highmount v's lowmount

[guzzla]

first things first i have read all the articles in the winch bible and i have found all the info i need except for a couple of Q's......

I have a 80s that is currently lugging a fair bit of weight (excluding myself) and am looking for a new winch. My delemia is am i better off with another 9500 - 10000lb lowmount or is the 8000lb highmount better overall based on the fact that while it has a lower rating it does have the capacity for alot more cable therefore giving me more length in the event of needing to use a double line pull for more grunt should i really need it.

I dont intend on using it in comps but i do find that when im stuck ive done a good job of it and i expect my recovery equipment to not let me down when i need it most and i do like it to work fast and efficiently.

Having 3 batteries under the hood means 24v is no prob either way and neither is the mounting or either unit.

In view of this am i better off with the well proven cool running highmount or another lowmount chugger.

all constructive and experienced input is much appreciated please.

Regards,
Nathan

[Goutman]

Highmount

[DNA Off Road]

Nathan,

For the added weight I wouldn’t bother going for a high mount if you aren’t using it for comps. If you have the spare cash, a 9.5 XP with a length of synthetic rope as a winch extension would be what I would use. You will no doubt get various opinions – good luck!

http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/95xp_winch.shtml

[beretta]

x2, highmount is nice and fast, but really not neccessery unless you want to do some comps. Lowmount will serve you well. As Albyone mentioned above the 9.5XP is a good choice for a powerful lowmount.

[blkmav]

I love my xp and there is a reason comp guys are using the xp motor on their high mounts

[Ruffy]

X3 or 4 what ever it's up to. No need for a high mount. For the extra work in mounting it up where a low mount come from and the cost of the unit there's no real advantag for what your doing with it.
Get the xp.

[EVIL73]

We raced a 2.8 ltr hilux in 06 at Vic Winch, we had the smallest tyre size and smallest engine capacity out of all the vehicles, we were also using a TABOR 9000 low mount, it was slow in comparison to the highmounts but we finished 11 out of the 12 stages without any penalties or dnf's.

In closing buy what suits your budget, the type of wheeling you do, and you never know what sort of winch you can get 2nd hand at the right price.

Ben

[Jeff80]

Ive got an 80 and love my XP. Has got me out of a lot of shit. Just gotta keep an eye on the "mud in motor" factor and run an air line through the housing to keep it out.

My 2c.

[blkmav]

Ive got an 80 and love my XP. Has got me out of a lot of shit. Just gotta keep an eye on the "mud in motor" factor and run an air line through the housing to keep it out.

Can you post pics of your air line mod?

[cloughy]

High mounts, aside from the speed, are a far superior winch in design and build, far less places to fill with crud and less components to go wrong

[Jeff80]

There is an in and out line which were tapped into the housing. It is very tight on the inside of the housing but if you are carefull you shouldnt have any probs. On the exit line, I have put a tap to limit the exit speed of the air and to allow it to build up to about 4 psi to help keep the mud out, and also allows it to help cool a little. If I were to do it again, I would suggest to put the airline in the top and bottom (bottom being the "out") so if any water or mud does get in, it should be pushed out through the air line. Just an after thought...

[MQSWBUTE]

warn lowmount

[nzdarin]

Low mounts are cheaper and will do what you need with ease. The only advantage (for your purpose) of a highmount is they are so easy to maintain and are a far better design. The biggest killer of an electric winch is water (which Oz doesn't really have anyway) and keeping a lowmount water free can be a real drama. With a highmount all that is needed is to fit a drain and filler plug and then anytime you think it is needed you change the oil, compare that to regreasing a low mount!!!!!!!!!!!