Anyone familiar with this X-Bull 13000 Winch with synthetic rope?

[Jim Oaks]

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I found this on AMAZON (LINK) for $339.90 and free shipping (I have Prime). For that price and pulling capacity, I'm tempted to find a way to mount it on my F-150. Anyone used an X-Bull winch?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Stuff like that I can't help but ask myself "will I be able to find parts for it in 5 years?"

I have drooled over their recovery boards, is X-Bull really much of a company though? I didn't know they made winches too. And this one with synthetic rope is about the same price as a Harbor Freight one with a steel cable. If its too good to be true... is it too good to be true?

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Curious Hound]

These reviews seem positive.

(Top 5) X Bull Winch Review 2022 : Worth the Money?

Are you looking for the best reliable winch on the market right now? Read what you need to know before purchasing an X-Bull winch.

winchmania.com

X Bull Winch Reviews: All Pounds & Parts Compared

We have reviewed the x bull range of winches and compared their features. Get superior pulling ability with these reliable models from a quality brand.

www.mechanicscout.com

 

[ryan]

I thought about getting one for the rear as a suck down winch. At $150 it's almost disposable

 

[Shran]

X Bull is just another Chinese "company" ... I am guessing that there is some factory called Shanghai Winches or something that sells things under a bunch of different names and once people figure out they suck, they get discontinued. Amazon is really great about letting that happen and then you have zero customer service.

I bought the X Bull recovery boards earlier this year. They were supposed to come with a carrying bag. They did not. The seller gave me an endless amount of shit about how there were mistakes on the ad, blah blah blah and actually rewrote the ad and then asked me for a screenshot. Fortunately I had thought ahead and had taken one and the idiots finally sent me a bag. I won't ever buy any X Bull junk again.

These Chinese companies are fairly easy to spot... if there are a bunch of seemingly identical products listed on Amazon or eBay under different company names, there's a really good chance that you may get a POS with no real warranty or parts ever available.

I hate to say that Harbor Freight is a better option, but here we are.

 

[Roert42]

At least with Harbor Freight when they refuse to warranty their POS you can go and toss it through the window.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

X Bull is just another Chinese "company" ... I am guessing that there is some factory called Shanghai Winches or something that sells things under a bunch of different names and once people figure out they suck, they get discontinued. Amazon is really great about letting that happen and then you have zero customer service.

I bought the X Bull recovery boards earlier this year. They were supposed to come with a carrying bag. They did not. The seller gave me an endless amount of shit about how there were mistakes on the ad, blah blah blah and actually rewrote the ad and then asked me for a screenshot. Fortunately I had thought ahead and had taken one and the idiots finally sent me a bag. I won't ever buy any X Bull junk again.

These Chinese companies are fairly easy to spot... if there are a bunch of seemingly identical products listed on Amazon or eBay under different company names, there's a really good chance that you may get a POS with no real warranty or parts ever available.

I hate to say that Harbor Freight is a better option, but here we are.

How do you like your boards? They are now available without the bag which makes them a little cheaper yet (which is the route I was thinking of)

I figured they could be handy for snow.

 

[Shran]

I have a Badlands 12k winch on my car trailer - it is the current model HF sells, I got it from a pawn shop for $160, brand new. Other than the steel cable, it appears to be a pretty good winch - every bit as good as the two 8k Smittybilts I have. I have no complaints so far and it is FAR, FAR, FAR better than the older Badlands winches, which were complete junk.

How do you like your boards? They are now available without the bag which makes them a little cheaper yet (which is the route I was thinking of)

I figured they could be handy for snow.

To be honest I have not used them yet. My buddy has an identical set and has used them a lot and likes them but has broken at least one although he is driving over them with a F250. I think they could be pretty cool for bridging gaps between rocks, building ramps up obstacles, and especially recovery from sand or snow. I think for our purposes, they would hold up pretty well with our light rigs. They are fairly large and were hard to find a place for.

Don't let the lack of bag deter you... the bag is a piece of crap, I ripped it almost immediately. I just made a big deal out of it because they advertised it to come with one and I didn't get it.