Which winch?

[zach119]

I think I'm probably going to go ahead and buy a winch so I can go ahead and work it into my front end when I redo the bumper. What would you guys recommend, I really want to go with a winch with synthetic line just for the safety reasons but right now the only one I can really afford is a smittybilt, or I can go with a Warn M8000 and just upgrade the cable later. Thoughts, opinions?

http://www.winchdepot.com/Winches-Winch ... n=WAR26502

http://www.winchdepot.com/prodDetail.as ... o=S/B97281

http://www.winchdepot.com/Winches-Winch ... S%2fB98281

I'm kind of leaning towards the Warn

[Fonger]

When do you really need a winch? When you're in a really bad situation. Possibly with the life of yourself/rig in the balance. Get the best unit you can afford and worry about upgrading your cable to rope later. Don't let that Made In China sticker come back to bite you.

P.S. - I run a Warn 8274

[willhf1011]

warn

if I could do it again I'd have a 9.5ti instead of my m8000, but that really just convenience.

[zach119]

Yea i think now I'm definitely going to go with the Warn, I found a pretty good deal on an XD9000.

[Fonger]

Superwinch also makes some pretty nice stuff in their X series (X6 & X9) and their Husky series. The Husky series winches are the winches used in the Camel Trophy if you guys remember that. Superwinch is typically more affordable too and with a quality of winch that is equal to or greater than the Warn. Obiviously, Superwinch makes some cheap Chinese junk too (so does Warn, the Tabor series) but if you stay into the mid range and up winches you'll get a good one.

[alk1174]

I was in the same situation as you and I chose the M8000. I would like to have had something larger but could not afford it. After having it and using a few times over the last few years the winch has done fine but my electrical system is barely suffecient. A few things I have learned a 50 amp alternator is not good enough neither is a normal battery. Also the stock cables with the warn are too small. Go and get some heavy welding leads and make your own cables. If I were you I would get the M8000 and put any extra money into upgrading the electronics and buying extraction supplies (snatch block tree savers and extra straps). I believe with a good electrical system and a snatch block there is not a lot the M8000 wont be able to get a 4000 to 6000 lb vehicle out of but it will be slow.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

It took me a long time to justify the purchase, but I have no doubt it will last a lifetime now that I've got it

[MtnToys]

I was in the same situation as you and I chose the M8000. I would like to have had something larger but could not afford it. After having it and using a few times over the last few years the winch has done fine but my electrical system is barely suffecient. A few things I have learned a 50 amp alternator is not good enough neither is a normal battery. Also the stock cables with the warn are too small. Go and get some heavy welding leads and make your own cables. If I were you I would get the M8000 and put any extra money into upgrading the electronics and buying extraction supplies (snatch block tree savers and extra straps). I believe with a good electrical system and a snatch block there is not a lot the M8000 wont be able to get a 4000 to 6000 lb vehicle out of but it will be slow.

When the alternator went out in my 85 I replaced it with a 150 amp powermaster GM 10SI. It has been fine for me but haven’t really worked it hard running the stock 4runner electronics. I have an alternator mounting bracket off a 22re that you can modify to fit the powermaster on your 22r.
http://www.rocketcityrockcrawlers.com/m ... roject.pdf

[alk1174]

Matt
That alternator and an optima are in the future for sure.

[Fonger]

I'm pretty sure Trail Gear has a GM alternator bracket for the Toyota as well.

http://www.trail-gear.com/miscellaneous

Hard to beat for $40 bucks.