Thread: ALDI winch? Any good?

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

using a highlift as a winch is usually the last desperate act of a madman.....

I'll raise you to trying to do a recovery using a chain and a pair of dogs.

(to keep it thread related)

look after it well and the aldi winch will keep you out of trouble, with the money you save you can also purchase a snatchblock to suit it and if you're handy make a set of anchors for it.

Ok, I fold.

all I've got left is some telecom rope and a couple of truckies hitches

thanks for the advice

Originally Posted by woody

Ok, I fold.

all I've got left is some telecom rope and a couple of truckies hitches

thanks for the advice

Closest Ive come to that is a spanish windlass, but that was only to demo it in real life, we had other options and werent that stuck....

if you want to come round I can show you some of the oddsnsods gear I keep handy for bodgin up anchors and how to rig ground stays.

if you get the aldi winch if you'd like you can drop over and we can do a tute for fitten itup.

Originally Posted by Sparksdisco

My mom in VIC saw that the aldi winches are for sale again. Are these winches any good?

My mum was going to buy one for me for christmas and bring it upwith her when i see her.

It will be going onto a D1 with ARB winch bar.
Will it come with everything needed to ount it or do i have to make some brakets up for it. Also I assume it comes with all the solnoids to make it work.

Some advice will be great cheers

Sparks

I have had one on my D3 for a few years. A sparky mate suggested it to me. I was a bit nervous but it has worked with out a hitch. It has been underwater 30 odd times in river crossings. It may not be as refined as some much more expenisiver version but neither am I .

Mine was installed on a ARB bar. It will require the bar to be removed to service it. For the service cost I might just buy another and slowly rebuild the current one. A 4wd mag showed a Warn after five years which was very much over due for a service! Nothing winch is going to cop a hammering is going to last for ever ( unless it is for show and not used)

Engaging and disengaging the gear requires a bit of force and powering in and out to get it in or out of gear. On my bar this is a bit tricky due the very tight fit.


The guys who fitted it said they had to drill some additional wholes as the ones on my ARB bar are set for a Warn or similar bolt spacing. I think all the solenoids, remote and wireless remote are in the box. Not sure if any additional wiring or fuses that were installed came with the box or were added to my bill.

Another hunting forum had a one 2nd or 3rd hand negative comments. People who have spent a lot on theirs are unlikely to like the idea that they might be pretty good. A big tow out of mud a few weeks ago had the winch running for about 30 minutes with only a break to add or move the cable and extension straps. It has pulled me out and up very steep slopes several dozen times to date with no problems except as mentioned my big boofy hands getting into the very tight bar access to the winch.

Originally Posted by awabbit6

Yes. The mounts on the ARB bar suit the winch with no need for a cradle.

I would check the spacing as my ARB D3 bar had to be drilled again to fit the aldi winch. The existing wholes where not the right space apart apparently.

I have had one on one of my 4wd for about 4 or 5 years. Has been used on quite a few ocassions - never serviced (didnt know you had to) and has always worked perfectly. It has been underwater quite a few times (telegraph track). In fact it was used last sunday to get the Def and an attached KK out of mud up to their chassis. It is strong and works well. Have no idea whether current lot is from the same manufacturer but Aldi offer 2 year warranty and that's pretty good.
Just a response to "weakestlink's" comment about getting them in and out of gear - dont bother. Just leave them in gear and use the wireless remote to power cable out or in as required - no probs at all.
In fact the guy that owns the KK mentioned above had a very well setup LC that got pinched. He had top of the line Warne Winch. Well after observing mine for the last 4 years he reckons his next one will be a cheapie and not a top of the market one.

Originally Posted by weakestlink

I would check the spacing as my ARB D3 bar had to be drilled again to fit the aldi winch. The existing wholes where not the right space apart apparently.

You got me thinking so I had to check.
The winch does bolt up to the ARB bar on the D2 but I had forgotten that I had to drill two new mounting holes in the fairlead. The shape of the bar means that it has to be lifted up.



Thanks for the prompt, I'd completely forgotten that!

Originally Posted by woody

Simpson Desert via Hay River track, I know that I shouldn't have problems, but going solo we need to be prepared. I can always improvise an anchor with spare tyre or pickets or maybe a sand anchor.

thanks for the advice

woody

Cant give advice about the winch, but you wont/dont need one for the Hay River track. A nice pleasant easy drive for the most part.

Just picked one up from Aldi, they had about 3 left at my local store at 11am, got the tyre repair kit also, hopefuly never need either but nice to have.

Hope it just bolts up easily to my TJM bar now..