Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => General Talk => Topic started by: beepbeep on February 23, 2007, 11:58:19 AM
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Hey i was just wondering, would it be a huge difference if i went with Champion over the Warn?? Or should i just spend more on Warn because it will be worth it? Please post or Pm to let me know! Thanks!
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If you are planning on using a winch a lot, you definitely get what you pay for. However, if you are only going to be wheeling few times a year, may 1/2 dozen, then get a champion.
I have a Warn 8274 and it is GREAT. I have done 150 ft winch pulls, no problems with over heating and it can be very fast. WAY faster than a champion.
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Champion 9500 Lbs Winch at Costco.....$399.99, the good thing about Costco...keep the recipt in a safe place if anything happens, or you just want to take it back you can.
FYI...
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Maybe Brink can comment on this, as he was in on this trip, but from this comment:
PS - If anyone has anything bad to say about champion winches...they are mistaken, Chilltech's and Edson's winches worked their asses off and got them through a lot of miserable crap just fine!
Sounds like the Champions worked better than there reputation.
From this thread:
http://www.missioncontrol.ca/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=Eco;action=display;num=1171955122;start=0
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They held up fine to continuous use this last weekend. They were under load more often than not for about 3hours on the front of 2 of the jeeps in the group as we tried to get off a trail. Seemed just fine to me. Not as fast as my 8274 but as long as they pull I don't complain.
I'm not as die hard a warn guy as some on here. Whatever works for you. And the Champions worked fine this past weekend.
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I don't have a winch yet, but personally I would rather put my trust in a used Warn over a cheaper brand. I am sure they work fine, but I just wouldn't be comfortable with one.
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i have to agree with the Champion camp on this one. I bought the 8000lb one 2 yrs ago when i first saw them, and have used it quite a bit. (more often than i would have liked.. big holes..... try as i may, i cant avoid them) i've never owned a warn, but my champion winch impressed me so much, my next one is gonna be Champion for sure.
quick story, 3 solid hours of winching, first myself up a hill, turn around, then winch my buddy up... winch never got warm... going on summer 3, he just got a new lift.... so guess who'll be pulling him out when he HAS to try those big holes.
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I've got the 8000lb champion winch,hasn't let me down yet.......and my buddy bought the hitch receiver type,works great.........
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Looks like I'll be getting a Champion from Costco, for my bush beater XJ.
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Hey i was just wondering, would it be a huge difference if i went with Champion over the Warn?? Or should i just spend more on Warn because it will be worth it? Please post or Pm to let me know! Thanks!
I'll be more than willing to let you know the difference. I'll give the Champion an honest try once my 25 year (plus) old USED Warn winch gives up the ghost. I'm just not sure how long you'll have to wait for my results though because I've had the motor rebuilt on it once in that 25 years so it might be a while. :lol:
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i have the 9500 lb champion reciever hitch style, haven't used it yet but im looking forward to trying it out this summer
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from what I've been told Warn is the way to go. All the guys that I have spoken to who have been wheeling for years swear by it and a lot of them have had to do very litle to them as far as repairs.
I personally think I am going to try out the powerplant one with the compressor in the next couple of months. A bit expensive but will save me having to buy a compressor to get on board air set up. lol
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well my two year old champion hasen't had any repairs yet,and it was only 300 bucks at the time.........
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well my two year old champion hasen't had any repairs yet,and it was only 300 bucks at the time.........
I will not disagree at all with the price, they are a good. However, if you are going to wheel hard to tend to spend money on PROVEN parts. I know guys using older 8274s that are 30-40 years old.
Warns are proven and you know you are getting a great product. You can't argue with that, just how I will not argue that the Champion is a decent winch and the price is right.
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Seems like most people seem to consider the Warn winches bulletproof.
But hasn't everyone see ads for secondhand ones that need work? (motor, solenoids, etc.) :lol:
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I've got the 8000lb champion winch,hasn't let me down yet.......and my buddy bought the hitch receiver type,works great.........
Here's a prime example of a faulty Champion winch but yet you defend them, and you've only had it for two years.
Now have you figured out why it hasn't let you down. Is it the reverse gearing or the remote that's faulty? And why are you up there in the first place. :P :lol:
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well my two year old champion hasen't had any repairs yet,and it was only 300 bucks at the time.........
For two years but I know guys that have proven warn winches for much longer. Who knows maybe Champion will be good too. They just havn't had a chance to prove themselves yet as it is fairly new. I still want to stick with what is proven right now.
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Seems like most people seem to consider the Warn winches bulletproof.
But hasn't everyone see ads for secondhand ones that need work? (motor, solenoids, etc.) :lol:
Also playing that Devils Advocate eh? 8)
Nothing is maintanence free, and yes stuff wares, and I will admit I have had to have my brushes cleaned and replace a couple solenoids. I look at a winch as an investment as it is a piece of safety equipment
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Well I just picked up the champion 9500 pounder so I guess we'll see how she goes this summer.
DON'T FAIL ME NOW
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I would take the money and buy a used Warn instead of a new off-brand.
But that's just me.
Vince
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Seems like most people seem to consider the Warn winches bulletproof.
But hasn't everyone see ads for secondhand ones that need work? (motor, solenoids, etc.) :lol:
Also playing that Devils Advocate eh? 8)
Nothing is maintanence free, and yes stuff wares, and I will admit I have had to have my brushes cleaned and replace a couple solenoids. I look at a winch as an investment as it is a piece of safety equipment
I'm just stating the same, nothing is maintenance free. And I agree Champion hasn't been around long enough to prove themselves either.
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I have a Warn 8274, it's about 20 yrs old , best winch i ever had!! I did have to replace the solenoids and cable. awsome winch!
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so how many years does champion have to be around to be cosidered good?hondas were manufactured after fords....which thier cars have 350000+ klms,and have kids are buying them and bolting wings to it....I'm not saying champions are gold,but its been really good to me...
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I had a champion on my last TJ which went with the jeep when I sold it. That winch was awesome. For the $400 you spend on it you cant go wrong. I'm sure that the WARN is a better winch but I dont think it's worth the extra $800 - $1500 your gonna spend just to pick up a little more winching speed and a nicer logo. Anyone who own's or has owned a champion that I know has never complained about it once. It wont let you down and that's all that matters. Cheers.
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I agree with most of what everyone is saying..as long as it gets you outta your stuck, then good on ya! I'm running an 8274 (going on 3 years now) and have to say there's not a chance I'd ever change - or even consider a change. Have wheeled with folks using the Champions and sure they'll eventually get you out, but man, doesn't the slow line speed get a little annoying after awhile? Get in, get out...sure do love my Warn! :lol:
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I wish my champion was a warn.
But its not
and so far it been ok
almost 3 years now
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You should consider your other options.
I have a 9000lb Super Winch. It was less $ than a Warn but the company has a better and longer history than a Champion. It also comes with a snatch block and roller fairlead, items that cost you extra with the other winches. I have abused it for a full year now with no problems. It has worked very well on lots of long pulls. Warn also makes a line of lower cost budget winches.
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so how many years does champion have to be around to be cosidered good?hondas were manufactured after fords....which thier cars have 350000+ klms,and have kids are buying them and bolting wings to it....I'm not saying champions are gold,but its been really good to me...
about 100 years should prove up champions quite well.
Nothing is without faults.
I was on a trail run 2 years ago that had 5 dead warns due to shoddy maintenance. It happens.
What doesnt happen with warns is sudden, abrupt failure when loaded hard.
It has happened to champions.
To each his own. Everyone has a choice, and no one should be begrudged for making that choice.
Often the reason these threads escalate to BS is because people force or try to force their opinions on others.
Stick to facts and it should be good.
Facts, warns are proven more reliable, still american made, more expensive then almost every other brand.
Facts, Champion is a very affordable winch, Costco gives a great no question warrenty on Champs, they are a lower quality then most USA winches, they are the exact same unit sold by harbor freight, mile marker, and other small companies, made in china with individual dealers stickers put on them, chinese pricing on the winches is based on quality and level of QC desired.Champs can prematurely fail if loaded hard.
An individual needs to take those facts and decide what he would select based on his own priorities.
IMHO, everybody wheels in groups these days, and a champ is better then no winch. 99% of the time, if a champion, or any other winch for that matter fails, there are half a dozen others to help someone out.
Here is an informative but controversial read on low end winches. Some good info in there.
http://www.rubiconownersforum.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=35491
Finally, my personal choice is a smaller, or used warn before buying a champ, mm, opr harbor freight. But thats me.