapter to go with it, and I would have no more problems with condensation and rusty motors. When I asked what the total was, he said "Oh no, this was our faulty engineering, the parts are free." I was impressed. But get this: the next day when I got home from work that motor was on my porch - they sent it overnight too! If money wasn't so tight right now I would have bought another Warn, but I need a winch and the extra few hundred dollars is too dear to me right now...

 

This is the one I bought: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

 

I actually work at Sam's and saw the winch myself. The one our club carries is a 10,000lb and its 349. I saw it outta the corner of my eye and was like...WOW...WE have a winch lol. I'm kinda waitin to see someone buy one and see how quick it comes back if it comes back at all.

 

lol.. you win the oldest thread revival of the month award..

 

LOL

Hey rerun I work at the Auburn Walmart. Are you a member of any toyota clubs here? PM me

 

Damn lol I just realized how old this thread was LMAO. Whoops.

 

Well, since it has been resurrected, what's the verdict?

A 10,000lb winch for $350? Sounds like a good deal if the motor and gears have some speed to them.