Buying a winch....Badlands vs ????for the price???

marty79

marty79

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2013
Location
Newton, NC
Harbor freight having a pretty good sale and I'm ready to buy a winch this weekend. They have on sale a Badlands 12000lb Winch for $289.00 I thought that was about as good a deal as I'm gonna get. I've read that Superwinch and Badlands are about the same...descently made products for the money and considering they sit more than anything.
Anyone have any experience with Badlands? (and no not looking for the "buy a Warn" route either, that's a lot of money to sit and look pretty on a driveway ornament HAHA
 
I've read a couple articles over the years about winch shootouts. The only thing I can ever remember bad about the Badlands winch was the slow speed. Other than that they never failed.
 
GotWood said:
I've read a couple articles over the years about winch shootouts. The only thing I can ever remember bad about the Badlands winch was the slow speed. Other than that they never failed.
Click to expand...
that was what I read too but figured 12k would be little quicker and for the price though, that's lot of pulling power for new winch.
 
Not trying to be an ass but I would only trust a warn especially if you are going to wheel with military tires and 16.5" wheels.

In the event of a short pull here and there, I say HF winch will be perfect. Any sort of long pull up a hill or through mud get a warn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
NickMaul said:
Not trying to be an ass but I would only trust a warn especially if you are going to wheel with military tires and 16.5" wheels.
Click to expand...
What's my tires and wheels got to do with it..just curious
 
I will never buy another warn.

Between my dad and me, we have mile marker, Ramsey, harbor freight, and only warn left is a 12k on the trailer.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a HF winch again, only complaint is they are slow.

I had a 9.5ti and it failed, warn said it was from too little use. Lol. Motor shorted.

Again, only warn I would buy again is an 8274. But you could buy 3 HF 12k lbs for one 8274.
 
Mac5005 said:
I will never buy another warn.

Between my dad and me, we have mile marker, Ramsey, harbor freight, and only warn left is a 12k on the trailer.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a HF winch again, only complaint is they are slow.

I had a 9.5ti and it failed, warn said it was from too little use. Lol. Motor shorted.

Again, only warn I would buy again is an 8274. But you could buy 3 HF 12k lbs for one 8274.
Click to expand...
That's what I like to hear lol. I know they all usually go bad from sitting so 300 for a 12k is perfect for that. Thank you sir!..today I go buy winch...yeiii
 
GotWood said:
I've read a couple articles over the years about winch shootouts.
Click to expand...

Except for the one that four wheeler did where the HF winch broke during the test.

Mac5005 said:
Again, only warn I would buy again is an 8274. But you could buy 3 HF 12k lbs for one 8274.
Click to expand...

Buy a used 8274 for $3-400.
 
rockcity said:
Show me where a used 8274 is for $300 and I'll buy it today
Click to expand...

I've bought two off here for $400. One came with a brand-new $200 Warn mounting bracket, cable, and roller fairlead. I've passed on or missed out on several others.
 
Mine was $400 with a mounting plate. But that was back in the year 2000 also.
 
I've got a hookup for Warn VR series brand new. The 8k on my last rig cost me $400.
Absolutely loved it and will be buying one again. Warn only for me.
 
Last edited:
I've had smitty and engo. They both worked fine, never failed, did what they're supposed to do, but they are SLOW. After a particular Windrock trip with a lot of winching, i bought a used 9.5ti. It's fast, but the brake doesn't work...

Any of the winches that have the solenoids mounted in the little plastic cover on top of the spool, you need to consider weather/moisture etc. I think part of the reason mine worked flawlessly is because I had the solenoids remote mounted under the hood and they weren't in the weather.
 
I'd get the 12k Warn in the classifieds here. Wire it for in cab controls and go. If I didn't have a superwinch just collecting dust I'd get it myself lol.

Duane
 
This reminds me that I have a nice 8274 sitting in my shop that I'm never going to use....
 
Back
Top