So, I'm considering a winch for my bumper. I was going to purchase the Warn M8000 for $650. Warn seems to have the reputable reputation and $650 doesn't seem too too bad. However, Quadratec appears to be manufacturing (or at least putting their stamp on) some nice winches it seems, and selling them for half the price of a Warn. Now, I don't intend to do the hardcore trails all the time and always gets stuck, but I know it can happen and I wouldn't mind having that winch for in case it does.

For this who know their winches, have used Warn and/or used Quadratec winches, etc., is it a fairly safe gamble to go with a quadratec winch?

Thanks!

Just figure that with the money I'd be saving, I can invest that money in some other upgrade or for Jeep maintenance.

 

If I was in the market for a budget friendly winch I would give them and Engo a look:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/spon...c-line-200819/

Engo's did well in a test awhile back:

Massive Multi-Winch Shootout - Four Wheeler Magazine

Came in 4th place with the three winches finishing higher than it costing over $600 more, and some of them actually broke doing tests the engo didn't break in.

 

A friend of mine is part of the bantam jeep fest event. He is supplying the land for it. A rep from quadratec came out and was checking the place out and everything and my buddy ( a jeep enthusiast also) asked him if their winch was any good. The rep told him if your gonna use a winch alot like every weekend or so then buy a warn but if your gonna need one possibly once a month then get theirs or one similar like smittybuilt,Engo or recon.

 

Good info, I'm torn on a warn or the quadratec also

 

Today is the last day to take advantage of warn's rebate I personally would only run warn

 

This!

 

I just recently purchased one to save some money since I wont be using it a lot, i have not had to use it yet but I was pulled out with one with no problem and also had another guy need to be pulled out with a friends.

 

Outside of a very few companies like Warn, most of the winches used today are made in several plants in China. They are almost all the same with the major differences being color, line lenght and thickness and accessories. Some companies may choose a thicker line or another may choose to include a wireless remote. In the end, they are all going to be similar in quality and design.

Quadratec winches are made in china as well but they claim they sourced the plant which is different from Smitty, Engo, etc... If that makes them better....who knows.

I have heard of very few people having issues with chinese made winches. Most of the guys I wheel with can't afford Warn so my experiences have bee with hardcore wheelers running stuff like the harbor freight winches. I have seen no failures in my 4 years of wheeling.

I have seen plenty of posts on various Jeep forums complaining about some issues with chinese made winches but I have probably seen more with Warn. So in the end, unless someone can post real results from an unbiased test (and definitley not that magazine article posted above which is significnatly biased), I'm in the camp that it doesn't matter for the casual wheeler.

If you are wheeling everyday and get stuck all the time, I would look into a constant duty rated winch. Mile Market makes some, Warn makes some, etc.... I would avoid the cheaper winches in those cases since they are not rated to be run constantly.

 

My opinion is that if you need a winch, you are probably in a bad situation. You need that winch to work, no questions asked. That's why I bought a warn, skimp on something else.

 

I remember a thread a while ago that debated Warn vs. the world and one poster talked so highly of Warn that you would have thought he invented the company. He talked about their customer service and how awesome they were. Reason he needed CS?....Warn was dead right out of the box. Only a week of waiting for a replacement after he returned the dead one and he was all set. So warn was this posters recommendation even though it was DOA and got replaced under a standard warranty that ever winch company offers. Brand loyalty is one thing but at least make a recommendation based on positive results! His argument made no sense.

So...again...unless someone can provide proof that warn failure rates are lower than other brands, no one can say anything definitively. The few "magazine tests" that have been done have been heavily biased. The one mentioned earlier chose Warn as the winner even though it failed the stress test. I believe the "looks" depetment carried more weight which put it over the top from one like Engo which survived the test.

And let me add this....no one should ever wheel alone where you may need a winch (unless you live in some remote area and its part of everyday life). My club pretty much requires multiple winches for every trail run since failures are always a possibility as well as the possible need to winch from an area that your own winch cannot reach or access.