Winch Recommendations: winch woes!
 

Ok so I know of that crazy big Warn M 12000 that I can buy, but listening to recommendations from everyone here, might not be the way to go....i may not be able to compensate for the weight.

so maybe I will just go new and spend up to $600.00 but would like to be around $500 - $550

what about Summits own brand? I am sure they are made by another winch company, and if they have a gaurentee why not get one of those in a 8000 - 9000 pound winch?

Please advise, this will be going on my 1997 4 Runner 3.4 liter

The bumper will be a simple tube design, which I hope to have weight about 60 pounds. This is afterall why I am member, here to get advice, input from others..I appreciate everyones help...I just want to get a strong winch, leaning towards the side of overkill but not redonkulous.

Thanks, Tim

Warn M8000 - $495 at 4WP (I think). Spend the rest on synthetic rope. A tried and true combination.

Done.

think the summit ones suck?

thanks for the recommendation Cebby...

Warn is the benchmark. Not familiar with the Summit ones. Got a link?

The summit ones are made by T-Max. New to the American market, built in China and seemingly high quality. I'm in the same boat as you.

Lamm

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...=KeywordSearch

I do think sometimes there is quality in a name, such as Warn, however I do also know sometimes you pay for a name and nothing more...with our global economy and technology, I am thinking that the T Max is not a simple hackjob knock off,,,when 383 stroker kits for Chevies first came out they were huge money, now China built ones such as Scat and others are among the most durable and best built as are alot of other China built, American race engine and parts,,

this is what is prompting me to think Summit brand...

I don't know how often you plan on using your winch, but unless your pulling yourself out trouble 3 times a week I don't see why this one wouldn't work:

Costco MileMarker

If I ever felt compelled to blow money on a winch, I'd get this one. Yes, the Warn is a proven tool, but I don't think you need to go ultra exotic unless you have a purpose built vehicle...

A quick search will show you that the MileMarker is garbarge. I like the Ramsey 9500 or 8500 w/synth line myself, but if I don't get that one then I'll get a Warn.

Warn is still made here and so are the parts.Ramsey is good just a little hard to get parts.You can get parts for a warn winch just about anywhere.

try looking at the warn tabor line. ive got the 9k and no complaints.

Not another winch thread...
 

Winches are like fine women. Everybody wants to be seen with a good looking one. Of course, the good looking ones are expensive.

So, the not-so-good-looking ones will perform all of the tasks of the pretty ones, with a little less pain in the checkbook...

How often will you use it? If frequently, than buy something tried and true. If maybe twice per year, hell get one from Harbor Freight. Though perhaps not as durable in the long run, if you don't intend to use it frequently, it shouldn't be an issue.

Do some searches on ih8mud.com, as they have beat the crap out of this topic.

For me, I wheel occasionally. I have a hand-crank winch (like a comealong, but beefier). When I get stuck, it's only a matter of a few feet for extrication. I don't want a heavy front bumper, so..
.
In the end, it's your money and your truck. What's important to you and why? If you can answer those questions, the winch choice will be easy.

uberhahn

I mainly drive the truck to work and back but have been doing more and more off roading, I will soon add an arb (air locker up front) and hopefully at some point will make a trip, drive to central america to surf, so who knows what we will encounter,,,,

a warn may be the way to go, I had one in the past

winchin is next on my list of upgrades too. I stop by the Summit store in Atlanta and just walk around and day dream. Those Summit winches look cool and by that I mean their compact and streamline. I don't like that box that sticks up on top like a lot of them have. The idea of getting a medium priced winch and then getting the HI-Lift package that lets you winch too. and then we should have a good olfashion shovel anyway right. I dono I guess just put it on a card and pay interest for the next two years

M8000. or..if youre on a budget, or just want to toss the wire rope for some decent synth line...get the tabor 9k. uses most of warns internals..so you know replacement parts are a snap. couple friends have em and they said its the best bang for the buck...that is if you dont wanna dish out the coin for a real warn..heh.

im hopefully getting an M8000 next month...if i cant spring for that..then its the tabor 9K.

Ive got the Warn 9.5ti w/ syn. line and love it, Ive used it sooo many times, (twice on myself) and it has never let me down, if you can afford it, and it fits, (not sure what bumper you got), Id get it :great:

that one appears to have sold,,on ih8mud

maybe a new m8000 is the way to go? I just wonder what is up with Summit,,,wonder if anyone here has one?

Any good links to some supporting facts? I had heard that Mile Markers were decent and supposedly they made winches for the military too. (can't verify that, someone told me that)

Just my .02, but last time I looked at winches, I never considered anything but a Warn, they are a little more highly priced then other winches, but 85% of the guys up at Paragon are using Warns, and all of my buddies said it is the only one to go with. I am not familar with winch constructions, but I do know mile marker is garbage, it has a plastic housing that melts. I just know everyone has always told me to do a Warn, and it has been around the longest, I've also never heard of a Warn braking(although I'm sure it has happened, just not to anyone I know), so to me, that is what I would do.

I want to make the right choice, but also do not want to beat a dead horse