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new cheap winches

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:08 pm
by jacka
I have heard somewhere of new 9500lb winches being sold for around $800. Does anybody know who they are, where I can buy one and if there any good?

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:18 pm
by Shorty40

new winches

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:17 pm
by jacka
Does anybody have any experience with these winches? Are they reliable? They look similar to the T-Max winch.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:55 pm
by Cossie
search for the word 'chinese' on here - you'll get plenty of opinions on them!!!!

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:49 pm
by Emo
A bloke on 4WD Monthly put a Repco winch on his heavily modified 80 series and reckons that its great. Pulls like a train and has never let him down. They come with a decent warranty so it would certainly be worth looking at up against a second hand Warn.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:30 pm
by Beastmavster
Having bought a second hand winch when I could have bought one of these new for a similar price was the biggest mistake I've made in a long time.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:51 pm
by Shorty40
Everyone keeps saying the cheapies have great warranties. Which I have no reason to doubt.

Main problem I see with the cheapies is, what use is the warranty when you are stuck in the back of nowhere with your rig up shit creek ? :?

It is just my opinion and I most certainly could be wrong. But it is something that would be in the back of my mind.

Having said that, my buggy will most probably be wearing one soon as it is what I can afford :D

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:47 pm
by chops
I noticed that some of these "cheap" ones offer a 24 month warranty!

Can't be that bad then.. prob not as strong as a warn, but then again.. not everyone needs an super tough winch.. they should be very good for the above average offroader who likes to make use of a winch ;)

I reckon I'll place a bid on one tomorrow.. it's getting late and my eyes are getting blurry

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:03 am
by jav
just bought a bell carol cheapy 6000pound winch of ebay for the back of my ute to pull cars onto trailer, $300 delivered, i will let you'se no how it goes.

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:03 am
by superzuki
cheap winches are ok for the average off roader...dont load em up to much and use snatch blocks...they nearly half the load on the winch it will take 2 times as long but less wear on the winch.

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:49 am
by Beastmavster
Considering that most of these cheapo winches have about twice the gearing reduction to a warn that's probably sensible advice....

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:26 am
by chops
I had a quick chat to my mate and made some inquiries.. this is what I found out.

The only real downside to these cheaper winches (especially the larger winching capacity ones) is that you're limited to the cable length you have, and you can't really add a longer cable to the drum due to the physical size of it.

The one I'm looking at comes with a 28m cable, and you gotta leave a few meters on the drum so it doesn't pull off when you use it.. so technically 25m of cable.. and if you use a snatch block, that gives you even less cable to pull with.

Although, that's exactly why winch extension straps were made ;)

$775 for a 12000lb 12v winch.. I can't complain with that price!

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:51 am
by possum hunter
A mate bought a 6000 bell caroll didn't even last 2 weeks, coupla days after a few easy creek crossings and it was cactus. before then seemed to pull alright just slow and with the snatch block well pack a lunch or two. Not covered under warranty as it is not waterproof (ok but ya would think that they would atleast try to seal them up a bit or allow adequate drainage since they claim they are "suitable" for 4wd's) and a new motor is as much as he paid for the winch :? So if ya seal it up could be ok? But would pulling it down void the warranty?:roll:

Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 12:38 pm
by leeboy
Im the bloke that brought that winch NOT REAL HAPPY. It was alright and got the job dun. But water don't go there. And as for the warranty its to much hassle you may as well get another one unless any one knows were I can get parts for it cheap or you will pay the price then once you have broken it.. :twisted: ????????????