the winch debate

frankenyoter

frankenyoter

No Rain, No Rainbow
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Location
DARK CITY
I have had a bit of a go round with my current winch...

Looking at getting another winch any day. For the budget I am looking into either Mile Marker or Smittybilt in the 10k or 12k variety.

Does anyone have any experience based input that may help me make the best choice? Winch will be on an FJ60 with more tube than body...
 
I have the 10K smitty and it seems to work well. Compared to my warn 9.5ti it is slower but it seems to have every bit as much power.

I replaced my old 8k MM with the smitty but the MM was at least 6 plus years old and well used.
 
I would look for a used warn winch...maybe an 8274 or a hs9000i!:beer:
 
My rig is an FJ60 that is bobbed and tubed.

I have had two failures of a MM 8k pound winch since May. I didn't overload it or anything. I can return it to supplier or MM will do something like upgrade.

I would just prefer to be overbuilt than underbuilt if given the choice. Luckily the last time it failed (Saturday) I was only moving stumps in prep for a brush fire.
 
I hear ya Jeremy! I wish I had a nice diesel tow rig with a gooseneck, a rig with 4 linked tons, some sticky 42s, throw in some propane, extra months paid vacation, oh yeah and an extra grand for the 8274:fuck-you:

I just can't find that big money in my wallet and I don't want to bother all the rigs riding around with the venerable 8274 to show me how bad ass it is.

I'd settle for no rain and po-boy winch that will drag a greased string out of a cats ass.

That being said does anyone have any any info to make a decision between a Mile Marker and a Smittybilt.
 
I have both the MM9K and Smitty10K. The MM I had on my current rig for 4 years. Never let me down, but was SLOW. I moved it over to my Chief as it does not get used as much. I put the Smitty on my rig and it has performed great for me. A lot faster than the MM(but what isn't). Going on two years and no issues. Being on a budget, I don't think you can beat the smitty for the money.
 
Mike i am pleased with my smittybuilt winch. i have the older one that is slow but but the newer versions have a different motor thats a good bit faster. the connector for the remote is crappy but if you wire up a switch on the dash that wont be an issue. i personally have not had any luck with milemarker's control system.
 
frankenyoter said:
I hear ya Jeremy! I wish I had a nice diesel tow rig with a gooseneck, a rig with 4 linked tons, some sticky 42s, throw in some propane, extra months paid vacation, oh yeah and an extra grand for the 8274:fuck-you:
I just can't find that big money in my wallet and I don't want to bother all the rigs riding around with the venerable 8274 to show me how bad ass it is.
I'd settle for no rain and po-boy winch that will drag a greased string out of a cats ass.
That being said does anyone have any any info to make a decision between a Mile Marker and a Smittybilt.
Click to expand...

:lol::lol::lol:

Come to think of it....That come along you got is pretty awesome....why not stick with it :rolleyes:

You better have it ready for when I get up there next week!
 
Jeremy1977 said:
:lol::lol::lol:
Come to think of it....That come along you got is pretty awesome....why not stick with it :rolleyes:
You better have it ready for when I get up there next week!
Click to expand...


The come along is holding down the spare and the tool box!
 
Thanks for feedback on the Smittys. Looks like its between the XRC10, XRC10 Comp, and XRC12? Nothing wrong with extra pull to drag a pig out.

I purchased the original winch from *** with the added lifetime warranty. Warranty even covers damage from off road abuse and water submersion. I want to know when i get a new one if there would be a good chance the winch would work or not. Anything beats unstrapping the spare to get out of a pinch!
 
Read this. Now keep in mind this is before the smitty came out. But a good read none-the-less.

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/general/listing.cfm?articleID=353

I wouldn't think you would need a 10k winch. It's not a capacity problem its a winch quality problem. Smitty seems to have a decent reputation.

Can't go wrong with Warn. However personally their internal brake isn't great for synthetic line.

I really like the Superwinch. External brake so it won't burn synthetic like. And they draw alot less amps than a Warn. Look at the specifications on all the winches.
 
Interesting article, thanks Hadfield. I wish I had extra coin for a Warn or Superwinch with sythetic line and all the good stuff. My meager budget prevents alot! I need gears, rims and tires, Longfield, SOA and high steer, etc... With a winch I can still flog my junk on locked and spanked 33" TSLs
I just ordered an XRC10. It should be here early next week, just in time to show Jeremy the right line on Angle Finder!!!
I used the same supplier and got the lifetime warranty so if this one craps out maybe I will return it for replacement parts on one of 'em 8274s!
I like the in cab switch idea Chris. I may have to pick your brain sometime soon on that one.
A sincere thanks to all who tossed out their $0.02 on this one.
I've got my fingers crossed for the Smitty.:beer:
 
you can get a 8274 for about $400 if you shop around. I had one shipped from Cali for $380. dont sell yourself short because you think you need it NOW.
 
my buddy has a smitty 10k on his trailer and he used the winch to bend the frame on a derby car bout 4 inchs to let us get the motor out! only problem was we bent the fairlead! lol i have a smitty 8k on my jeep and havnt had issues with it either!

overall unless you want a comp winch you cant beat the smitty imo
 
Chuckman said:
you can get a 8274 for about $400 if you shop around.
Click to expand...

x2

I bought an 8274 off this website a few years back or more, for $400. Guy lived in Gibsonville. Worked fine when I bought it, still works fine, I've put $0 in to it. I use it for landscaping around my house more than I do for wheeling, LOL.
 
So far I have made a few pulls with the Smitty. It seems to work well thus far. I am going to use it soon to drag a big locust off another tree so that will be a good test!

I stumbled across an 8274 too. He wants $500 for it but that will be after rebuilding all of the clutch and such. Also has a good cable. Maybe I can mount the Warn on the front and the Smitty in the back if I can find the cash!

I must say that the Smitty appears to be better built than the Mile Marker IMO
 
i bought a smitty 8000 off here used have pulled several 5000 pound plus trucks with no wheels onto my trailer snatchblock of course winch didnt even get warm and never stopped pulling remote is crappy but cant be beat for the money
 
Still gotta patch that up... A ratchet strap poorly secured on the battery does not equal properly secured. Possible source of failure however there was no such event associated with the first :poop: of the Mile Marker.

Yet another reason for a lifetime warranty.

From that day I must remember: Always leave your rig ready to roll because you never know when it may suddenly appear in another state far from the parts you were waiting to install.
 
I must say I am very pleased with the Smittybuilt 10K winch I decided on. Today I winched an 80 ft tall locust tree off another tree (didn't fell it where I wanted it) that was about the diameter of a 55 gallon drum. Base had a notch cut and I pulled uphill so the thing kept digging in until the limb had enough force to break.

I know it will drag my 4000lb turd off/out of whatever I can get it stuck on/in. Big thanks for all who helped with 2 cents and Smitty for making an affordable winch that works.
 
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