What winch are you using?

[TruckNorris]

What's a good winch that wont break the bank? I'd like one thats hidden as much as possible.

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[gwhalin]

I am running a Superwinch SX10SR and have no complaints. Mounted with hidden winch mount behind stock bumper.

 

[ylwjacket]

I got a Rugcell from Amazon after looking at reviews of it. It was on sale when I got it also, which helped.

For the bracket, I used a winch tray from Harbor Freight.

Attached a couple of pics - one in progress, one when it's done. I will have to cut the plastic piece in front of the winch if I ever use it. I didn't really want to do that until it's necessary.

When I got the winch, the big one (12 or 13k) was on sale, so I got that. It was hard to fit in there. I think the 10k model would've been a better fit. I had intended raise it a bit to get it over the plastic piece, but I couldn't do it with the bigger one.

So, it is what it is until I get up the gumption to do fab some sort of opening there in the front, or to replace it with a smaller one. Good for now if an emergency presents.

I actually bought hardware to mount the hawse outside the plastic piece, assuming I'd cut it. I ran out of time when I was doing it, and put it back together as it was, and haven't gotten back to it.

 

[ylwjacket]

I should've added: it doesn't look like it in the pic, but the rope will come up and over the plastic piece. If I use the winch, that plastic will be trashed, and I'll have to cut it at that point.

 

[9zero1790]

so after months of looking for a decent affordable winch i found out that the majority of ones on the market that are popular all come from one builder. ZHME. from china of course. They are brain and builder behind the labels we see like badlands, apex, smitty built, superwinch, rough country, some of the mile marker and engo, rugged ridge, and many others. some of the products and labels are better quality than others as they build them to specification of the retailers. i share this to say look more in depth at the specs and parts vs. the label. my recommendation is find a decent brand winch from a well know label and get all the specs on it you can find, including types of parts and so on. then look at ZHME to see what other "brands" that winch sells as. you may be able to find a great deal. my first choice for a winch is Ramsey, but they cost a kidney. Warn might be a second but they are not worth the price to me.

https://www.zhme.com/off-road-winch.html

 

[TruckNorris]

I got a Rugcell from Amazon after looking at reviews of it. It was on sale when I got it also, which helped.

For the bracket, I used a winch tray from Harbor Freight.

Attached a couple of pics - one in progress, one when it's done. I will have to cut the plastic piece in front of the winch if I ever use it. I didn't really want to do that until it's necessary.

When I got the winch, the big one (12 or 13k) was on sale, so I got that. It was hard to fit in there. I think the 10k model would've been a better fit. I had intended raise it a bit to get it over the plastic piece, but I couldn't do it with the bigger one.

So, it is what it is until I get up the gumption to do fab some sort of opening there in the front, or to replace it with a smaller one. Good for now if an emergency presents.

I actually bought hardware to mount the hawse outside the plastic piece, assuming I'd cut it. I ran out of time when I was doing it, and put it back together as it was, and haven't gotten back to it.

Did the harbor freight mount fit well? I dont want to pay $600 for the 589 mount.

 

[TruckNorris]

Also would a 5'500 winch be enough? Also interested in the harbor freight mount, i dont want to pay $600 for the 589 brand mount.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Also would a 5'500 winch be enough? Also interested in the harbor freight mount, i dont want to pay $600 for the 589 brand mount.

Minimum recommended is 1.5x the weight of the truck, but I've always run 2x. On the Ranger, I'm running a Warn VR Evo Synthetic 12,000 pound. It has been perfect so far. Wireless remote is awesome. I've also run it while it was completely under water with no issues.

 

[9zero1790]

Also would a 5'500 winch be enough? Also interested in the harbor freight mount, i dont want to pay $600 for the 589 brand mount.

A 10k is about as low as I would go. Overkill is just right when you really need it. An 8k would likely do just fine. But when you need a winch it's often in desperate moments. I have a 12k on mine.

 

[ylwjacket]

Also would a 5'500 winch be enough? Also interested in the harbor freight mount, i dont want to pay $600 for the 589 brand mount.

The winch plate from HF fit just fine. However, you may have to either shim up the bottom of the winch, or cut a hole int he plastic piece up front.

The winch that I got was the 13,500 lb winch. It has a remote control as well. I think something a bit smaller, maybe even 10k would've fit a little better.

 

[9zero1790]

I have the Westin mounting plate and bull bar. I got them one ebay for about 200 i think. they fit the 5g perfect and work great. its beefier than i expected it to be. the 12k winch fits but its snug.

 

[TruckNorris]

The winch plate from HF fit just fine. However, you may have to either shim up the bottom of the winch, or cut a hole int he plastic piece up front.

The winch that I got was the 13,500 lb winch. It has a remote control as well. I think something a bit smaller, maybe even 10k would've fit a little better.

Did you use the channel mount or the fairlead mount?

 

[shovonmshahriar]

WARN Zeon Platinum 10-S bolted to the frame with 15K lbs. shear bolts. It don’t get any lower profile than this. ARM switch to AUX #4 (5Amp).

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I’ve got the Harbor Freight Badlands 12k winch. It’s excellent.
How hidden it is will depend on your install.

 

[9zero1790]

mines not hidden at all. but im ok with that. I wanted to be able to easily access it and spool or unspool or change out the line etc.

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