Which Winch???

[SVX37]

Hi all,

I am thinking of getting a winch. I always had Warn right up there in my mind as the brand to buy. I have been recommended the following by another member whose opinion I respect.....

"Best value in the Warn range is the XD9000 but the better winch is the Warn 9.5 XDC as it has a better solid state solenoid and a thermal cut out."

The price for one of these I saw on the internet at around $2,400...ouch! Plus fitting!

I have seen other brands such as Iron Man, Tmax and Premier winches at around $1,000 mark

My requirements are:
1. As waterproof as possible for water crossings
2. Pulling power without overheating too much
3. Relative low power drain on the batteries
4. Very low maintenence

I am just after members experience with any of the winches I have mentioned (or others I have not) as it is a steep climb for the Warn. However, I am prepared to climb for the Warn if I can be convinced it is worth the extra money.:D

Should I consider a PTO winch instead of electrical...???

Hopefully I will not have to use it that much because the Defender is so damn capable!

Now, over to you...

[dmdigital]

That was me! I said that and whilst I'll stand by my statement as such I'll now add a disclaimer as it would appear the price has changed CONSIDERABLY:eek: since I bought mine in August 2008.

I don't know if a PTO winch can be fitted to the Puma, you'd have to check on that. Also a new PTO winch is a lot more money than a Warn.

None of the Warn range will meet your requirements completely, but then I doubt any others will either.

[PAT303]

I've had both low mount(Thomas),hight mount(warn) and PTO which was ex-army so and the thomas was too slow,the pto was really good but needs two operators and the high mount has saved me many times,more than I can remember and I'll never be without one.There is no bad winch,they are all better than walking and a hell of a lot better than digging,look for a second hand high mount,they are available for a grand or less. Pat

[Drover]

I have just (2 months ago) bought and fitted an Iron Man 1200lb.

Reasons - 2 years ago I fitted an ARB Bar and the Warne made Magnum 9000lb to my old ride a D3, after 2 years and trip to the Simpson and Cape York, I used the winch once and that was to pull somebody else out. (Land Cruiser 200 V8 twin turbo diesel) - just had to stick that in .

Point is I didn't get much use out of it, other than the comfort of having it there.

Enter the IronMan, $850.00, 1200lb's, 6.0HP motor, water proof control box, remote control plus 5 meter lead control, battery isolator and all the wiring, 3 years parts and labour warranty Australia wide - what more do you want for 1/3 of the price of the Warne.

I guess it comes down to how much are you going to use it ?

[SVX37]

Warn 9500XDC IS $2,211 ON Kulkyne Kampers website.

I will keep searching!

[Psimpson7]

I'd suggest the 9.5XP from Warn.

The thermal cutout is a massive pain IME on the XDC.

[geckos]

ive had a warn 9.5xp now for three years. second motor, cause i wasn't told of the drain holes on the motor. the lower one has to unblocked when you install it..... but never had it cut out for over heating. just double or triple line pull it if need be. if you need more then your really in trouble. $2100 back then.

[1103.9TDI]

I have a Warn 12000lb low mount with cable and fairhead for sale. Used in anger only twice, and has been off the vehicle for more than 6years now. Comes with a brand new correct Warn motor (spare). This is a powerfull electric winch. Make me an offer if interested.

[weeds]

I've had both low mount(Thomas),hight mount(warn) and PTO which was ex-army so and the thomas was too slow,the pto was really good but needs two operators and the high mount has saved me many times,more than I can remember and I'll never be without one.There is no bad winch,they are all better than walking and a hell of a lot better than digging,look for a second hand high mount,they are available for a grand or less. Pat

two operators?

i have winched a couple of times with my pto and didn't need a second person, would have been handy but required

[TwoUp]

I have a "Smoko" winch:D You hook up and commence the recovery when at the same time start a fire and have smoko and return to complete the recovery, it takes that much time (well feels like it).

Ox hydraulic connected to a pump on the transfer case and with a 45ltr recovery tank.

1. Waterproof
2. Can operate all day
3. Mechanical - no battery
4. To maintain it you only need use it:)

Oh and setup cost is very high.

Regards,
PeterW

[SVX37]

You had me interested until you said "oh and set up cost is very high":o

How high?

[TwoUp]

The cost can be lower if you use your steering to run the winch, this (steering) type of setup is typical for the hydraulic winch;)

A friend has this in his disco and it works fine.

Regards,
PeterW

[camel_landy]

If you do a search, you'll see that this has been covered MANY times before.

You'll also see that I've always recommended to not bother and get a Turfor. ;)

M

[Blknight.aus]

I back the tirfor idea.

it always works, it winches from any direction, it can act as a lifting device if you get the right ones AND.

once you've done a real recovery with one you will learn to learn from your mistakes quickly.

[one_iota]

Having been the grateful recipient of a two-tirfor-sideways retrieval I'd vote for the two posts above.

If you can't go forwards or backwards, the way you go in (sideways) is the only way out. No power winch can realistically or gently do that.

(a bit of AULRO history here sorry the photo links are lost: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/nsw-act-reports/22500-aces-bbq-iv-july-9-10-2005-a.html (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/nsw-act-reports/22500-aces-bbq-iv-july-9-10-2005-a.html) )

[Ranga]

I back the tirfor idea.

it always works, it winches from any direction, it can act as a lifting device if you get the right ones AND.

once you've done a real recovery with one you will learn to learn from your mistakes quickly.

Any recommendations which one to get?

[rovercare]

I back the tirfor idea.

it always works, it winches from any direction, it can act as a lifting device if you get the right ones AND.

once you've done a real recovery with one you will learn to learn from your mistakes quickly.

Some learn from there mistakes and buy an electric winch:p

[rovercare]

Second hand Warn 8274, new 6HP motor, all for less than $1500

[isuzurover]

While tirfors are great, and versatile, they are slow and hard work.

More often than not, you would need to do a double or triple line pull, just so the load you need to exert on the lever isn't too high.

If you think you will need to use the winch on a regular basis, then the tirfor will get old very quickly.

However if it is just an emergency-use item then it will probably be OK.

Owning a Tirfor is a HUGE incentive not to get stuck - so it improves your driving!!!

I owned a Tirfor for many years (and still do), however I now own an electric winch as well (one for each vehicle in fact!).

[Blknight.aus]

come and have a look and play with mine, I've just about finished up making a new cable for the 5 ton one.

ARB, supercheap and a lot of other places have them and in honesty so long as its not an EBAy jap special it'll do you right so long as you remember to get some spare shear pins and a snatch block, which reminds me.........

[rovercare]

come and have a look and play with mine, I've just about finished up making a new cable for the 5 ton one.



And come and have a look and a play with my 8274, with widened drum, 6HP motor, drum freespool, which pulls as free as a bird and Vern's plasma rope:angel:

Horses for courses;)

I've recovered with Tirfors, that's why I have an 8274:p

[Blknight.aus]

its also why fozzy is getting a hydraulic capstan up the front and a thomash 800lb hydraulic down the back next to the engine lift crane.

Still gunna carry the tirfor tho..

[Didge]

Thanks for the good news guys, that's all I've got, the good old tirfor (well not the actual brand name one) but yeah I believe what you say. Cos of the work load you're more likely to avoid those situations that'll see you literally stuck in the mud.
cheers gerald

[rovercare]

its also why fozzy is getting a hydraulic capstan up the front and a thomash 800lb hydraulic down the back next to the engine lift crane.

Still gunna carry the tirfor tho..

Hope your going to increase the GVM of that crapper:eek:

Must be 4T over the bridge by the time your done:eek:

[Blknight.aus]

nahh.. big payload 1.16T and thats over and above a driver and 60l of dieso...

ok so Im down 300Kg for the fuel tanks, batteries and a full load of fuel.

but so far I've never had more than about 500Kg in the back. counting the Cape trip. actually when I picked up some of Guys stuff I think I might have gone nearer 600 with full water as well. Ive chucked in the winches and the gear needed to fit them up wire ropes, shackels and some ballast stuff for oil and other bits I might have forgotten and its less than 300kg all told, still leaves me with about .5T to play with for payload.

given that it was always going to be a recovery/Mechanics vehicle Im happy to sacrifice the payload for the proper hardware.

oh and its 8000lb not 800.... that'd be kinda pointless, the tirfor'd do more and faster.

[djam1]

nahh.. big payload 1.16T and thats over and above a driver and 60l of dieso...

ok so Im down 300Kg for the fuel tanks, batteries and a full load of fuel.

but so far I've never had more than about 500Kg in the back. counting the Cape trip. actually when I picked up some of Guys stuff I think I might have gone nearer 600 with full water as well. Ive chucked in the winches and the gear needed to fit them up wire ropes, shackels and some ballast stuff for oil and other bits I might have forgotten and its less than 300kg all told, still leaves me with about .5T to play with for payload.

given that it was always going to be a recovery/Mechanics vehicle Im happy to sacrifice the payload for the proper hardware.

oh and its 8000lb not 800.... that'd be kinda pointless, the tirfor'd do more and faster.


Do that with a 200 Series lol

[Blknight.aus]

just did some quick mathy type stuff and an internet search.

with all the gear that has to be bolted onto fozzy for the future upgrades, (300kg worth) a full load of fuel, batteries, driver, (300kg) I still have more weight carrying ability than a fully optioned up 200 series sahara spec cruiser, by 10KG....

[PAT303]

Having been the grateful recipient of a two-tirfor-sideways retrieval I'd vote for the two posts above.

If you can't go forwards or backwards, the way you go in (sideways) is the only way out. No power winch can realistically or gently do that.

(a bit of AULRO history here sorry the photo links are lost: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/nsw-act-reports/22500-aces-bbq-iv-july-9-10-2005-a.html (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/nsw-act-reports/22500-aces-bbq-iv-july-9-10-2005-a.html) )

Have to disagree,I was guided by an idiot into the river thats near Kings canyon and did a 180 recovery with my 8274,it doesn't have water but sand like flour,5 long hours and my miss's didn't speak to me for days,not that that was a bad thing.With a tirfor it would have been a nighmare. Pat

[Brid]

Just for an other option to throw in there…
Why not a Tirfor and a set of Max trax (or similar)?. Max Trax really reduces the need for winching in a lot of situations, esp sand, and so much faster than winching. And keep the Tirfor for just in case.
Brid

[def-90]

have you looked at the tigerz11 winches?

they have a new fast recovery winch(faster then a standard high mount, 8274) with synthetic rope for $1k

or their 12,000lbs with synthetic rope only $800, from all reports they are a fantastic winch, remote control and all. waterproof solenoids, etc

i'm thinking of selling my lowmount 8000lbs warn and getting their new 10,000lbs fast recovery winch.

[SVX37]

have you looked at the tigerz11 winches?

they have a new fast recovery winch(faster then a standard high mount, 8274) with synthetic rope for $1k

or their 12,000lbs with synthetic rope only $800, from all reports they are a fantastic winch, remote control and all. waterproof solenoids, etc

i'm thinking of selling my lowmount 8000lbs warn and getting their new 10,000lbs fast recovery winch.


As a matter of fact, I looked at a Tiger11 today at the Victorian 4WD Show. $849 with Synthetic Rope from Patrolautopart all accessories included. They sold 2 while I was standing there.

The guys there had them on their Patrols and didn't have a bad thing to say about them and they were also selling Warn winches along side them. I am seriously considering getting a Tiger 11 as the best price I could get on the Warn 9500XDC was $2,000from ARB.

Anyone else have a Tiger11? Good or bad comments appreciated...:)

[djam1]

Watching with interest

[Mudsloth]

As a matter of fact, I looked at a Tiger11 today at the Victorian 4WD Show. $849 with Synthetic Rope from Patrolautopart all accessories included. They sold 2 while I was standing there.

The guys there had them on their Patrols and didn't have a bad thing to say about them and they were also selling Warn winches along side them. I am seriously considering getting a Tiger 11 as the best price I could get on the Warn 9500XDC was $2,000from ARB.

Anyone else have a Tiger11? Good or bad comments appreciated...:)


I've got a tiger11 12000lb winch with steel cable and its as smooth as any warn I've seen and alot more powerful. The tiger11 I have, which i'm pretty sure all the currnet models will be the same, has an o-ring between the motor and gearbox which makes it waterproof. Mine went under alot a couple of weekends ago and not a drop of water got in. As far as installation is concerned it took me around 45 mins to install onto my Disco.