Any advice on Rugged Ridge winches?

by **Shdwdrgn** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:13 pm

I'm looking at a winch on Amazon, rated at 8500 pounds for around $270. I'm not familiar with the brand, but I've seen a few reviews on Jeep sites claiming they were a decent model. If I do get a winch, it would be for emergency use only and not see much work, so I don't want to put a lot of money into it. I actually think it will be more likely that I use it for pulling other people out of the ditch when it snows here.

http://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Ridge-15100-01-500-Pound-Winch/dp/B0033LZ63Y

One thing that concerns me about this model... In their short list of features, the company seems proud of their 'exclusive' mounting holes for lights on top of the fairlead. I don't know whether to think that they just ran out of things to say about the winch, or if this is an indication that they don't want to comment on any other parts.

From the reading I've done, it seems that an 8500-pound capacity would be well suited for the trailblazer, so if I put a cover on it to keep the weather out, does anyone see a problem with this brand?

by **TangoBravo** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:48 pm

Im not familiar with this brand. It may work just fine for many, many years. However when it comes to recovery gear I tend not to skimp so when it comes time for my winch purchase it will be a name brand that everyone knows and is easy to get parts for. Just my .02

Not sent from a Iphone.

by **JCrayton99** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:18 pm

If you need to get a winch for a cheaper price, Ive heard good things about the 12000 lbs winch from Harbor Freight. Fishsticks and Chevycrew both run them and have put their TVs through more crap than most of us.

by **bartonmd** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:29 pm

JCrayton99 wrote:If you need to get a winch for a cheaper price, Ive heard good things about the 12000 lbs winch from Harbor Freight. Fishsticks and Chevycrew both run them and have put their TVs through more crap than most of us.

FWIW, I guess you missed Chevycrew's winch smoking at the Ultimate Adventure?

Mike

by **06MidnightBlue** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:46 pm

If I may give my 2 pennies:

A winch is something you STRONGLY depend on when you're wheeling BY YOURSELF.

If you take into consideration the weight of your rig fully loaded, you're looking at about 6K pounds give or take.

The average wheeler uses a 9K pound winch to compensate for their fully loaded rigs.

Moral of my rant:

You DO NOT want to skimp on something that could mean you getting out of trouble, or you being stranded in BFE.

by **Shdwdrgn** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 10:16 pm

I've heard good and bad about Harbor Freight's version, and their 9000# winch was my other consideration (if I can catch it on sale for under $300). I guess both brands are probably similar in quality?

@06MidnightBlue - I've considered this, however I'm not brave enough to take my daily-driver out somewhere that I could *seriously* f$%& it up. For the kinds of places I go, "fully loaded" means I brought the dog and a lunchbox along, so there's not much of a weight consideration. This is why my criteria is more along the lines of a cheap unit that will probably work after sitting for long periods of time.

by **chevycrew** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:19 pm

I learned my lesson...

Would you buy a harbor freight handgun for home protection?

Find a used warn 8000lb winch, it will serve you much better than a overseas cheapo with plastic parts.

For non-emergency use, I think HF winches are perfectly suited for trailer duty.

by **v7guy** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:39 am

Great. I've got a harbor freight 12k lbs winch.
The reviews are mostly good. Like everything at harbor freight there are some bad ones. Supposedly they changed the design again in the last year. Personally I don't think I'll be going at it alone anywhere, so if it does give up the ghost I'll just inconvenience the guys with me. They're slow as a constipated shit, but it is what it is.
Rugged Ridge is supposed to be marginally better, but I've read just as much BS about them as I have the harbor freight winch.
Do a lot of reading, watch a lot of reviews, and pull the trigger. Gotta weigh the pros and cons.

by **JCrayton99** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 6:39 am

Yes. Yes I did miss that.....

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:05 am

I see every brand break including plenty of warns. Seems for a budget winch several have luck w smittybilt. I have a rebadged superwinch and is quick and works well. If you research, there seem to be 3 or 4 winches that just get different decals.

by **janesy86** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:39 am

I just put an Engo winch on my Jeep. Only had to use it once, but so far so good. Also got great reviews and from what i've read should have won the 'winch shootout' since it was the only winch to complete all challenges, but somehow Warn won...

For a 9k got its shipped for under $300.

http://thejeephut.com/engo-e9000-9000lb ... googlebase

Bought it from these guys, came quick too!

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:49 am

My friend just got an engo that failed to work out of the box but they made good on it.

by **Shdwdrgn** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:20 pm

I think every brand I've looked at so far has had at least one review stating the winch was DOA. It happens with any product, so I'm not too concerned about that.

There must be a fair amount of overlap in parts manufacturers. Looking at the engo, what I notice right off is that the fairlead and remote switch are exactly the same castings as the rugged-ridge (although the switch was rotated 90 degrees), and the winch itself appears to be the same components as the stock image of the smittybilt. Then again, some of the customer photos of the smittybilt winch look identical to the rugged ridge housing. It makes me wonder if the only thing that truely distinguishes one brand from another is the type of plug used for the remote lead?

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:26 pm

Plugs n stickers.... engo remote is same as mine and harbor freight...at least older ones.

by **fishsticks** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:48 pm

JCrayton99 wrote:If you need to get a winch for a cheaper price, Ive heard good things about the 12000 lbs winch from Harbor Freight. Fishsticks and Chevycrew both run them and have put their TVs through more crap than most of us.

chevycrew wrote:I learned my lesson...

Would you buy a harbor freight handgun for home protection?

Find a used warn 8000lb winch, it will serve you much better than a overseas cheapo with plastic parts.

For non-emergency use, I think HF winches are perfectly suited for trailer duty.

The contactor/solenoid box in my old style HF 8000 lb winch went bad. I have a newer style HF 9000 lb that was on the Yota until I happened on a Warn 8274. The 9000 is becoming the rear winch on the Yota now. The HF 8000 still works, but it's SLOW.

A cheap winch is better than no winch IMO... but check CL for used Warns before you drop money on a new HF.

by **hobbstisdaman** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 1:54 pm

I run a 10k Smittybilt on my jeep. That is what i'll probably go with on my TB when it comes time. Never had a problem with it. Made in the United States. 2 Year full/ Lifetime Limited warranties. Cable or Synthetic.

Shdwdrgn wrote:One thing that concerns me about this model... In their short list of features, the company seems proud of their 'exclusive' mounting holes for lights on top of the fairlead. I don't know whether to think that they just ran out of things to say about the winch, or if this is an indication that they don't want to comment on any other parts.

A lot of people but Lights on or right above their winch. I have two in that location. It's mostly with Jeeps for what ever reason.

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:20 pm

Smittybilt made in usa....thats funny.

by **hobbstisdaman** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:23 pm

There fab is here in Salt Lake. Picked it up from them. I didn't buy from them online

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:25 pm

Their winches are manufactured in Thailand.

Haisan in the company i believe..
They make few brands winches.

by **hobbstisdaman** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:40 pm

Well that USA Sticker is lying to my face... Bastards. Even still. Good warranty and I've never had a problem with it.

Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys