who makes the best winch under 700.00 and why?
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 11,054
Likes: 85
From: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Superwinch Epi9.0... Google "winches in hell" it was 1 of 3 winches to survive the challenge and was barely beat by a warn that cost $500 more. It has great reviews and you can get a deal on one as it has been replaced by the talon series.
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,818
Likes: 3
From: Folsom, CA
Tossing an alternative out here. I've owned Ramsey, Warn and T-Max. With the price range you're looking at you have a lot of choices.
It really comes down to the pull speed and if you want a water proof winch. Better quality winches offer better corrosion protection if you need it. Nearly every winch under 475 comes from the same factory in China. This includes Warn, Smittybuilt, T-Max, Rugged Ridge and the other brands.
For the money you are very close to getting a winch that comes with rope instead of cable. Smittybuilt is in your range with rope. You are also in range of a wireless controller if you'd want that option. I paid 599 for my waterproof, wireless controlled T-Max and i have the integrated solenoid model. You can check my TJ pics to see it.
Upper end winches pull faster. That's the main. Benefit. I've ever had a winch fail in those three brands I've never been on the trail helping with a recovery and seen someone else's winch fail. I have seen cable break and almost kill a guy and damage his jeep to the tune of about 1000.
I no longer help with cable recoveries. IMO Id get a winch with either rope or a wireless controller for safety since you can afford it.
It really comes down to the pull speed and if you want a water proof winch. Better quality winches offer better corrosion protection if you need it. Nearly every winch under 475 comes from the same factory in China. This includes Warn, Smittybuilt, T-Max, Rugged Ridge and the other brands.
For the money you are very close to getting a winch that comes with rope instead of cable. Smittybuilt is in your range with rope. You are also in range of a wireless controller if you'd want that option. I paid 599 for my waterproof, wireless controlled T-Max and i have the integrated solenoid model. You can check my TJ pics to see it.
Upper end winches pull faster. That's the main. Benefit. I've ever had a winch fail in those three brands I've never been on the trail helping with a recovery and seen someone else's winch fail. I have seen cable break and almost kill a guy and damage his jeep to the tune of about 1000.
I no longer help with cable recoveries. IMO Id get a winch with either rope or a wireless controller for safety since you can afford it.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Bend, Oregon
I don't want to step on this thread, but what more would the $1500 Warn or ? winch give you over the $400-$700. I see that Warn has the dual type with air compressor. That does seem nice, but can you save quite a bit of money if you buy a separate unit.
