Topic: Harbor Freight 8000 pound winch..

[JeepManMarc]

I was in my local Harbor Freight today and saw they had a few winches on hand.  For 299.99 I can get an 8000 pound winch with Roller fairlead, mounting plate etc.  I was told that Ramsey, Mile Marker and Harbor Freight are all the same thing, the part numbers do corss reference.  What is everyones take on this?  Is this a decent winch for the money?

[oldjeep]

Extremely slow junk.

If you want a low cost winch, consider this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10000-LB-Gorilla-Recovery-Winch-Powerful-5-5-HP-NIB_W0QQitemZ200080101641QQihZ010QQcategoryZ43984QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Seems to be made by the same Chinese company making Warns Tabor Series winches.  Specs look good.

[Jeffy]

Actually the HF/Chicago Electric are unmarked Ramsey 8000's with the old motors.  They use permanent magnets to cut power usage and cost.  They are ok for someone who won't be using their winch a lot.

That ebay winch looks like the one Milemarker or could be a Ramsey.

If I was going to get a winch, I'd defiantly go with a Tabor.  These winches are Warn and use most of the same parts.  They lack the name and some of the non-esential parts are been swapped out for cheaper parts.  They paint it black and use the slower motors.

This thread might be useful: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=476.0

[oldjeep]

I'm going to be talking to the Gorilla people, turns out they are local.  When you say they are the same as milemarker, sort of.  They are the same as the milemarker 10K which is made in the same factories as the T-Max winches (but to different specs),.  Neither are anything like a Ramsey.

Ramsey makes the 8K Harbor frieght and other small winches.  Having been around several of those winches, they are better than nothing but not by a lot.  They tend to crack and pull at about the same speed as a come along.

[Jeffy]

I'm going to be talking to the Gorilla people, turns out they are local.  When you say they are the same as milemarker, sort of.  They are the same as the milemarker 10K which is made in the same factories as the T-Max winches (but to different specs),.  Neither are anything like a Ramsey.

Ramsey makes the 8K Harbor frieght and other small winches.  Having been around several of those winches, they are better than nothing but not by a lot.  They tend to crack and pull at about the same speed as a come along.

Hmm Hangzhou Industries makes Milemarker electric line?  I have a friend who broke his T-Max.  Basically it exploded inside.  I wasn't too impressed.

[chardrc]

how about this..

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/pts/273695974.html

[oldjeep]

how about this..

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/pts/273695974.html

That's a gorilla - or whatever winch they are private labelling as gorilla.

[oldjeep]

Hmm Hangzhou Industries makes Milemarker electric line?  I have a friend who broke his T-Max.  Basically it exploded inside.  I wasn't too impressed.

The MM E12000 is a private labeled T-MAX, made in the T-MAX factory in China. No T-MAX are copies of the MM and are no lawsuits or hints of any.
The design and engineering process for the T-MAX started 5 years ago in Australia, and has been on the market in Australia for 3 years. After stringent testing and further design upgrades, T-MAX was just introduced the U.S. in January '04.
T-MAX is geared up to be around for long time. The new T-MAX facility in China will open in June '05 and be QS 9000 approved. There are integrated units slated for the spring and a constant stream of innovative accessories scheduled for the upcoming months. 2005 preview will be at SEMA. If you have the capability, I urge you to come visit our booth and watch for press releases.
Please call or email if you like.

Hans Frohreich
Sales & Marketing Manager, T-MAX Winches

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272208&highlight=t-max
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249602&highlight=winch+specs

Personally I prefer an 8274, but not on a dual purpose rig.

[Jeffy]

The MM E12000 is a private labeled T-MAX, made in the T-MAX factory in China. No T-MAX are copies of the MM and are no lawsuits or hints of any.
The design and engineering process for the T-MAX started 5 years ago in Australia, and has been on the market in Australia for 3 years. After stringent testing and further design upgrades, T-MAX was just introduced the U.S. in January '04.
T-MAX is geared up to be around for long time. The new T-MAX facility in China will open in June '05 and be QS 9000 approved. There are integrated units slated for the spring and a constant stream of innovative accessories scheduled for the upcoming months. 2005 preview will be at SEMA. If you have the capability, I urge you to come visit our booth and watch for press releases.
Please call or email if you like.

Hans Frohreich
Sales & Marketing Manager, T-MAX Winches

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272208&highlight=t-max
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249602&highlight=winch+specs

Personally I prefer an 8274, but not on a dual purpose rig.

Hmm, interesting.  I knew Milemarker didn't make their own winches but never looked into who actually made them.  T-Max is aka: Hangzhou Industries has a website at http://www.tmaxtools.com.  They pulled some of it since they want you to think it's made in China and to go to the regional website.

chardrc, that winch is made by China Ningbo Yinzhou Dongfeng Power Tool Factory, I believe.

I really like the Warn M8000.  With some searching it can be found for under $500.  It's been made almost as long the a 8274.  The slimmer design makes it better suited for a dual purpose.  It still doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of the XD series.

[oldjeep]

chardrc, that winch is made by China Ningbo Yinzhou Dongfeng Power Tool Factory, I believe.

Which seems to be these guys, and that certainly does look like the winch that Gorrilla is selling.
http://www.cnwinch.com/electric_winch_df12000s1.htm

[Jesse-James]

I have the HF9000# and I disagree with the "Junk" statement. I have had it for a year or so and used it half dozen times and had zero problems. Is it slow? Yes, a little but who cares for 299.00?

[deca]

Which seems to be these guys, and that certainly does look like the winch that Gorrilla is selling.
http://www.cnwinch.com/electric_winch_df12000s1.htm

Harbor Frieght winches are made in China factory, which means low quality & price
A lot of the off brand winches are just rebranding another companies winch too. i.e. China Ningbo Yinzhou Dongfeng Power Tool Factory
I would rather pay more money to Warn for higher credit. Although, Warn has some parts produced in other countries.
If you go http://www.wongs.cn , you will find the original parts manufacturer of Warn. Their recovery gears sold in American markets, but end users pay more for credit. As the brand name is Warn, MM or Viking, but Wongs.
Yeah, There is a reason Warn and other top names cost more.

[Castr8r]

Fer whut it's worth-  A good friend of mine toasted his Harbor Fright 8000 lb. winch the first time he used it, then had some warranty problems.  Eventually, it was all straightened out ,and he got a replacement motor.  Supposedly, it's a reverse-engineered copy of the Ramsey. Ramsey winches are, I'm pretty certain, made in the USA.  If not, then they violated some federal laws about truth in labeling, 'cause mine says "Made in USA", and that is one of the reasons I bought it.  The Horrible Fright winch does draw a lot of amps; you may want to invest in a dual battery setup and a higher output alternator if you're going to do much winching.  Good Luck with it, you may need it!

[Jesse-James]

The Horrible Fright winch does draw a lot of amps; you may want to invest in a dual battery setup and a higher output alternator if you're going to do much winching.  Good Luck with it, you may need it!

Where did this info come from? I have seen just the opposite.

[Jeffy]

Where did this info come from? I have seen just the opposite.

CF ITEM 40764-3VGA



4.1 Horsepower

    * Three-stage planetary gear system for fast line speed and sure hold
    * Freespooling
    * Automatic load-holding brake
    * Power in/out
    * Remote hand control switch with 12 ft. cord
    * Fairlead: 11-3/4" L x 3-5/16" W x 1" deep
    * Line speed (in feet per minute): 13  (no load), 11 (2000 lbs.), 6 (6000 lbs.), 4.5 (8000 lbs.)

12 volts, 4.1 HP, 37.5 amp draw; Drum diameter: 2.5"; Gear ratio: 210:1; Cable: 5/16" x 95 ft.; Overall dimensions: 20-11/16" L x 3-1/8" W x 6-15/16" H; Bolt pattern: 10" x 4.5"
Shipping weight: 106 lbs.

I know the old winch used to be the old Ramsey REP8000 but I'm not sure if this is the case anymore.  The REP8000 now has a Series wound motor for the 12V rather then the Permanent magnet it used ot have.  Perhaps the company that was making the CF upgraded it.