So I've been looking at winches for when I get my new front bumper, and I was wondering if anyone has personally used a Tuff Stuff brand winch? Of course everyone points directly to Warn when talking about truck winches, but I could get a couple front bumpers for the price of a new Warn. Plus Warn has already sold-out to China anyway, so I figure I'll save the money for my motorcycle that needs some love. My justification for going cheap is the fact that it's a 4x2 anyway, so I can't imagine using it more than once or twice a year, because I'm almost always on the pavement. I've seen a lot of Jeep forums that say Smittybuilt is a good brand, but it's rated 4k lbs. less, does not come with the wireless remote, and does not claim to be waterproof (Texas humidity can eat electronics nearly as bad as sitting it directly in water). What are your (non-Warn) winch experiences? I know our trucks are pretty heavy to begin with, so I figured 12.5k rating would be better since it wouldn't have to work as "hard" as an 8k. Is this correct thinking? I've never used a winch before, so I'm completely new to it all. I know it's a cheapo China knockoff, but even if the 12.5k lb. rating turns out to be more like 9-10k, I think I'd be doing pretty good.

 

Um, I personally know a Warn Rep and according to him NO Warn winch is made in China and ONLY the ATV/UTV winches even have any asian parts. I've toured the facility in Oregon and I can say for a fact that the truck winches are made right there.

That said, I can't blame anyone for going Chinese based on the cost. It's my understanding that there are only two manufacturers over there so there is little difference internally among the imported winches be it Tough Stuff, Smittybuilt, Recon, Harbor Freight, etc, etc, etc.

I don't have any experience with the Tough Stuff but I will say that my front cradle receiver on my Jeep is a Tough Stuff - a clone of the Warn in every way and is the same rating and uses the same 1/4" steel throughout. My only gripe is that the workmanship sucked and bolt holes did not line up and I had to drill out the pin holes because they were so far forward that the cradle nor winch would clear my bumper. Aside from fit/finish it's just as strong as the Warn.

My neighbor up in Georgia bought the Smittybuilt and in three years has burned out the solenoid packs twice. Smitty sent him replacements both times - free of charge. The downside is that while waiting he was down. He uses this winch HEAVILY for land clearing and I think in his case he should have went Warn or Ramsey.

But for occasional use I don't really have an issue with the Chinese winches - a Chinese winch still beats the hell out of no winch.

I will say I have three Warns and none have ever given me a lick of a problem. The reason I buy Warn is that my father bought a USED Warn 8274 when I was in junior high and he still has it - never has needed a repair and it's currently sitting on the front of his 2000 Ram - the fourth truck he's owned since he bought that winch. I don't think you'd see that kinda longevity out of a Chinese winch.

My advice - buy the best winch you can afford. If it's a Chinese winch then as I said, it still beats no winch.

BTW - you may look into the new VR line - still made in Oregon and although higher than the Chinese winches they are a good bit cheaper than the Premium Series...

One thing I have seen first hand is you gotta watch the duty cycles on the Chinese winches, they get hot FAST. This doesn't mean the winch fails, but you gotta wait for it to cool down before you can continue pulling...

Oh yeah and Smittybuilt has a fully submersable line, they just cost a little more...

 

A very intelligent and informative reply as always, thanks Hammer. You are correct about the ATV/UTV part. Seems I was looking at the wrong reviews for awhile there. I looked at the VR8000 with the wire rope, but I'm not sold on it. I know it was designed and assembled in America, but its starting price is over $150 more. Not too bad of a price increase for a company with a known solid reputation; however, I'm still finding it difficult to justify for something I will use so little.

BTW, is your winch an 8k or 10k?

 

I have an older 2500 lb. on my ATV, made in '05 when they were still 100% US made. I have about an 11 year old M8000 that first started life on my old '94 Wrangler. It was actually on my truck for a while and twice pulled it out of pretty bad "stucks" despite my truck weighing almost 7000 lbs. (you can really double the pulling power of a winch by using a ****** block).
I stepped in doo-doo on a very slightly used Warn 9.5 a couple of years ago and upgraded the truck. The M8000 now lives on a portable cradle in the back of my Grand Cherokee.

BTW - where the hell were you when I posted up the coupon (that could be copied and/or printed and used) for the Harbor Freight 12,000 lb. winch for $299? I know of at least a half dozen DF members who used it...

 

Wow, $100 off ain't bad. Depending on when/where you posted it, I prolly wasn't paying any attention LoL

 

I have a coupon for a Bad Lands 12,000# winch for $329 ($170) off I can email you. PM me if you're interested...

 

Man I wish, but I just got **** canned, so I have to stick to a budget for awhile. Just doing all of my research while I have some down time.

 

another point not brought up is line speed. none of the import winches have a line speed anywhere near that of a warn. it isn't important to some guys but a big deal to others. i have a friend with an import winch i can't remember the brand there are so many imports now and they all look the same. his is rated by the manufacturer at like 10 feet per minute with a 4000 pound load and that's pure bs. it pulls like 2 feet a minute with a 4000 pound load and i can tell you first hand that 2' a minute sucks.

 

there was a write up/review/rating test for winches a while back. might want to try to google it.
funny thing: only a few winches made it all the way through to the end out of like 10 or 12!

warn was first.
cant remember #2
#3 was Harbor frieght.

only complaint about the HF was speed. but it always lasted.

another thought is hydraulic winch. runs off power steering lines typically. they are more or less unstoppable, even under water.....but....engine must be running for them to work. may be a deal breaker for some ppl. keep a look out for flat bed tow trucks. they usually have them and once broke down they sell them real cheap...last time i saw one it was like a 12K for $150.

 

It was the Winches In Hell test - see out Outdoors Section...