It's extreme duty and built to a higher standard with a better design.

Is it really that good? Yes.

Do 99% of people need something that is as good? No.

 

If i cant have 8274 i buy 12k warns.

Plus theres high spank parts to make the turbo strong and fast.

 

Look up redhead winches...
Note what they base them on?!

 

They are junk. I'll take it off your hands cheap.

To answer your question, they are a great, dependable winch. They are about the fastest winch on the market and can hold more cable/rope. Yep, upgrade yours to 3/8 synthetic rope. They also are old school where it is easy to wire in cab controls.

 

Redhead, gigglepin are all 8274 based. They’re down fall is packaging really. I just rebuilt mine and added a 9.5xp motor, Albright solenoid and 3/8” rope and I bet it’s not much heavier than an m8000 with wire rope. But they do look cool on the front of older stuff. Pics for those that care.

 

It’s a good winch, easy to modify and repair. Is it the greatest part ever, eh.

 

I miss my 8274 a lot, I should have burned it up one night, literally winches for 12 hours with very little breaks. It did seem to hurt the motor, so I did the 9.5xp and newer contact or whatever instead of the solenoids. It was almost too fast with no load, it would startle people when they went to spool it in for you. I really liked the extra line capacity too, 150' :grinpimp: don't be fooled by the "8k" rating, I don't know where they came up with that, but it pulls a lot harder than a lot of 9k's.

It literally burned or I would still have it.

The only downside is packaging, especially when it's not on a jeep. I recently built a bumper for our little daily driver 96 4runner and I definitely didn't want to chop the whole grill out or stick it way out in front. I got a screaming deal on a new open box 9.5cti-s. It's a very nice winch, somewhat comparable speed. They are $1600 new though and you can find a nice 8274 for $500-700 if you look. Or if you're lucky a decent old one for $75 at a yard sale.

The weight is just because of how much cable it holds. About 50% more than a normal 8-9k once you go synthetic, it's not that much difference.

Get Tha fuck outta here with your smittybuilt :flipoff2:

 

I have an 8274 that was bought new in 1987 and installed on my Cruiser. The only thing that has been done to it is I rebuilt the clutch about 15 years ago. Its still running the original cable and the winch has been used a lot over the years.

 

I have an 8274 on my YJ, and a Warn 12k on my TJ.

The 8274 easily pulls as hard as my 12k. Perhaps harder.
Upgrade the cable to next size up, of STEEL cable, and it's an unbreakable, durable combo. Heavy? Yes. But compared to the dana 60s or the 40 inch tires, then it's a moot point.

Plastic rope is for posers and comp rigs.
Steel cable simply lasts longer, is far cheaper, and much more forgiving. Albeit you'll need gloves, lest you get sharp pointing things in your fingers that hurt bad. Steel cable doesn't care about rocks, or trees, or mud, or, well.... anything. Even rust really doesn't affect it.
Get that fancy expensive plastic rope in mud, and it'll eat itself from within. It breaks far easier. At TT, watched half dozen broken plastic cables fail. Not one steel cable.

edit; YES. Why YES I do know Warn, and pretty much every manufacturer now sells their winches with synthetic cables. Why? Because of pimp factor. Once one manufacturer 'claims' they sell the best, then every other competitor must follow suit, or, lose market share. But just because it comes with it (and you pay a premium for it) doesn't make it the best. Wrap that fancy rope around a boulder (or any sharp edge) and pull. Snap! But steel don't care. Yes, you can use all the straps and whatnot you pack, but, it just adds to the complications. Look at KOH race, and you'll see lots of fancy rope dragged all over rocks, get abraded.

 

Fuck steel cable. If you really drag it over rocks and trees like you said, it will just get stuck in the spool, ask me how I know. Actually almost left me stranded.

I've used synthetic rope on a 20k winch on an excavator, dragging trees up mountains. It's tough too, you just have to not be an idiot.

 

Alright I guess I’m keeping the 8274. Now the question is do I get cheap synthetic cable on Amazon or suck it up and buy something good. I’ve only broken the Smittybilt cable once...

 

If you need airflow through your grill, the 8274 probably isn't your best choice.

 

God I hate hearing this, such an ignorant statement.

You think air only moves in a straight line?

What about the fan that pulls air through your radiator?

People with rear radiators must constantly overheat right?

 

great winches and synthetic rope is the way to go, saves over all weight of the unit