rebuilt warn vs. smittybuilt winch?

[JackstandJohnny]

debating buying new or replacing motor in mine.  

checking out these smittybuilt units, they look like rebadged milemarkers.....
http://www.zoneoffroad.ca/default.cfm?fa=products&ProdCategoryID=142

now, my warn m8000 is pooched;  the motor is shot, and its looking like it'll be close to 200$ to replace just the motor. 

or get a brand new one for 400$ give or take.  anyone run one of these? 

i know the traditional argument of 'buy warn, they're chinese crap what would you rather rely on' etc. etc, but heres the thing;  i've killed 3 warns......... and the one champion i ran, it, well ran like a champ.........

ideas?

[Bone206]

just throwing this out there. . . .Just ordered a Recon (yeah yeah, cheap Chineese crap blah blah) 10,500 winch with a 7/16 amsteel line and aluminum fairlead for 429 USD through TruckandWinch. It is "waterproof" (not sure any winch can be), comes with a three year warranty, and comes with a cover if you send a pic in. There aren't that many reviews out there for it, but the ones I've read seem very positive. It has a current draw comparable to the superwinch 9.0epi (nice and low) too. I figured what the hell, if it has a 3 year no questions asked warranty and I need to use it, no biggie. Also, the 90 or so feet of 7/16 amsteel blue with fairlead is worth 300 bucks anyways, so if it kicks the bucket, I can salvage the line and put it on something else. Just my $0.02. It should be here on Monday so I'm pretty pumped!
 

[Bone206]

Here is the link for this winch.

http://truckandwinch.com/recon-10-500-lb-winch.html

I'll Guinnea pig it and report along.

[w squared]

If the rest of the winch is in good shape and you can replace the motor for $200, why would you buy a lower quality winch for twice that price? I'd guess that the M8000 will perform just as well as anything else that you can buy at the $400 price point. If you're peeved at Warn because you've killed three of 'em, then go ahead and buy something else...but I have a sneaking suspicion that they have yet to make any mechanical device that even approaches being Johnny-proof. A big red W isn't any sort of magical protection against your winch cratering, but I'd guess that it'll last longer than any other brand.

I've never run anything other than Warn (both on my Jeep and on one tons and quads when I was working seismic). Despite all the abuse that various brain dead, smoked-up, and coked-up jughounds put those 12K's through, I never saw them kill one. I saw them destroy controllers, rip cables off of drums, use winch cables like tow straps, hang quads from trees using winch cables, and crank until both batteries on the truck were done...but never kill the winches.

[JackstandJohnny]

nothings johnnyproof

but i've blown up 3, why not try something else?

[w squared]

but i've blown up 3, why not try something else?

That logic seems to work for you with vehicles, so why not winches too?

[JackstandJohnny]

debating whether or not i should laugh or cry 

Todd i need a hug

[w squared]

Todd i need a hug

I am SO not your guy. But I will drive over to Pook's place, pick him up, and bring him to "visit" you...

[Immortal]

A conjugal visit?

[w squared]

A conjugal visit?

I'm sure that Johnny just wants to cuddle.

[Immortal]

It is his call, as he IS the Big Spoon.....

[BlackYJ]

I am just going to ignore the last few posts and try to get back on topic

I would definitely get the warn rebuilt by ATI and would not look back.  The motor may be rebuilt but at least the rest of the winch is great quality and the motor would have decent speed.

[vantagetes]

just throwing this out there. . . .Just ordered a Recon (yeah yeah, cheap Chineese crap blah blah) 10,500 winch with a 7/16 amsteel line and aluminum fairlead for 429 USD through TruckandWinch. It is "waterproof" (not sure any winch can be), comes with a three year warranty, and comes with a cover if you send a pic in. There aren't that many reviews out there for it, but the ones I've read seem very positive. It has a current draw comparable to the superwinch 9.0epi (nice and low) too. I figured what the hell, if it has a 3 year no questions asked warranty and I need to use it, no biggie. Also, the 90 or so feet of 7/16 amsteel blue with fairlead is worth 300 bucks anyways, so if it kicks the bucket, I can salvage the line and put it on something else. Just my $0.02. It should be here on Monday so I'm pretty pumped!
 

Let me know how much UPS rapes you up the rear on customs. I've never had ANY good dealings with those crooks.

[w squared]

Let me know how much UPS rapes you up the rear on customs. I've never had ANY good dealings with those crooks.

Get the folks that you're buying from to ship via USPS instead of UPS. You'll probably have to phone 'em and wait until you can talk to a real live person, but most (not all) places will ship USPS if you ask real nice. Generally it doesn't cost anything extra, doesn't actually take any more time (MAYBE a day), and you won't have issues with ridiculous amounts of customs and brokerage fees. On one occasion, I had a package held for customs inspection for about a month, but I think that would have happened regardless of who I shipped with.

[Bone206]

Yeah, for sure. UPS can really stick it to ya'. I checked into both before shipping. USPS was about 160, but their rate was dependent on weight. That was the quoted rate sans mounting bolts and was about 30 bucks more for the mounting bolts. The final damage for UPS including mounting bolts (didn't make a difference with their rate) was $74 for shipping and handling, and the import brokerage fee was $82. All in all, not much difference in either. After all was said and done, the total for the winch, 100 feet of 7/16 amsteel blue and hook, 3 year warranty, aluminum fairlead, cover, and 8 ton snatchblock was $602. Not bad at all.