Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => General Talk => Topic started by: shibby on December 26, 2007, 03:02:19 PM

Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: shibby on December 26, 2007, 03:02:19 PM
I'm trying to find one, but costco's all seem to be sold out.
Anyone see them lying around anywhere?
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: FiEND on December 26, 2007, 03:36:36 PM
costco front desk should be able to say when they are coming in again.. sometimes not though.  princess auto has the 8500 superwinch for $499
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: Trouble Maker on December 26, 2007, 04:33:32 PM
Costco on the Yellowhead up in Edmonton still had a pallet of them a couple of weeks ago, maybe your local Costco could get one sent in from another store?

The 8500 Superwinch that PA has seems to only exist at PA. I have tried searching for specs on them and they don't seem to exist outside of PA. Bought one to throw on the back when I get "energetic" and build a new rear bumper. They do have a solenoid pack on them instead of the higher quality contactor that the EP and EPi series are running. As long as PA and Superwinch will warranty them without any problems they should be a good winch though. Haven't had any problems with my 4 year old EPi 9 yet.
Title: Winch
Post by: bae146 on December 26, 2007, 04:57:44 PM
Saw one last week at cosco south for 359.00
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: shibby on December 27, 2007, 03:38:13 PM
Well looks like I'm SOL.
as per costco, it looks like they are not going to be selling the Champion 9500 pound winches anymore. There are only a couple costcos that still have them in stock (regina and Winnipeg). And the item is pending deletion in their system.

So either they will be getting a newer model that no one yet knows about, or they'll stick to just the quad winches.
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: cotaman on December 27, 2007, 03:47:28 PM
crappy tire sells them too, the 8000lbs ones
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: superles on December 27, 2007, 04:30:00 PM
I believe you can order from costco online and they will deliver to nearest store for pickup.
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: Bnine on December 27, 2007, 08:56:45 PM
Take the hint, save longer and buy a good quality winch with a standing rep.

Ramsey, superwinch, or warn.

They will still be in business next year.
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: Rig-Pig on December 27, 2007, 11:20:46 PM
hate to dissagree with ya bnine, have had my champion winch for 5 yrs now, never a problem, and tons of use...  bought it for $459, now the 9500 lb ones are $359..  im so impressed with these winches, im getting one for my full size diesel
Title: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: cablesmurf on December 27, 2007, 11:25:17 PM
Quote from: "Rig-Pig"
hate to dissagree with ya bnine, have had my champion winch for 5 yrs now, never a problem, and tons of use...  bought it for $459, now the 9500 lb ones are $359..  im so impressed with these winches, im getting one for my full size diesel


Where do you plan on getting it?
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: bae146 on December 28, 2007, 07:37:26 AM
The one nice thing about the champion is that it is a permanent magnet motor.  This does mean it is slow, bu the current draw is about 1/2 what a series wound warn winch is.  So for those of us that want a winch that can get us out of trouble a couple of times a year it is money well spent.  You do not need to upgrade your charging system and run super batteries to make it work.  Sure the warn is a better built unit, with more support, and parts are easy to get, but the champion does have its place.
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: Bnine on December 28, 2007, 05:49:49 PM
lol, champs are half the amperage, but its a quater the speed of a warn. A 20 foot pull still requires you to use double the amperage a warn would.

They use that motor because it is cheap, and then gear it down so it can still pull a half decent amount of weight.

The champ, mm electric, t-max, etc etc are all the same winch, picked off the shelf in china, with a different label slapped on it.

If you wheel in a group and dont use a winch often, go ahead.

I wouldnt run one  recommend one, but thats just my opinion because of how many I've seen blow up.

Like anything manufactured in china, you do have a chance of getting one that will last, even the components in them are inherently low quality and not prone to last.

But to each their own. Just my 2 cents
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: bae146 on December 28, 2007, 06:36:51 PM
Yup the components are not that great, as a matter of fact I have a dead one in my garage right now.  However I was tight for cash when I bought it and it served me well for 2 years.  I now have a warn that I got used (for the same price as a Champion) and it is a far superior unit.  Now I just have to mount it on my Pajero!!!!
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: jpthing on January 01, 2008, 10:18:12 PM
I'd bet costco has a new improved model soon...they did the same thing with the quad winch...delisted it, sold out, then brought in a new and better model for cheaper...we can hope!

My experience with these winches has been very positive.
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: TJ-Gord on January 02, 2008, 06:03:54 PM
I had a champion winch on my jeep for 2 years, never had a problem with it. They are very slow, even compared to my buddies m8000. I would stay away from the Canadian tire models. They come with a perm magnet (think a 2.2)... do a little searching, they had a problem with these in the states. The ones from costco came with a 3.6 wound motor, better in my opinion. Are they as good as a warn? No chance, but you get a lot of bang for the buck. One last thing I would like to comment on, a lot of people will tell you to go buy a warn or superwinch, but they forget how much these things really cost. I bought a 8274 off a board memeber here for 300 bucks, after repairs, parts, winch plate, roller fairlead and new cable, the price is more like 800-900 bucks... so it really depends on your budget on what you buy.
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: Bnine on January 03, 2008, 10:56:04 AM
I dont forget how much a good winch cost. I recommend them for a reason.

A winch is not worth doing if you arent going to do it right.

If you have the need for a winch, then spending the extra money for a reliable one that will last should not be an issue.

If you think you dont need a good winch, then you likely dont need one at all. By a pair of come alongs and save yourself tons of money.

If the winch is just for looks and you dont wheel. Buy a lunch box, glue it to your frame, and tie a warn bag on top of it.

What most people trying to save a buck tend forget is that the people making recommendations have a considerable amount of experience with components they are for and against. Thus making their recommendations for a reason.
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: 01sahara on January 03, 2008, 11:10:02 AM
If your looking for a good winch then Warn has the best reputation in the club hands down.  However, there are several of us around  using the Super Winch 9500 and have had good luck with them. They are not as much $ as most of the Warns but considerably more then the Champion. When I got my winch it came with 150' cable nad a snatch block included.  With a good winch you will need to budget for a separate winch plate as well. Bill is correct if you are going to wheel lots then a good winch is a very good investment. I have beat on the Supper Winch for almost two years and have had good luck with it.  Just my opinion and another option for you to consider.

Blair
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: Rookie on January 03, 2008, 06:27:34 PM
I have beat on the Supper Winch for almost two years

Blair

If you keep beating on the Supper , you won't get any :P
Title: Re: Anyone see a champion winch around
Post by: jpthing on January 13, 2008, 09:06:33 AM
I'd bet costco has a new improved model soon...they did the same thing with the quad winch...delisted it, sold out, then brought in a new and better model for cheaper...we can hope!

My experience with these winches has been very positive.

so yes, it's  official.

costco has delisted the 9500 lb winch.

they will be releasing a champion 10,000 lb winch in march for $400

item # is 151552

i will let you know what i think when i get my grubby paws on 1!


i should mention, 90% of the problems i have seen with the cheap winches were just bad connections. it's a good idea to ttighten, clean and protect the connections for reliability.

if you're stuck and your winch won't work it's probably mud, oxidization, etc...loosening, wiggling, tigtening connections has never failed me.

ya gotta love a winch you can exchange for a new one because the cable is frayed!!