Thread: Winches and Wenches.... they all cost $$$$ Cheap Winches

You can look on ebay, there are some cheap ones on there, but the quality is unknown, they are new. You might pick one up for around $800, dont buy anything smaller than a 9000lb for the disco, an 8000lb will do but its better to go bigger when buying a winch to avoid problems later. You might be luck enough to find a second hand wanr or something, there was one some months ago selling for $1200. In saying all this i wouldnt bother skimping on a winch, they need to be top quality as they might save youre bacon one day and you need to know it is reliable. My advice is shop around for a good well known budget brand, not everyone needs a warn 9500lb winch for arounf $1700. I have been looking also and the best value one on the market is the Magnum, the best bit is the are $400 cheaper than a Warn, around the $1200-1300 mark, like you have said you dont want to pay, but they are manufactured by warn so you get the quality. Dont muck around with the cheapies, save and buy a good one, you will thank youre self when you dont have to replace it after 2 years because it is cheap and nasty crap. Matt

I suppose it comes to how often you use it.

I'm looking at getting a cradle so i can use it front, rear, side ect.

Then it stays clean and dry in the back.
Life span is about 400% better that way.

Also if you drive thinking "i've got a winch, i'll be right" you will use it.
if you think "mmmm i hate getting mud on my boots" then you will have a clean dry unused winch when i'm 70yo.....

It's just insurance. I'd go for a Hand winch if a Tirfor fell in my lap for under $300.

I'm looking at a manufacturer in China who makes winches.
I might be able to get a 12000lb one for about $800 or so.
Not high quality like a Warn, but still a winch that works.

If you punish the winch then you must expect it to fail. if you treat it with respect and only use it once in a blue moon it will last.

Steve

If you dont plan to use it that often and if it is just for insurance off road, i'd go the hand winch, remember ontop of the cost of the winch you will need a dual battery set up, a must when you have winch, they suck a stack of power, there is no problem getting unstuck if youre battery is flat. Matt

i have Dual battery, so thats no problem.

Hi all,

I am in the market to buy a winch but I'm looking at a hand winch. I have a very small Tirfor (600kg pulling) when I used to car rally (about 20 years ago) but I know this is no good for a Disco.

From what I gather I need around a 2500kg pulling capacity winch. I'd buy another Tirfor but they are much more expensive than the others on the market like Magnum or Big Haul etc... I haven't read any comparisons in any of the 4WD mags on hand winches for the past year so I'm wondering what do people tend to choose or recommend in hand winches based on field experience.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks Chris

Just go into the local suppliers and look at what is available. I am sure if you emailed the mags they could tell you any editions which included product tests on hand winches, you could then get them on back order. Matt

Someone mentioned Magnum WInches. As far as I understand it these are just the rebadged superceded Warn models so they should be just as good.

Has anyone any knowledge of Brawn winches. I believe these are waterproof ? How good are they ? Prices ?

Originally posted by VladTepes
Someone mentioned Magnum WInches. As far as I understand it these are just the rebadged superceded Warn models so they should be just as good.

Has anyone any knowledge of Brawn winches. I believe these are waterproof ? How good are they ? Prices ?

I have heard of and used Brawn winches. Disclaimer; the owner, Colin, is a personal friend.

They are excellent, the only waterproof ones on the market and the 9500 is extremely powerful. We used it in the Outback Challenge, and we while hung up on a rock it just kept pulling and pulling. We broke a winch ext strap with it. DNFed that stage unfortunately. Also DNFed another stage, breaking the plasma rope in the process for the same reason.

So the 9500 will pull even a big truck like an 80 over anything you like for as long as you want. I cannot say that about competitor winches, including one from a famous manufacturer used in a recent comp (I was codriver) which gave up pretty much straight away. OK, the Patrol was up to its axles in goo, but that's no excuse, others had winched through it minutes before.

Note the 9500 isn't the quickest winch on the market, but that doesn't matter for recreational use.

If you're interested, go to http://www.brawn4x4.com.au/ . Call Colin, say I sent you. My Defender is having a 9500 put on it next week.