Topic: Harbor Freight $300 Winch

[j33p3r]

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.

[oldjeep]

http://www.gorillawinches.com/gorilla-winches-8000lb-vehicle-recovery-series.htm

[j33p3r]

Never heard of that brand.  Do you run this winch?

[admin]

Looks like just another Chinese branded winch.

This might shed some light on winches.  http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=476.0

[oldjeep]

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.

[Jesse-James]

Here's a coupon if you decide to get the HF. No expiration date, but has to be used in store.

[j33p3r]

Awesome thanks man!!

[aw12345]

the 8000lbs one is on sale in store was there today, so with the coupon that might make a very nice deal

[dunklervogel]

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.

[j33p3r]

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.

[Jesse-James]

There is a nice write-up on the Smittybuilt HERE

[SKI BOY]

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!

[Jeffy]

There is a nice write-up on the Smittybuilt HERE

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.

[j33p3r]

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.

[Jesse-James]

Hmmm....my 9k was packaged with the plate.