Hello again all

I have never owned a winch before. I plan on buying the Superwinch LP8500 next week along with the AEV snorkel.

My question is... Is this winch or any winch for that matter going to get destroyed if it gets submerged underwater??

This is really going to determine whether or not I get a snorkel at all so any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks

 

Most winches can can a few dunkings where they are completely submerged.

Some are better sealed than others, for example, I have a Warn 9.5 xp that is sealed well enough that my regular submariner excursions have never phased it, and its been in use since ~ 2004.

Most engines can NOT survive a few dunkings where they are completely submerged, as, if they suck in water, you can hydrolock the engine, destroying it, or at a minimum, ruining your day.

IE: You get the snorkel as insurance against hydrolocking...you get the winch as insurance against getting stuck....two separate decisions.



I got the winch first, added the snorkel later (After I hydrolocked an engine...)

So, get both, and don't worry about it.

 

I would think that winch would have quite a few issues if submerged more than once. Look into Titan winches. They are a Canadian company and the guy who makes them stands by them. His name is Duncan and I have been in touch with him on several occasions about the winches. He has spent A LOT of his own time and money developing a winch that is as waterproof as a winch can be. Here is what he sent me when I asked about the waterproofness...

Companys that claim there winches are waterproof are not being honest. My winches have better seals then most as I use twin lipped seals on both the motor and gear housing ( very similar to a wheel bearing seal ) in addition I no longer use bolts through the motor end cap instead I now feed the bolt heads from the drum side into threaded end caps. This eliminates the 2 bolt holes found on other winch motors . Control boxes have rubber grommets on the control cables to reduce moisture / dirt from entering. Clutch handles use 2 O-rings top and bottom of shaft to keep moisture out.

Sounds pretty good to me. That being said, I think I will be going with the Warn M8000 because I never do deep water.

 

http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/95xp_winch.shtml

Mines spent a good deal of its life submerged, and has even run when submerged....never a hiccup, its a work horse of a winch.

Some come with lifetime warranties, so if your winch does crap out, you get a new one, free.

 

Our $300 Smittybilt XRC-8 has spent a good deal of it's off road life fully submerged and continues to rescue people when needed. Hasnt stopped working on us at all..... even worked when it was -4 degrees and a WARN Powerplant failed to work Plus the snorkel was a great investment considering we've had this JK in mud/water holes that covered the flares completely!

 

again thanks for the feedback everyone. winch + snorkel it is!

 

Although mine hasnt been submerged, my Smittybilt XRC8 broke the second time i ever used it. The arm to engage/disengage the drum pretty much spins freely now and damn near falls out. It may fall out completely, but I havent pulled on it in the hopes that it will stay together. Hopefully they'll replace it since its been less than a year since I bought it...

 

I have a Warn Powerplant and an AEV snorkel. The winch has been underwater lots and has never skipped a beat. Its good to have both. Better to be safe than sorry

 

x2

I'm buying the Titan 12k winch this month

 

I owned the lp8500 for about a year and after one dunking it was full of water. Maybe I just got a bad one .Amazon has a superwinch epi9 for 499 delivered right now and I would definitely go that route over the lp8500. my .02