What kind of Winch to buy

[Offroad Addict]

I want to buy a Winch for my 96 Dodge Ram 1500 and wondering what kind is cheapest but still would do the job.    Are there good winches that you don't have to mount to your bumper?

Thanks!

[michigan maniac]

Harbor freight's badland winches are pretty cheap, I've heard good reviews about them, they are "slow" as far as line speed but will get the job done,  as far as mounting you need something good and solid,  they do have the hitch receiver mounts that work good, install a hitch jb the front of your truck then you can pull yourself out from either front or back !!

[Offroad Addict]

Thanks. I'll check out the pricing.

[old school truck dude]

Ive always thought Warn makes good winches, somebody had a thread goin with videos comparing different kinds of winches

[xjs3667]

Ive always thought Warn makes good winches, somebody had a thread goin with videos comparing different kinds of winches

x2       harbor freight winches will get the job done if you need something now and don't have the money for a real good one, just make sure you get the extended warranty plan, it's cheap and covers it for I think up to 3 years. wait till it goes on sale and use a 20% off coupon and you'll get it really cheap. 

Im a big fan of warn, but have been looking around at different brands for a new winch.

[chevystudz7105]

just remember  you get what you pay for.   ive gone the cheap route on quad winchs before and ended up spending the money and going right to a warn winch.  should of jsut spent the money on one of them first.    if iw as going to spend the money for one  id buy a warn.

[ToughBowtieTruck]

just remember  you get what you pay for.   ive gone the cheap route on quad winchs before and ended up spending the money and going right to a warn winch.  should of jsut spent the money on one of them first.    if iw as going to spend the money for one  id buy a warn.

Calling you out :

Harbor Freight was one of 3 winches that survived Winches in Hell. A lot of name brands failed.

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=353

Chicago Electric: The Chicago Electric 9000 includes an automatic load holding brake, roller fairlead, and a 4.5hp motor. It has the beefiest cable of the test at 3/8". The Chicago Electric also had the lowest current draw on every obstacle. The low draw makes this winch ideal for a stock battery and charging system when used within Chicago Electric's guidelines, which we failed to follow: "Intermittent use...not in a constant duty application...pulls kept as short as possible...(and) never pulling for more than one minute at or near the max rated load." We abused this winch just like the others.
   
This Winches In Hell warrior was, in many ways, out of its class. To its credit, the warrior didn't know to quit. By the end of the test, this winch was crawling along, hanging on for dear life. It didn't finish with the vigor it had at the beginning of the test, but it lacked the good sense to quit and survived all the Winches In Hell challenges.

Harbor freight's badland winches are pretty cheap, I've heard good reviews about them, they are "slow" as far as line speed but will get the job done,  as far as mounting you need something good and solid,  they do have the hitch receiver mounts that work good, install a hitch jb the front of your truck then you can pull yourself out from either front or back !!

get the 12,000. I have the Road Shock 10,000 version and I've winched out tow trucks, plow trucks, all sorts of crap with it. Even a lifted Excursion diesel!

Mine's on a quick-connect harness and receiver winch. Fits my tractor, trailer, anything with a 2" receiver! http://www.harborfreight.com/12000-lb-off-road-vehicle-winch-with-automatic-load-holding-brake-68142.html

[old school truck dude]

See, I thought ole buddy would pop in here and he did.. Toughbowtie knows what hes talkin bout, always good info from him

[ToughBowtieTruck]

Used it again tonight to pull a shed onto my trailer, actually!

See, I thought ole buddy would pop in here and he did.. Toughbowtie knows what hes talkin bout, always good info from him

I've long realized anyone can say anything about anything. So I either back up my "arguments" with facts on the net or my own "extreme" tests.

[uncletuck]

damn this post has been up for a while with out input from the gus

[michigan maniac]

Pay the extra money and get the warranty at harbor freight too!!

[four_by_ken]

You get what you pay for.

If you are really going to be using the winch to get you home... save up and buy a good one.

[ToughBowtieTruck]

You get what you pay for.

If you are really going to be using the winch to get you home... save up and buy a good one.

True, but I have needed that winch way before I could save up to get a new "good" one. Still works great!

[chevystudz7105]

maybe you were one of the lucky ones that got a harbor frieght winch that hasnt gone bad, but from my experience with alot of different harbor frieght tools they do not last.  almost every thing i have bought from there i have ended up replacing with some other brand.   i rarely set foot in the doors at harbor frieght anymore. 

[old school truck dude]

maybe you were one of the lucky ones that got a harbor frieght winch that hasnt gone bad, but from my experience with alot of different harbor frieght tools they do not last.  almost every thing i have bought from there i have ended up replacing with some other brand.   i rarely set foot in the doors at harbor frieght anymore. 

I got sockets from there and I been a real savage, usin them for punches and seal drivers, puttin a big breaker bar with a 4' cheater pipe for a couple years now, aint broke nothin yet

[BUDGETBOGGER03]

maybe you were one of the lucky ones that got a harbor frieght winch that hasnt gone bad, but from my experience with alot of different harbor frieght tools they do not last.  almost every thing i have bought from there i have ended up replacing with some other brand.   i rarely set foot in the doors at harbor frieght anymore. 

I got sockets from there and I been a real savage, usin them for punches and seal drivers, puttin a big breaker bar with a 4' cheater pipe for a couple years now, aint broke nothin yet

i have had good luck as well.... only thing i had break from there was a drill and it was my fault

[marshall]

i like mile marker winches. abused mine for years (9500), with only two complaints. not much of a line break, and my plug would fall out. i seen on the new ones the plug threads in, so i would have no problem buying another.