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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: j33p3r on September 26, 2007, 01:34:37 PM

Title: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: j33p3r on September 26, 2007, 01:34:37 PM
I think this is going to be my next purchase.

Wifey knows I want to upgrade the Jeep, so she said that I could get one for my anniversary gift.

Read a review about it here http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=247

It does look like the Mile Marker, the New Smittybilt XRC8, Superwinch, others?

Oops, I just saw Jesse James's post further down.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: oldjeep on September 26, 2007, 01:50:19 PM
http://www.gorillawinches.com/gorilla-winches-8000lb-vehicle-recovery-series.htm
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: j33p3r on September 26, 2007, 02:01:45 PM
Never heard of that brand.  Do you run this winch?
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: admin on September 26, 2007, 02:36:00 PM
Looks like just another Chinese branded winch.

This might shed some light on winches.  http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=476.0
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: oldjeep on September 27, 2007, 06:10:05 PM
Never heard of that brand.  Do you run this winch?

Nope, not yet but the distributors are about 20 miles away from my house.  Specs are pretty decent, better than most of the other cheap winches.  It is one of the many Chinese made winches that are popping up all over.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jesse-James on September 27, 2007, 07:31:07 PM
(http://www.4x4times.com/out/images/1162885982_hf20.jpg)

Here's a coupon if you decide to get the HF. No expiration date, but has to be used in store.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: j33p3r on September 27, 2007, 07:44:33 PM
Awesome thanks man!!
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: aw12345 on September 27, 2007, 08:18:50 PM
the 8000lbs one is on sale in store was there today, so with the coupon that might make a very nice deal
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: dunklervogel on September 27, 2007, 08:27:14 PM
I'm looking at a winch in the 300 dollar price range.. anyone have any experiences/recommendations?  That gorilla winch looks pretty nice for the price.. but I also read in a review a while back that smittybilt's xrc8 was a great winch.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: j33p3r on September 27, 2007, 09:50:08 PM
Most of the major brands are over $300.  Sam's club and Harbor Freight have the $300 winch.  The XRC I belive is about the same as the HF winch, wouldnt be surprised if its rebadged like all the others in this series of winch.  The RC started out at $300 now its upto $350.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jesse-James on September 28, 2007, 06:35:09 AM
There is a nice write-up on the Smittybuilt HERE (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=442138)
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: SKI BOY on September 28, 2007, 08:07:42 AM
okay, so I can't figure out how to attach ebay page!! Keep getting error message!
Anyway, this ebay site- Zjig - has some decent (cheap) winches with 2 year warrantee, but that's only as good as the company behind it!
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jeffy on September 28, 2007, 12:04:22 PM
There is a nice write-up on the Smittybuilt HERE (http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=442138)

I think I'd probably go with teh tried and true HF winch.  It's been around for a LONG time as a CF and before that a Ramsey. 
I believe Smittybilt is know owned by Lund now.  Like Milemarker, they decided they needed a inexpensive winch so instead of going through the trouble to do one from the ground up they just went to a company that made some offbands already and had one built with their name on it.  I think Smittybilt's quality went down hill after the 90's which is probably why the original owners had to sell.

With that coupon the HF is a real deal.  There's almost no excuse not to have a winch anymore.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: j33p3r on September 28, 2007, 05:29:20 PM
Well i went to HF today.  They didnt have the 8k winch in stock but had the 10k winch.  $399 plus the 20% off is a great deal for a 10k winch.

The winch plate is an online item only though if you get one from HF, $30.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jesse-James on September 29, 2007, 03:05:42 AM
Hmmm....my 9k was packaged with the plate. ???
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: cmgorman94 on October 02, 2007, 11:35:55 AM
I still really like the Smittybilt for the price.  It really isn't a bad deal by any means.  My neighbor and I are the ones that did the write up on Jeepforum.  We tore it apart and have field tested it and I really like it. As soon as funds permit you will be seeing one on the TJ.
Chad
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Shawn_c on October 07, 2007, 05:28:27 PM
Here is a great write up about a winch test:
http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=353

it really says alot about the good ole chicago electric winch.  Although everything I have read is very positive on the smittybuilt one as well.  I'm still undecided.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jesse-James on October 07, 2007, 05:35:44 PM
Pssssst...... http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3502.0 (http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3502.0)
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Shawn_c on October 07, 2007, 05:44:29 PM
Pssssst...... http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3502.0 (http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3502.0)

Psst. why not just link to the article instead of linking to a post that has a link to the other article :flush:
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jeffy on October 07, 2007, 05:50:07 PM
How many times do we need to see the same link posted in one thread?  It's Post #1 (http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3521.msg27248#msg27248) on this thread already.  :rtfm:
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Shawn_c on October 07, 2007, 05:53:31 PM
How many times do we need to see the same link posted in one thread?  It's Post #1 (http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3521.msg27248#msg27248) on this thread already.  :rtfm:

The link in the 1st post isn't the same link I posted.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jeffy on October 07, 2007, 06:40:55 PM
How many times do we need to see the same link posted in one thread?  It's Post #1 (http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=3521.msg27248#msg27248) on this thread already.  :rtfm:

The link in the 1st post isn't the same link I posted.

Whoops, my bad although it was already discussed in Jesse's thread.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight $300 Winch
Post by: Jesse-James on October 07, 2007, 06:54:22 PM
That was my point. There is a separate thread just for that review.