Battle of the Winches

[Knox]

via Jay @ Chanda

See attached PDF

[LEMON-AID JAY]

Again Thanks Steve

[Knox]

no problem, was a good read, I like that they included the anatomy of a winch for those of us who haven't owned one yet.

[JohnB]

So the Warn 9.5XP was the only decent winch they tested.  They should have just included an 8274 an been done with it.  Full length hard pulls one after another with high speed and not worry.

[Bnine]

Probably because it isnt relevant to the article. All the winches tested were economy light duty lay downs.

That like suggesting they put a corvette amongst a comparison of economy compacts...................

74's are neither affordable, or practical for most peoples application. They are more winch then most need anyways.

[LEMON-AID JAY]

So the Warn 9.5XP was the only decent winch they tested.  They should have just included an 8274 an been done with it.  Full length hard pulls one after another with high speed and not worry.

Are you sure the warn is the only decent winch there or is it the only name your familiar with ? This test was done in Australia and they picked there top ten winches There were about 5 decent or popular winches in that comp. The tigerz and ox winches are well known over there. I will agree with the 8274 being an excellent winch but it is ugly as hell on the front of your rig and new it is no were near cheap.

[w squared]

While we're talking about great winches, let's look at a gigglepin dual motor 8274 conversions, and a 20,000 pound hydraulic winch. 

Apples to apples here. The test was about moderately priced winches aimed at moderate use on a relatively light vehicle. The 9.5XP outperformed many of the other winches....but it also costs more. Makes sense to me.

[Bone206]

For those who are unaware, the Tigerz is the same winch as the Titan Winches from Ontario.

[vantagetes]

So the Warn 9.5XP was the only decent winch they tested.  They should have just included an 8274 an been done with it.  Full length hard pulls one after another with high speed and not worry.

I wouldn't say that. The winches that took 1st and 2nd performed great. While the Warn did edge them out (although not by much) it also cost almost twice as much as the others. You do get what you pay for but at the same time this is a good article to show that if you're not out winching every weekend there are some good products like the King One (Mako) that do what needs to be done at a much better price tag.

[JohnB]

I wouldn't say that. The winches that took 1st and 2nd performed great. While the Warn did edge them out (although not by much) it also cost almost twice as much as the others. You do get what you pay for but at the same time this is a good article to show that if you're not out winching every weekend there are some good products like the King One (Mako) that do what needs to be done at a much better price tag.

Only those three winches made it the TWO pulls without failing aside from the Superwinch which went out on thermal overload.  Look at the test figures.  The two cheap winches that did last were pulling crazy amperage the whole time.  Most people would not have the electrical system to manage anything in that range.

Reliability should always be the most important thing.  When you need a winch, you NEED a winch.  When it dies, your day can turn to crap really fast.

Life is much easier just to spend the $300 or $400 needed for an 8274 and not worry.