I know theres a couple guys out there that have ran these, but im a bit skeptical. I've heard that they are clones to the milemarker winches, but the advertise only a 1.8HP motor. Thats seems a little off to me. Anyone know whats up?

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...highlight=tmax

I am pretty sure the harbor freight ones are different than the T-max's which are the cheapo MM's

 

i think you mean the milemarkers are cheapo t-max's. they used to be made by t-max at a lower cost, but the t-max winches are of a much higher quality. faster line speeds, stronger motors, bearings instead of bushings, etc.

 

If it's a price issue...

IMO, I guess it depends on how you are going to use it.

On occasion, I have my life hanging by a string on the side of a cliff or something. I want to know that I have a quality winch on the other end.

But, if you are only using it incase you get stuck in the mud or something...you can probably get my with a cheaper product.

 

I'm wanting an all around good winch on a low budget, which brought me to these winches. But seeing how every other manufacturer has a 5 hp motor on the same capacity winch with the same gear ratio made me wonder.

 

i have a friend who has a harbor freight, has served him well for 4 or more years, it works really well it winched me up the the rest of the top of slick rock when my clutch went out no problem, i would have no second thoughts about buying a hf winch

 

You friend that has the harbor frieght winch, is it like the one they have now, chicago electric with a 1.8 hp motor?

 

yup sure is

 

And he takes that rig with the HF winch goes to Moab and does all the hardest trails there, so knowing that I've been tempted to give one a try.

 

wow, i just don't see how it would do that good, i guess im too skeptical. but word of mouth i take into account, and i thank you guys for it. i guess i'll go check into warranty with the winch and see how well they stand behind it.

 

said he took one apart and compaired it to his mile marker, said it was the exact same thing, so as far as im conserned im a beleiver for them, it worked out great, and for the price thats even better!!!

 

He said there was one difference, I can't remember what it was, but that it was something that always wears out on ALL winches anyways, even Warns at some point.

 

interesting..... do you guys know how much of a draw it puts on your elec. system? (that winch in particular)

 

Probably not much I'm pretty sure they use a permanent magnet motor rather than series wound. Also low horse power just means slow, alot of gear gets the job done rather than a lot of HP. Harbor Freight also offers like a two year free replacement program for like $30 or something like that.

 

I like my mm winch. never had a problem (knock knock), except the slowness of it.

 

Seafarinman said this about MM/HF winches when I asked about my purchase of a MM E9000 in my thread:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...38&postcount=2

 

I just bought a HF winch, the 8000lb one. I got an especially good deal on it. Only paid for the carrier, the girl messed up, Oh I did try and tell her, but she didn't seem to understand what I was saying. So as far as price goes, can't complain. Haven't used it yet, but it can be mounted to my front and rear hitch receivers. Will update as I use it...

 

A cheapo Harbor Freight one is what, 300 bucks? For around 500 you can get a real Warn and trust it.

Harbor Freight sells crappy, consumable stuff that is meant to be abused and ditched. Those are not features I look for in a winch.

I wouldn't let someone hook me to one of those. I would wait for a real winch or make other arrangements. I love my Warn.

 

Well I would feel safer with a warn, but im thinking for the price its not too bad, usafric, let me know what you find out.

 

where can you get a $500 warn winch for a truck?
i seen the new tabor at gowarn.com. not very impressed line spd at 4000#= 5.9 fpm, 559 cca, that's a lot of power for only 4000#, was this the winch you were talking about or is there somewhere else i should be looking (in the market for a winch)