Warn 8274 winch question

[bigmopar4x4]

I am ready to buy my first winch so I don't have a lot of experience with them. I've done a lot of searching here and it seems 99% of people offering opinions think the 8274 is the best winch out there.

I wheel a full size that is about 6000 lbs in wheeling trim so I was a little concerned about the 8274's 8000 lb rating....and I do realize that you can use snatch blocks with the extra line capacity and fast speed, but this leads me to my next question...is there any reason why you couldn't put 3/8" winch line on it to replace the 5/16" rope?? Also what is the difference between the older 8274's and the new M8274-50?? Are the new ones just as good?

Bottom line, is there a better way to go with a full size rig and a $1100 to spend on a winch??

[trkklr77]

1 the rule is 1.5xtruck lbs, but this realy doesnt apply to the 8274. the internals are much stronger than others.

2 if you switch to 3/8 you will lose capacity and gain nothing. the breaking strength of 5/16 is in the 14000lbs range per line[ with 1 snatch you would have lift 28000lbs total]thats way more than the motor stall weight.

i belive the 8274-50 is a little faster and uses a better control pack.

[cptyarderho]

I run a Superwinch X-9, but money no object I would have bought the 8274. No question.

[lumpdog]

hands down, the 8274. I have one that I run on my blazer and am amazed at the pulling capacity and line speed of this winch. There is a couple downsides though. First off, the mounting is front mount, which means you are really limited on off the shelf bumpers and winch mounts. If you don't mind some fab work, then it's not that much of a problem. Second, the 8274 is power hungry. Definitely need two good batteries (optimas,orbitals) and a good high amp alt. You should have this stuff with any winch, but the 8274 needs a lot more power.

I bought a Tmax 9000 for my cherokee. I have yet to use it, my a friend of mine was using his the other night winching a truck out of the mud, and I was surprised at how fast it pulled at full load, and it didn't seem to draw down his single battery/stock alternator system down that much. Loaded line speed was slightly slower than the 8274. Plus we got our tmax's for less than half the price of an 8274 from www.hbrk4x4.com

[SlowMo]

is there any reason why you couldn't put 3/8" winch line on it to replace the 5/16" rope?Rather than upgrading the size of the steel cable you should look into the Amsteel Blue winch rope. It's stronger than the steel cable and much safer too.

[trkklr77]

hands down, the 8274. I have one that I run on my blazer and am amazed at the pulling capacity and line speed of this winch. There is a couple downsides though. First off, the mounting is front mount, which means you are really limited on off the shelf bumpers and winch mounts. If you don't mind some fab work, then it's not that much of a problem. Second, the 8274 is power hungry. Definitely need two good batteries (optimas,orbitals) and a good high amp alt. You should have this stuff with any winch, but the 8274 needs a lot more power.

I bought a Tmax 9000 for my cherokee. I have yet to use it, my a friend of mine was using his the other night winching a truck out of the mud, and I was surprised at how fast it pulled at full load, and it didn't seem to draw down his single battery/stock alternator system down that much. Loaded line speed was slightly slower than the 8274. Plus we got our tmax's for less than half the price of an 8274 from www.hbrk4x4.com


there is 3-500x more busted tmax, mm, and cheap end ramsey's than the 8274. that alone makes it worth it.

most winches pull alot of amps at load, 8274 is like 485 maxxed out.

my truck is at 6500+/- and i have stalled the winch out before, but i have also drug 2 fullsize+ 1 s10 skiding all 12 tires.

[RockyS]

8274 no question. I got mine off a 77 chevy i bought the whole truck for 200.00. The only thing is I got to put new cable and had to have the motor in the winch rebuilt.

[Canadian_Zuk]

My 8274 is about 25 years old. I've replaced the wire rope a few times, and the solenoids once. Pulls like a champ. The biggest benefit I find isn't the no load line speed (74 ft/min), but the spur gear design. I can pull 5-10 trucks up an obsticle, one after the other without the need to let the winch cool down between each pull. Don't forget the 150' line capacity.