Smittybilt winches?

[JohnQ]

Is this a good winch? I have only had Warn products in the past. If it isn't junk it is darn good price. Anyone ever have one or use one before?

 

I'm trying to find a winch that will fit in my XJ ARB bumper that I just installed.

 

 

http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/smittybilt-xrc8-8000lb-winch-free-shipping-p-5996.html

[offroader461]

the costco near my house has a Mile Marker 8000Lb one for $299.99...buddie of mine bought one 2yrs ago and loves it...check them out

[pingpong]

I bought a cheap winch a few yrs ago... and you get what you pay for... It was painfully slow. Luckily I found someone who wanted that winch more then I did :nuts:

[JohnQ]

I had a warn 9.5ti, and loved it, but it wouldn't fit in my XJ ARB. :cry:

 

For $315 shipped, I think I might give it a try. It's still better than no winch at all.

 

I've been there when you need a winch and don't have one, And that Sucks.

[DirtyComanche]

I have a cheap winch. Never again.

 

 

I'm working on a guy with an 8274 right now.

[rockhardzj]

A few links to check out:

 

All about Winch Motors, Gear Trains, and other important Components

 

A review (including breakdown) of the SmittyBilt XRC8 Winch

It actually sounds fairly promising to me, so I may end up going this route when it's time to get a winch.

[whowey]

A Warn M8000 will fit an XJ ARB.

 

No reason to go cheap on a winch...

 

 

That does look ALOT like how the Warn winches are setup though.

[86FUBAR]

if ya don't go warn get a mile marker , they are great winches and also reasonably priced

[89eliminator]

i have a Warn M8000 and love it. you get what you pay for when you buy cheap things.

[whowey]

After reading the 'article' on JeepForum, I wouldn't even condsider that winch with an ARB.

 

If you look at the M8000, when you put it in the ARB the cable actually feeds out the bottom of the winch.

 

That SmittyBuilt winch has no supports across the bottom of the winch. So you would be winching across the side with no supports on it.

[whowey]

if ya don't go warn get a mile marker , they are great winches and also reasonably priced

 

 

Ever seen one go up in flames????? They make one wicked smell....

[rockhardzj]

That SmittyBuilt winch has no supports across the bottom of the winch. So you would be winching across the side with no supports on it.

My sister's warn m8000 doesnt either. the bolts that go into the bumper provide your lateral strength, those bars would do very little, no real need for the lower bars.

[whowey]

That SmittyBuilt winch has no supports across the bottom of the winch. So you would be winching across the side with no supports on it.

My sister's warn m8000 doesnt either. the bolts that go into the bumper provide your lateral strength, those bars would do very little, no real need for the lower bars.

 

My M8000 has the bars,

 

The bars provide additional lateral support for off-center pulls.

[rockhardzj]

That SmittyBuilt winch has no supports across the bottom of the winch. So you would be winching across the side with no supports on it.

My sister's warn m8000 doesnt either. the bolts that go into the bumper provide your lateral strength, those bars would do very little, no real need for the lower bars.

 

My M8000 has the bars,

 

The bars provide additional lateral support for off-center pulls.

Maybe it does have bars on the bottom... It's a few hundred miles away in Westchester county right now, so I can't simply look at it...

[Rob S]

I too am a diehard Warn fan, owned about 8 winch's, all warn, including the two I have now. I did consider a cheaper winch for my DD since it will get minimal use (at least thats the plan). I ended up getting an ARB bumper and Warn 9k winch used for what I would pay for just the bumper, so I went that route.

I would consider the winch you have pictured as long as you don't plan on using it all that much, for the money it seems decent.

[jared]

for 300 bucks i would give it a shot. heck if it lasts 2 years with regular maintenance its worth it in my book

[FxRacing282]

well i used a warn to pull my atv out of a hole and i mean a hole and it works great, i installed a ramsey 8000 on my dads h3 and it works awesome not to slow or nothing kinda expensive but you only buy it once... usually