I am looking for a winch.. I figured I would post this for anyone else who is.
Disclaimer.. all facts were researched by me and there may be small bits
needing correction.. if anyone has any corrections that they KNOW are true
please post them. abriv CE=chicago electric MM=milemarker
Winches to be discussed
CE 8000# 299$
Ramsey8.5E 430$
CE9000# 399$

MM 8000 and 9000# aprox 430-500$
MM 12000 550$
T-max 3 old models available at www.e-winches.com 530-700$
(also available 9500@559 shipped 11000@600 shipped.)
T-max 3 New models with the new 6.6hp electric motors 600-660@jegs.com
Some info/hearsay on new warn winches.
I will also edit in some links later on.

CE 8000# winch is the same as MM 8000# made in same china factory.
Uses bushings instead of bearings in some internal part(s)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40764

Ramsey 8.5E seems to be identicle in nearly every way to the CE/MM 8000
winches even being made in the VERY same chinese plant.

CE9000# Avoid at all costs A pos winch with under 4500 real capacity
being marketed as 9000# Winch

MM 12000 manufacured by t-max in china under special quality control and
supervision by australia engineers?(this is true until 2004 not sure now)
I do believe there is alot of this old stock mm12000's around for sale still...


The old model t-max winches seem to be very competitive with Warn and
are marketed as premium winches at a low price... 5.5hp motors fast
line speed... and good reviews from professionals.
http://www.e-winches.com/SearchResul...?CategoryID=48

New model t-max. Improved in all ways from the old. Still made in china
but with higher quality standards. 6.6hp motor fast line speed.
Price increased but probably worth it.
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...74&prmenbr=361

I was also looking at warn winches.. and as many would say they are
susposed to be the best in the business. I have also read many complaints
about warn winches made in the last 1-2 years since warn has susposedly
been bought out. I put most of these off to the fact that they have more
winches out there than anyone.. and comsumer error.. but there maybe
something to that. Btw if anyone thinks warn is an AMERICAN winch company....Then you have never heard of outsourcing..

In the end.. I havent been scared away and I will probably go with
the CE8000$ for 299$ local pickup. 30$ roller fairlead and 50$ 2 year
no question asked replacement plan.

If I do go with something else It will be a 11000# t-max from
Jegs in delaware ohio (local pickup :) 600+tax

I'd like to shell out 1000 for a warn.. but I havent seen anything that makes
me think they are worth the HUGE premium for that brand.

Btw Tom T-max solonoids are remote mount.
http://www.t-maxwinches.com/
Some prices include shipping some dont.. if it says shipped after the price...
then it includes shipping...duh :)

/end of ramble/
Rand

 

Thanks. I'm not in the market for a winch now but I found your run down of the various details interesting. Good research.

 

I have a Warn XD9000i on my explorer and had a warn M8000 on the ranger. I have seen milemarkers and ramseys in use and was not impressed. Warn is the only thing I will ever own! BTW I am also a member of RRORC.com and have used my Warn on may trail runs both for myself and to get out others and has allways done a great job.

 

Do it...

It will be worth it...

 

A large part of deciding on a winch should be how you're going to use it even more than what you've seen others do. For someone in a rush, I definitely wouldn't suggest a Milemarker however I use my winch rarely and to me, the most important thing is getting out of a stuck, not getting out in a hurry.

Certainly, getting advice from others is worthwhile, but in the end you need to weigh all of your options and figure out which is best for you. If you wheel only 2 or 3 times a year, a Warn is a huge waste of money. If you compete, then you don't want anything else.

 

eBay auction ended Saturday night and I am the proud new owner of a Warn winch
dealer only takes certifed check or money order (did not notice that in my exuberance to get a good deal) so I will be heading to the PO tomorrow
hope to install it by Centralia

 

Great!

Now mount yours on the rear of your truck and get in front of me, then get Tom behind me -- and I'm unstoppable!

 

that's what the box of 4 gauge is for Johnny.....
I am going to take a ride down to a fabricator in Neptune that was making custom hitches before the OTC kind were so popular and available
if they can make some thing that is hidden and keeps my SS hoops in the open without much valance cutting we will have a deal

 

I thought 2 gauge was recommended even for the short run on the front...
It is going to draw 450+ amps at the rated load... enough to weld 1/4" plate

Rand

Also for those of you who think warn is great keep your current winch...
Warn was bought out by dover industries.. a large 4$billion company or so.
I cant see them being hardcore offroad... They just want profits.
http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/...warn_dover.asp
Also I heard they are outsourcing alot of parts now but still "build in the usa"

Rand

Edit:
Superwinch seems to have some very nice winches too.. Highly recommended by some.. Even over the new warns....
Their 9000lb model is 599 from jegs. 47lf unloaded line speed :)

http://www.superwinch.com/pages/epi/epi9.html

 

You failed to mention MM Hydraulics, though they do not make an adapter kit for the Ranger....they do for Jeeps though.

Line speed and warranties don't mean crap if your winch breaks on the trail. MM Hydraulics are the slowest on the market, but as long as your engine is still running the winch will keep pulling. 10500 of TRUE pulling for 710 bucks! For the money that you save you'll pay to get someone to come pull you out. A winch is one thing that you can't be cheap on.

 

2 or 4 guage whatever Warn sells OEM
some guy in Texas had a package that was pretty close to what I was looking for
would have gotten it real cheap but a bit of a bidding war started Saturday afternoon
and thanks Buck, before I bid I asked if it included the power interupt switch

 

What do you mean carl? The ranger uses the same power steering pump as the
explorer and they sell a kit for the sport trac......

Also I did look at MM hydrauics... I was really impressed.. but I dont want to mess with my power steering pump.. or worry about f****ing anything up. Also if I was in water upto my fan I couldnt use the winch as it would be throwing water all over and stalling... *maybe if i had an electric fan too...

There are huge advantages to one of those winches but also disadvantages.

Right now my 3 choices are( for farther research)
Superwinch 9000# forget model... 599$ at jegs
Chicago electric 8000# with 2yr replacement warrenty 350$ (same as mm8000)
T-max 9000 or 10000# from jegs for 599$ 9000 has faster gearing 178:1~~ compared to 220:1
MM hydraulic would be 750$+ shipping + install kit was cheapest I could find...
Rand

 

 

If they make an adapter, go for it. I am ordering from Summit, they price match and ship for 8 bucks! I have a site that sells the MM for 710, adapter for 59. A company called PSC (something like that, I have the link) sells upgraded pumps for 160 bucks...that's less than the extra battery for the dual batts. Plus, less weight than a dual battery set up and no high amp wires. The ONLY down side to the hydraulic is the fact that your engine must be running. I have yet to find another donwside, but I'm always listening.....

 

i got one of those on my goped.

 

I hate summit's website they are 10 miles from me but their website is a total pain in the ****.

Neil if money was no object.. I am sure I wouldnt get any of those 3 choices..
money is tight.. I'm weighing 350$ with unlimited replacement warrenty vs 600$ of better winch. The t-max 10000 I am told actually stalls at 12-13000# they just rate it lower because it has lower (numerically) gearing. It has a 6.6hp motor. That all said the superwinch has a 47ft/min line speed (ouch my hand) unloaded which would be nice although the 30~~ft of the t-max isnt bad
The harbor freight one is probably adequate guaranteed to last me 2+ years and almost half the price of the others.. its also sloww.... but nothing is slower than waiting on someone to recover you.. or using a "4 ton power puller" lol.

So the Real question to me is how much winch do I need?
It pretty much depends on how I do refinancing the truck this month. Looking for 12000@6% or lower for 36monthes.

Rand

 

oh, I thought it was a choice between the three you listed
if that was the case then as I posted Superwinch looks to be the best product
the model displayed is the 9K version

 

I don't feel so special anymore... Gonna hafta come up with something else to stand out now... Lemme think....

 

Rock sliders man...you are the Rock Slider king!

 

You still have a home-built winch mount and those sliders. I suspect you'll be making something else next. Most of us don't have the "fab"-ulous abilities you have!

 

that custom side vent exhaust will set you apart forever
besides you know how to use your winch and incase MM does not come through by April 8th... well I am not going to call AAA

 

If it helps any Tom, there is a "piece of you" on my truck!...in fact, 2, soon to be 3 pieces!

 

See, Tom -- we'll still love you, even if Rand and Neil get a winch! We'll love you LESS, true -- but we'll still love you!

 

Wow...Tom dont feel so bad! I didnt even get mentioned in getting a winch. Where's the love?

EDIT: Neil, nice buy!

 

Oh, yeah, Mikes getting a winch too... (sorry, Mike, forgot...)