Upsize my winch

[ridgerunner]

Had this 4,000lb Warn winch laying around and to save time, money etc. I mounted it up. Figured it would be better than my old come along if I were to get stuck. I do carry a snatch block and extra cable extensions with me. Haven't needed it yet but I would like to get a larger winch and bolt it on. I'm looking for the cheapest and lightest winch I can find since it won't be used often and I have to pick it up and carry it when needed. I have a 12,000lb Promark winch with synthetic rope for my 3/4 ton truck. It's on a small home made cradle and its VERY heavy. It's about all I can do to lift it from the bed to the receiver. Anyway, what do you all think I could get? Or should I just keep the 4,000lb one?

 

[RangerSVT]

I'd use what you got, and definitely keep the snatch block nearby the winch. It will probably get you out of a tight situation, but any heavy pulls and it will fall short. Harbor freight has a nice affordable 9k badlands winch that you can get, and would be only about 20 or so pounds heavier than your 4k...

SVT

 

[FritzTKatt]

A warn m8000 is 75lbs with steel cable. How much can you manage? For us young guys its no problem to put up a 100lb winch/mount.

Anyway, just do some searching, but after reading the reviews i couldn't bear to put aby trust in the chinese winches. They should list a weight in most product descriptions.

 

[chrwilkins30]

M8000 gets my vote. Or the smittybilt has one.

 

[ridgerunner]

I've seen a few models that are made for comp rock crawling and are around 50-55lbs. They only spool 35-50ft of synthetic rope on theirs. Problem is cha-ching $! I bet my 12,000lb winch and cradle weight at least 125lbs since I pick up my 105lb dog many, many times per day (she's fat and doesn't do stairs) and the winch is much heavier.

 

[FritzTKatt]

I might also add that 100lbs (or so) is with 100ft of cable, and a stupid overbuilt mount.

Synthetic rope and a better designed mount could keep it under under 85lbs I suppose. But you're not going to gain anything from a cheap winch, nor one that is underpowered. You need at least a 7 or 8k. It sucks that winches are heavy...

 

[straycat]

I'd use what you got, and definitely keep the snatch block nearby the winch. It will probably get you out of a tight situation, but any heavy pulls and it will fall short. Harbor freight has a nice affordable 9k badlands winch that you can get, and would be only about 20 or so pounds heavier than your 4k...

SVT

^^^What he said. We use 2-4k on our 4 wheelers. But, for an emergency and if that is all you can afford then keep it. You can pull downed trees and stumps for sure with it....lol