Topic: Ramsey Winches

[95 Lowbuck]

I'm looking to buy a Winch in the future,
and was looking at the Ramsey REP 8.5E .
Quadratec has them on sale for $420.00,
and it looked like a good buy to me.
I know it has a slow line speed, but at the rated pull
it is right with the WARN M8000.
It also draws less amps than the WARN which
will save the battery.
It is made in the U.S.A. with a lifetime warranty.
Has anyone had any problems with this Winch ?

Also, I have heard alot about synthetic lines.
They are safer, lighter, and easier to handle.
But they are subject to the elements like the sun,
and you have to be careful of abrasion on rocks.
I have heard some companies advise yearly replacement.
Are they really worth it ?[/b]

[syd07]

i have a Ramsey REP8000.... its junk i would go for Warn i seen the warn 8000 for $525 on sale i think it was in the latest 4wd hardware catalog

[Bounty Hunter]

Anything that ends with 'e' like the 8.5e generally means economy, which, along with the price, means it was manufactured in China.  Can't even begin to compare it to a Warn, as line speed and amp draw doesn't tell the entire story.

If you want a winch that 'might' work when you need it most, and 'might' last or 'might' not, get a chinese made winch.  Otherwise buy a Warn made in the USA.

Cheap winches do work for many, but you get what you pay for.  Every once in a while they'll burn up completely.

[lutzke21]

I agree with Bounty on this, but I haven't had any problems with my MM 8,000 yet...  No signs that it'll burn up anytime soon.

It really depends on how much and how hard you're looking to use it.

[95 Lowbuck]

Ramsey says it's made in the U.S.A.
I would not think about buying anything Chinese
that I would have to depend on.
It weighs about the same as a WARN M8000.

[Jeffy]

I wrote this a while back.

http://www.4bangerjp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=476

[fatboysoffroad]

Jeffy's article has a lot of good information. Be sure you take a look at it.

I had a Ramsey REP8000 for about 12 years. It got to where it wouldn't free spool anymore. Ramsey thought the brake might need replacing. I decided to sell it as is and get a new one. I got a Warn 9.5ti. Holy cow! What a difference in line speed! But like Bounty Hunter said, you get what you pay for. The Ramsey worked fine for me.

As for synthetic winch line, I've had a couple of scares with steel. The safety factor is what sold me. I'll never own steel again. Unless you use the winch a lot, and I mean a bunch, I doubt you really need to change the line every year. Also there is a weight savings of about 35lbs. with synthetic.

I've seen Warn 8274 winches used for under $500. One I found was $250. It needed the remote repaired and a new line. A friend of mine bought an old pickup just to get the winch. He took the winch off and sold the truck for what he paid for it. Deals can be had if you spend the time to look.

I hope this helps. :)

[Enjoi]

if you get the sythetic line rember to get the Hawse fairhead!

As for the winch i was thinking along the same lines as you, but went with jeffys advice. Ive puled friends lifted silverados out of sand that was buriend up to there frames (he had 36s and 8 inches of lift) with a little digging, then using the winch towed him halfway out of the sand, would of done it all the way but my spotter was an idiot and let me spool out all of my line then try to pull him with only the little hex bolt holding down the line, talk about scary.....

go with the warn, you wont regret the lost 100 dollars.

[Jeffy]

Jeffy's article has a lot of good information. Be sure you take a look at it.

I had a Ramsey REP8000 for about 12 years. It got to where it wouldn't free spool anymore. Ramsey thought the brake might need replacing. I decided to sell it as is and get a new one. I got a Warn 9.5ti. Holy cow! What a difference in line speed! But like Bounty Hunter said, you get what you pay for. The Ramsey worked fine for me.

As for synthetic winch line, I've had a couple of scares with steel. The safety factor is what sold me. I'll never own steel again. Unless you use the winch a lot, and I mean a bunch, I doubt you really need to change the line every year. Also there is a weight savings of about 35lbs. with synthetic.

I've seen Warn 8274 winches used for under $500. One I found was $250. It needed the remote repaired and a new line. A friend of mine bought an old pickup just to get the winch. He took the winch off and sold the truck for what he paid for it. Deals can be had if you spend the time to look.

I hope this helps. :)

Hey someone actually finds my technobabble informative!

I still run an older Warn M8000 that I bought new several years ago for $427.  Other then the motor, there is no difference from the new one.  IF I was buying a winch today I'd really look at the Tabor 9000.