Costco Winch

[chadlh]

Has anyone tried the Costco winch.  I know there was a post about it but I can't find it (old web site).  From what I understand the Warn 8000lbs winch (similar product) does not have motor overheating auto shut off and it also doesn't have an overload (jammed cable) shut off either.  

I found a carefully controlled lab tests of the Warn winch that has convinced me not to buy a $1000 winch if it doesn't have any better features than a $400 Costco winch.    

Thanks for any feedback general or specific about electric winches.

Chad

[Fly Guy]

http://www.fourwheelstampeders.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2734

My Ramsey REP8000 needs work again and I was looking at the specs of this winch today. My current winch is slow and the champion winch is a bit slower but I was thinking of giving it a try. It's not much more $$$ than repairing my Ramsey and if it's no good at least costco has a good return policy.

[Abrasive]

With the amount of rain that's come down in the Calgary area over the last few weeks, I suspect I'll be able to give you a pretty informed review after this upcoming weekend.
It seems like a well built winch. The advantage to a lower horsepower engine (costco-3.8hp Warn-5.5ishHP) is that it's less of a draw on your electrical system because it relies more on mechanical advantage. The Costco winch is a series wound motor (superior to a permanent magnet).
The disadvantage to a motor that relies more on mechanical advantage is that it is slower.
Kris

[youngen18]

if costco took visa i woulda bought one a while back...

[fug]

I have a costco winch on my TJ.  I've used it a few times and no issues so far.  Pulled myself a few times and a full sized dodge a couple of other times.  So far I'm happy with my purchase.   I like the fact it comes with everything you need... fairlead, wire, hook, mounting plate, snatch block etc.

Fug

[cLAY]

Read here:

http://www.fourwheelstampeders.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2734

I like Warn personally but I do feel that ANY winch is better than no winch! Had a Warn M4500 on my XJ for awhile, way undersized for my Jeep but it was all I could afford at the time. It got me out of many bad spots that I couldn't be pulled out with a strap or someone else's winch.

[Tyrel]

what sort of price range are the winches? 400-1000?

[Abrasive]

Well,
I finally got a chance to really try the Costco winch out this past weekend. I'm quite impressed with it. It's slower than a WARN, but not unreasonably slow. I've been out with guys with the Princess Auto winches before and they were much slower and got much hotter than mine.
After pulling Kelly (Fly_Guy) out of his colossal stuck, the winch wasn't very hot, nor was is powering out. All in all, it performed very well.

$0.02

Kris

[RckyMtnTJ]

Pricewise, I believe they were $489... or something like that.

[bae146]

399.00 at costco.  They have been as low as 389.00 on sale.  Mine works good so far.