Harbor Freight winches?

Tacoma747

Tacoma747

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem
I know this has been discussed before, but hopefully someone will have had actual experience with this.

My plan is to buy a cheap winch to put on the rear of my buggy to suck down the suspension. This will be what it is used for 95% of the time. I'm thinking something in the 3000lb range so that if need be I can use it to pull the buggy out backwards if it gets stuck. I figure if it gets REALLY stuck I will do a double-line pull (or use another vehicle).

I think if I get a HF winch, and I ever break it, I should be able to take it back w/o any problem. I've taken stuff back before w/o a receipt and they just give you a new one. For the slight chance I would break it since it will mainly be used to suck the axle in on steep downhills, I should be OK with the HF winch correct?

Should I spend $50 and get the 2K lb one, or $90 and get the 3K lb one?

I plan to get a nice warn (3000-4000lbs) for the frontend. Both to suck in the suspension and recovery.

The buggy should weigh about 2000 lbs.

Thanks
 
HF winches...there's a topic been round and round.

I have a buddy that's using an 8,000 lb HF winch for the front of a full body TJ and has a few good long pulls on it without any complaints so far (hasn't had it a year yet, and maybe a 1/2 dozen good pulls).

That being said, I've heard some pretty bad reviews about them too. I remember hearing about 1 having caught fire after over-heating on a long heavy pull.

For what you're looking for, I think you should be alright...only thing I would say is run the 3,000 lb winch and through a snatch block. That way, you're going no-where near the winch's capacity for most of its life, and you should be o.k.

I have 0 experience with returning stuff to HF, but sounds like your experiences have been good so far
 
John had an 8,000lb HF winch. It was unbelievably sloooooooooooooow. Also needed some new brushes or something after a while, and he couldn't get parts for it.
 
I would not reccomend the larger winches especially for what you want to use them for. Mine had one of the sylenoids go bad before I ever even got to use it. It would suck to pull the back end down and then not be able to let it back up without switching the wires. I have had great luck out of my 2000 lb one. We use it all the time to pull equipment up a ramp and into the back of one of my work trucks. It does not have sylenoids though, just a controler built into the power wire hope this helps.
 
I have a guy at work that has the 8000 lb on the front of his truck. Hes used it a few times to pull his truck out while hunting, but nothing extreme. I bought the 2000 lb HF winch the other week for the rear of the buggy to suck the rear down when needed. The one I got had the remote controller, which after playing with it a bit, found out that the remote was total crap!!! It wouldn't shut off when needed and nearly burned up the winch 30min. after purchasing it. I've since removed the remote and will hard-wiring it into the dash for easy, reliable winching.

we'll see how well it works. But for the rear, IMO, you'll be find with the HF winch. My only concern is if the brake will handle the load.
 
We've used the 2k ones for suspension, it worked well, the remote is cheap and you will want to rewire your own in. We haven't had any issues with it yet but has only been on for a couple months....I'd go with the 2k
 
I have an 8,000 lbs. one on the front of my rig. It pulls ok , but is extremely slow and it has broke the case where the two cross bars mount on top. For what your looking for I'd say you'll be alright.
 
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