I'm now searching for a winch for my Zuk. Not sure what size or brand most of you guys have but I need some advice. Obviously zuks are not monster sized rides so I'm not sure if I need an 8000 winch. Also, are there any brands I should stear clear of because of how crappy they are made? I know WARN and MILE MARKER are probably the most popular but probably also cost the most. I would like to stay around $300 if I can. Thanks.

I ran a m6000 for a couple of years and it pulled my zuk around good. The only problem is when your full size buddy needs a pull, you either say no or take a chance of burning up your winch. now I'm running a 9500 :D also check the Tabor line by warn: lots cheaper but most of the parts are the same stuff

I think the general rule is to get atleast 1 1/2 times your gross vehicle weight, so basically a quad winch would work :flipoff2:
no really a good/decent 8k lb winch I think would be good enough, check out this link

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11107204&whse=&topnav=&browse=&s=1

its basically right about what your looking to spend

oh hell I just noticed your from Mesa!
I went to costco and bought a champion winch for 299.99, it included everything along with a mounting plate, a few of my freinds have them on their jeeps and they have worked great so far, that link was the closest thing I could find to that champion winch

I am running a Warn 9.5TI, I wanted something beefy enough I didn't have to worry and it offered a very clean instal as it was all self contained simple 2 wire hook up.

I am running a Harbor Freight 8000 lb. winch now for 3.5 years. Never had a problem with it on the 86 sammy, not a problem on my 95 K1500 (had stuck real bad) and I am thinking of getting another one for my new sammy (1990)

The harbor freight is a mile marker with different badges. Plus they told me that if it ever fails of even makes some wierd noises, bring it back and they will exchange it, no questions asked. Some times you can find them on sale for $299 Then with a 20% off coupon located at
http://ww2.harborfreightusa.com/showpage_retail.taf?pageid=214&email=

I think it is a great deal for the product you get.

i have a 9000 warn in the front and just got another one for the back, i like having more than i need

I am running a Harbor Freight 8000 lb. winch now for 3.5 years. Never had a problem with it on the 86 sammy, not a problem on my 95 K1500 (had stuck real bad) and I am thinking of getting another one for my new sammy (1990)

The harbor freight is a mile marker with different badges. Plus they told me that if it ever fails of even makes some wierd noises, bring it back and they will exchange it, no questions asked. Some times you can find them on sale for $299 Then with a 20% off coupon located at
http://ww2.harborfreightusa.com/showpage_retail.taf?pageid=214&email=

I think it is a great deal for the product you get.

I have this winch as well, and I have pulled myself straight up walls with it, as well as pulled much heavier vehicles out of gullies etc with it. The winch is great. Here is the deal with it. MileMarker used to make winches with a permanent magnet motor (they now use series wound like warn). When people returned their m8000 milemarker permanent magnet motor winches for service, then decided not to pay the $$ to fix them when they werent under warranty, Harbor Freight paid to have them rebuilt and re-branded under the Chicago Electric name. When Chicago Electric had the winches rebuilt, they used bushings instead of the traditional bearings in the motor. Threfore, the motor is not quite the same quality as the original milemarker, however you can still get the milemarker bearings and replace the bushings with them if you want bearings in the motor instead.

There are a few +'s and a few -'s to the permanent magnet motor. The big plus is that it is a low amperage draw on your motor compared to a series wound motor (ie warn) so your stock alternator and battery is just fine with it. The big downside is that because it is a permanent magnet motor, it has a much lower duty cycle and will overheat MUCH faster than a series wound motor will at full duty. Also a big down of this motor is that it is SLOW. That said, I have found this to my advantage (with the exception fo reeling in the wire) because I can adjust my vehicles wheels alot more precisly at 4 ft/min than at 10ft/min, which has REALLY helped ina few precarious situations.

As far as the warranty on the winch goes, the first one I got was out out of the box bad, yet I didnt know it for over a year after purchase because I never had to use it...I took it back to harbor freight and they handed me a new one with no questions asked. The new one works great and I have used it a shitload and it has only gotten warm on me once, but has never overheated and failed. If you can handle the slowness of this winch, I would highly recommend it. Additionaly, if you order online from harbor freight, you can get a roller fairlead for only around $40. My friend used the warn roller fairlead and blew out the bushings pretty quickly, but the harbor freight one has held up pretty well.

I have this winch as well, and I have pulled myself straight up walls with it, as well as pulled much heavier vehicles out of gullies etc with it. The winch is great. Here is the deal with it. MileMarker used to make winches with a permanent magnet motor (they now use series wound like warn). When people returned their m8000 milemarker permanent magnet motor winches for service, then decided not to pay the $$ to fix them when they werent under warranty, Harbor Freight paid to have them rebuilt and re-branded under the Chicago Electric name. When Chicago Electric had the winches rebuilt, they used bushings instead of the traditional bearings in the motor. Threfore, the motor is not quite the same quality as the original milemarker, however you can still get the milemarker bearings and replace the bushings with them if you want bearings in the motor instead.

There are a few +'s and a few -'s to the permanent magnet motor. The big plus is that it is a low amperage draw on your motor compared to a series wound motor (ie warn) so your stock alternator and battery is just fine with it. The big downside is that because it is a permanent magnet motor, it has a much lower duty cycle and will overheat MUCH faster than a series wound motor will at full duty. Also a big down of this motor is that it is SLOW. That said, I have found this to my advantage (with the exception fo reeling in the wire) because I can adjust my vehicles wheels alot more precisly at 4 ft/min than at 10ft/min, which has REALLY helped ina few precarious situations.

As far as the warranty on the winch goes, the first one I got was out out of the box bad, yet I didnt know it for over a year after purchase because I never had to use it...I took it back to harbor freight and they handed me a new one with no questions asked. The new one works great and I have used it a shitload and it has only gotten warm on me once, but has never overheated and failed. If you can handle the slowness of this winch, I would highly recommend it. Additionaly, if you order online from harbor freight, you can get a roller fairlead for only around $40. My friend used the warn roller fairlead and blew out the bushings pretty quickly, but the harbor freight one has held up pretty well.



Wow - lots of info there. Thanks. I did go by Harbor Freight today and looked at the 8000 winch by Chicago Elec. The one they had in a box looks just like the 9000 they have on their website. In store the 8000 was $399 but they guy working there told me to get the add off internet for $249.00 and he would honor it. Problem is, the 8000 winch on the website doesn't look like the 9000 winch at all. It looks cheaper and I don't believe it has planetary gears. I did see the roller for $30 on the shelf.

I don't mind the winch being too slow, I will try not to get into many situations where you need to use it. Here and there I suppose. My concern is that it's frickin hot down here and since it runs warm anyway, will I have an issue. Hard to beat that price though damn. $250 for a brand new winch, and they warrenty it for life. Nice. Still want to keep searching though. I would prefer the Warn but I would like to find a special deal on one.

While we on the topic of Harbor Freight, they have a pair of OFFROAD TRUCK lights for $16. They are 100 watt and have plastic grills. I wonder how well these work. That seems awful cheap for some offraod lights. Comes with a light switch too so you can turn them on seperate from main headlights.

I have this winch as well, and I have pulled myself straight up walls with it, as well as pulled much heavier vehicles out of gullies etc with it. The winch is great. Here is the deal with it. MileMarker used to make winches with a permanent magnet motor (they now use series wound like warn). When people returned their m8000 milemarker permanent magnet motor winches for service, then decided not to pay the $$ to fix them when they werent under warranty, Harbor Freight paid to have them rebuilt and re-branded under the Chicago Electric name. When Chicago Electric had the winches rebuilt, they used bushings instead of the traditional bearings in the motor. Threfore, the motor is not quite the same quality as the original milemarker, however you can still get the milemarker bearings and replace the bushings with them if you want bearings in the motor instead.

There are a few +'s and a few -'s to the permanent magnet motor. The big plus is that it is a low amperage draw on your motor compared to a series wound motor (ie warn) so your stock alternator and battery is just fine with it. The big downside is that because it is a permanent magnet motor, it has a much lower duty cycle and will overheat MUCH faster than a series wound motor will at full duty. Also a big down of this motor is that it is SLOW. That said, I have found this to my advantage (with the exception fo reeling in the wire) because I can adjust my vehicles wheels alot more precisly at 4 ft/min than at 10ft/min, which has REALLY helped ina few precarious situations.

As far as the warranty on the winch goes, the first one I got was out out of the box bad, yet I didnt know it for over a year after purchase because I never had to use it...I took it back to harbor freight and they handed me a new one with no questions asked. The new one works great and I have used it a shitload and it has only gotten warm on me once, but has never overheated and failed. If you can handle the slowness of this winch, I would highly recommend it. Additionaly, if you order online from harbor freight, you can get a roller fairlead for only around $40. My friend used the warn roller fairlead and blew out the bushings pretty quickly, but the harbor freight one has held up pretty well.


Ok so now explain to me why that exact CE winch has been out for ten years and Mile markers are only a few years old. I think you heard some stories from someone.

EDIT - Oh and FYI. We pulled a CE8k apart about 8 years ago and it was identical to a Ramsey REP8000 at that time EXCEPT for bushings vs bearings. Even had the same part numbers on some parts. The Ramsey has changed since then.

I have a Cummings Tools 5,000LB winch and it's slow, and loud, but does a hell of a job pulling (and looks exactly like a M.M.) And much like the H.F. winch, comes with a replacement warrenty (only down side is you either have to take it to a store, or wate for a sale in your area). I'm going to be adding a snatch block to it so it will double what I can pull.

For no more than I use a winch, it was well worth it to me at $299.00. Someday, I'll bump up to a Mile Marker or something nicer, then I'll prolly mount this one either in the rear of the rig, or probably on my trailer. Over kill for a trailer, but what the hell!

I'm now searching for a winch for my Zuk. Not sure what size or brand most of you guys have but I need some advice. Obviously zuks are not monster sized rides so I'm not sure if I need an 8000 winch.


I run one of these...http://hbrk4x4.com/images/tmax6500.jpg

Has done everything I've asked it to...I think 6500#'s is enough.

Get in touch with Rudezuk on here...sometimes he runs specials on these.

Ok so now explain to me why that exact CE winch has been out for ten years and Mile markers are only a few years old. I think you heard some stories from someone.

EDIT - Oh and FYI. We pulled a CE8k apart about 8 years ago and it was identical to a Ramsey REP8000 at that time EXCEPT for bushings vs bearings. Even had the same part numbers on some parts. The Ramsey has changed since then.


The Ramsey REP8000 and the Milemarker perm. mag motors were manufactured and refurbished in the same factory in china. They are really the same winch.. I dont believe that EITHER company produces a perm. magnet motor anymore though. I believe they have both switched to series wound.

I have a Warn M8000 that I really like. Fits great in my ARB bumper. Warn recently ran a sale for 599 with roller fairlead.

4 Wheel Parts has these Warn M8000's on sale right now for $549.99 with the fairlead. If you call and ask for me ("Jeff") then I'll also ship it to you with no freight either if you tell me you saw this on the Pirate board. 510-436-4979. They're a huge step up over the MileMarkers in speed, noise, and overall quality.

-- Geoff

4 Wheel Parts has these Warn M8000's on sale right now for $549.99 with the fairlead. If you call and ask for me ("Jeff") then I'll also ship it to you with no freight either if you tell me you saw this on the Pirate board. 510-436-4979. They're a huge step up over the MileMarkers in speed, noise, and overall quality.

-- Geoff


Sweet deal!!
I've been running the M8000 for 5+ years. It's a great winch. My re-manufactured stock alternator, and an optima red top battery power it just fine.

I personally dont like buying a winch for someone else's vehicle, I will always help when possible but believe people on the trail should be responsible for themselves. That said, I wont buy a 9500# winch for a 2500# vehicle, its too heavy and dont want to risk bending my rig trying to pull out a Suburban with a winch that strong on a frame that light. In the past I have run the Warn M6000SDP which is more than enough for a Zuk. My current rig will be sporting a winch my wifes Cruiser came with but was never used - a Ramsey 4500#. Why someone put a 4500# winch on a 5600# rig I'll never know, but it was never used and works perfectly. I already bought the Masterpull 1/4" x 100' synthetic rope for it (rated at 9600# so its plenty strong for the winch and Zuk size) and will run the winch (which cost me nothing) for as long as it will last. IF it dies another Warn M6000sdp will fill its spot and the rope will changeover to the new winch.

i bought one of those champion winches at costco while visiting my parents in Prescott. i havent installed it yet. i am glad to hear that sikazxj and his friends are happy with it. it comes with the roller fairlead, snatchblaock and everything. best buy out there if you ask me.

http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/images/450/9.5xp_winch.gif


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



You get what you pay for, this beotch kicks royal arse. I've had a lot of different winches, this is by far the best...........


During a comp in March, I had broken a front axle shaft on the first obstacle. Since we didn't have enough time until the next section to change it out, we went into the second obstacle in 4x3. We broke the other front axle............:mad3: :D

The only recourse from that point was to winch ourselves through. The obstalce had a 90 degree turn at the end. The winch literally pulled two 38,5" SXs at 2 PSI sideways on dry rock and twisted the rig those 90 degrees, so that we could slide right out of the obstacle.

http://www.unroc.com.br/galeria/Pinda-Sander/slides/tn_DSCF5735.JPG

We went on to win the comp............:smokin: