I was wondering what everyone thought of this winch from Harbor Freight.  It is made by Chicago electric tools.  http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40764  I am looking for a decent winch without spending alot of money.  Any other better deals?

Jeff

I just got that winch, got a hell of a deal too.  My buddy works at Harbor Frieght, got the winch, mounting plate, rolling fairlead, and two year warranty for $250.  It works great but i did have to buy a new battery because it requires 650 CCA (cold cranking amps) and my battery was only 410 CCA.  But the winch works great and is plenty for the samurai...ill have to get some pics up of the bumper i made and how i attatched it.

I will be picking one up next week and let you know if I get my bumper finished quick enough.

SKAsammy, so they had the winch in stock or did you have it delivered to the store?  the picture shows the mounting plate with it.  Is it extra?  I'll try to get the same deal hopefully.  Thanks for the heads up on the cranking amps.  I'll have to check my battery.

Jeff

Has anyone else read about the new Warn winch, the 9.0Rc?

Has anyone else read about the new Warn winch, the 9.0Rc?

im getting one of those when i get enough money. 4Wheel Off Road magazine tested it on Fred Williams' 91 sammy (page 104, october 2006 issue)

Has anyone looked at the price on that Warn 9.0rc?  How about over $1200?

I used to run a trailer winch on a jeep CJ5  that had a line pull of only 2000lb.  Used a snatch block to double the pull and it worked great!  Pulled my little jeep out of ravines, holes, rocky creek beds, even up the berm of a canal at about a 30 degree angle!   Most of the time I could winch out of a hole on a single line but the double was needed to get up that steep berm.

That winch cost me $75 (in 1976)

And a track/kick/sammi rig weighs alot less than my old jeep!

And these days there are a whole bunch of ATV type winches in the 2000-3000 single line pull range.  They are much better and more rugged than my old trailer winch!

Just some food for thought.

They had it in stock i had my eye on it for a while so my buddy hid it for me.  The mounting plate and rolling fairlead were extra though...

I agree with dwcrisp no sense "selling the farm" for a winch.  That is why I thought this one was a good winch at a good price.  I guess I like cheap winch's.    Well I checked my battery (only a couple of months old) and it only has 440 CCA.  I may have to wait on the winch because I would hate to waiste a perfectly good battery.  I looked for room under my hood for an additional battery.  There is no way on a 2 door 91 kick.  I could run one from behind the back seat but that is where I am putting my two subs from the boat I am selling.  Didn't want them to go to waiste.  I was considering dual batteries because of my stereo let alone the winch.  Any ideas on dual batteries in this year/model of kick?

Thanks

Jeff

well, here in northern Minnesota, those 440 cca batteries power our garden tractors.  for our cars and trucks, most don't go less than about 850 cca's due to our cold winters.  my next battery will be the Optima Yellow top/marine starting battery.  will get that in early Oct. just before the heavy frosts start here.

having lived in so. Cal a few years back, i can understand why you might think those small batteries are fine.  and they are, until you start adding music, lights, winches, etc.

and you're right, there aren't any good options for adding a second battery in a 2 door trackick.  i have the same year/model you do.

good luck!!

I have talked to a couple of guys that have those Harbor Freight winches, and they all say they work just fine.

They are kinda big, and heavy though... but all in all I think they are worth it.


I have a 3000 lb Warn ATV winch that I thought of installing behind the bumper on my Kick, and just use it with a snatch block...  I still don't feel that is enough pulling power for any hard core winching, but I bet it'd pull me out of mud holes and such.. the thing about the atv winches is that they don't have a lot of cable in them... especially doubled with a snatch block.


I really wish someone would make a nice compact 5-6 thousand pound winch, I think that would be perfect for sammys and kicks.  I know Warn makes a 6K, but I want a smaller winch, and lighter.... oh well...


Another thing about those Harbor Freight winches... they are IDENTICAL to one of the larger manufacturers winches.. I think it is Milemarker, I could be wrong, but someone told me that the same plant in China makes both, and labels them for each company.