Dr. Jack

[MrQ]

I think I read somewhere that Warn does not provide a mounting bracket for the electrical box on their base models. I don't understand why they are so dang expensive. Are they really that good or is it boastful pricing?

[John_Rock]

I followed a trail of links from one site to another about the Smittybuilt winches. Might be worth a look. Go to the end of the thread for the latest information. The thread is several years old and it looks like the winch has been improved over the years.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=590833

[John_Rock]

Some recommendations by fellow EF members for the Smittybilt XRC8...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...ch#post2493667

[gmanpaint]

Does your new bumper have a place to mount the roller fairlead? The XRC8 has a separate fairlead. For $300 and a 5.5 hp motor, it looks like a pretty good buy. Of course you will have to buy a mounting plate for it as well, but those can be had cheap at HF.

http://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/38.htm

[Scott B.]

Mike,

A 9000 lb. winch is all you really need based on the vehicle weight - anything more powerful than that is money needlessly spent and weight needlessly carried.

I would also suggest replacing the aircraft cable with Amsteel Blue or similar line. It is both lighter and stronger - and easier to handle. An additional benefit is you can use a hawse instead of a roller fairlead, saving both weight and expense.

[reapereviltwin]

WOW!! Thanks for the info and feedback!! Glad I didn't order the winch Friday. Gonna search more on the winch.

[Scott B.]

My plan is to get a 9000 lb. winch without an integrated controller - that way, I can move the controller back, removing more weight from in front of the truck.

The biggest problem with a winch (and associated bumper/mount) is the addition of all that weight in front of the bumper - right where you don't want it.

[gmanpaint]

10k synthetic rope is what I plan on getting for the winch. Expensive, but will be much lighter and easier to maintain/use.

Scott is right about the extra weight. Main reason I haven't gone with a big gnarly off road bumper. Add the weight of the bumper, winch, and in my case a 1/4" 80 lb skid plate to the front of a 4L engine 5k lb rig, and it amounts to loss of power, added stress to the driveline, uneven weight distribution, and poor MPG. Not to mention for wheeling the extra power it takes to get the heavy nose over obstacles.

[Scott B.]

Don't forget - when you jump, the extra weight makes for a nose-down landing!!!!!

[reapereviltwin]

Originally Posted by gmanpaint

10k synthetic rope is what I plan on getting for the winch. Expensive, but will be much lighter and easier to maintain/use.

Scott is right about the extra weight. Main reason I haven't gone with a big gnarly off road bumper. Add the weight of the bumper, winch, and in my case a 1/4" 80 lb skid plate to the front of a 4L engine 5k lb rig, and it amounts to loss of power, added stress to the driveline, uneven weight distribution, and poor MPG. Not to mention for wheeling the extra power it takes to get the heavy nose over obstacles.

The wire rope will be replaced with higher grade when the wire rope on the winch I get becomes unservicable. (if it does not have higher grade when I buy it) My rig comes in a 4K curb weight, so the 4L engine is not pulling as much, as for MPG, I don't care, the rig is for off road use anyhow. The extra power needed to get over obstacles with extra weight, and added stress on the power train, now that I do care about.

Originally Posted by Scott B.

Don't forget - when you jump, the extra weight makes for a nose-down landing!!!!!

Now that is something I don't want to be doing!!

Looking at different winches, with a snatch block I can run a 2:1 MA and get extra pull from a winch, will lose the distance that I can be from the load is the draw back to that. The wraps on the drum for pulling force is another concern.

Many thanks for the feedback EF'ers!!!

[gmanpaint]

My rig comes in a 4K curb weight, so the 4L engine is not pulling as much,

Have you weighed it since you have added all the mods to it? Bigger Tires, full size spare, wheels, sliders, aftermarket bumpers, tools, holiday dinners, etc...add up.

[reapereviltwin]

Originally Posted by gmanpaint

Have you weighed it since you have added all the mods to it? Bigger Tires, full size spare, wheels, sliders, aftermarket bumpers, tools, holiday dinners, etc...add up.

Yes, I weighed it just before the trip to Ouray, 4,087 lbs with about 1/2 tank of gas. ( and I had a Chicken Fried Steak lunch) With the mods still to come, it won't go over 4,300.

[gmanpaint]

( and I had a Chicken Fried Steak lunch)

[reapereviltwin]

Bumper shipped today from jamscal !!!!!

[reapereviltwin]

Bumper arrived today!!! Picked up winch yesterday, gonna start putting on tomorrow after I get back from picking my sister up at the hosptial at noon. (she's dibetic (sp) and poor health so she's in and out a good bit for tests and observations)

[John_Rock]

Originally Posted by unclemike

Bumper shipped today from jamscal !!!!!

Which winch did you settle on?

[reapereviltwin]

Originally Posted by John_Rock

Which winch did you settle on?

The Champion 8K, 5/16" wire rope with 94 ft. Got it at Tractor Supply. (for those who don't know of Tractor Supply, it is a farm and ranch business, their hardware beats the hell out of Lowes, Home Depot or Ace) Price was good, and the service at this one store is just outstanding. What really made me decide on this one was the personnal reviews from the ranchers who had winches from there. Most of them I spoke to had smaller winches, but put them thru the paces, only one had the 8K,and it was mounted on his truck in the parking lot, so I was able to go to his truck with him and look at it. I have been going in over the last few months picking up different items, and when I had the chance I would bs with the ranchers.

[Scott B.]

Nothing beats personal experience.

Post a picture when you get a chance.

[reapereviltwin]

Originally Posted by Scott B.

Nothing beats personal experience.

Post a picture when you get a chance.

How true, I took all the info I got from the EF, from those who used electrical winches, and my personnal working with winches ( I used a 1.5 inch winch with a 90k pull 1:1 as a main winch and a 5/8" winch with a 4:1 rigging as a hoist winch while in the military, pulling a M1 MBT out of the mud using a snatch block that weighs around 120 lbs alone is some serious mud diving) The smallest wire rope I have ever used (till now) was a 1/2" cable.

Got to help a family member today, then get to work on the mounting, internet here is really goofing up today, will have to post the pics Monday when I get to work from there, but they be coming!!

[blueka]

Where did you get the recaro seats from? are they a standard fit or from something else?

Pretty awesome rig you've got!


Si