Anyone run this winch?

jesse102 · Feb 7, 2016

Looking to buy a new winch and ran across this smittybilt
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131705666567?redirect=mobile
I have never owned a smittybilt maybay someone has some input

joho75287 · Feb 7, 2016

I have a couple year old version of that exact winch on my rig.
Hasn't let me down yet!!
I wouldn't hesitate buying a smittybilt for "normal" use.

KyTrash · Feb 7, 2016

I have a Warn and a Smittybuilt , neither one has ever let me down.

tonybolton · Feb 7, 2016

Re:

I run the first gen 8000 version of this. Its fast...unspools great and works everytime I need it.

The only issues I've had are the engage/disengage lever. Its become "notchy" and you gotta fiddle with it sometimes for a few seconds and/or knock the lever engaged with a tap of a rock or palm of your hand. Its no bother really.

felipecj · Feb 7, 2016

I've been shopping around for winches and from what I've noticed, smittybilt has much better reviews than they did a few years ago. Their prices now are tough to beat also.

1tonyj · Feb 7, 2016

I just put one on my rig a few months ago. Right out of the box the wireless remote feature for the controller didn't work. The local dealer I got the winch from said he's seen a lot of problems with that. So I just keep it plugged in like normal....been working fine other than that.

If I was to buy another I would just get the XRC 9.5 comp series and save a hundred bucks.

Beerj · Feb 7, 2016

At that price point I might have to put that in the stronly consider category.

tonybolton · Feb 7, 2016

Re:

Its a great winch and responds well to pumping extra volts to it. Running a Mechman 370 amp unit at 15.5 volts.

I think alota you guys would be amazed what a quality alternator / AGM battery and an adjustable voltage controller would do. Fans run better...ignition more crisp...lights brighter...

poolman · Feb 7, 2016

I haven't had any issues with mine, I wired it directly to a toggle so I don't use the controller.

poolman · Feb 7, 2016

Re:

tonybolton said:
Its a great winch and responds well to pumping extra volts to it. Running a Mechman 370 amp unit at 15.5 volts.

I think alota you guys would be amazed what a quality alternator / AGM battery and an adjustable voltage controller would do. Fans run better...ignition more crisp...lights brighter...

370, holy sh#t!!! I'm running a 120 now.

tonybolton · Feb 7, 2016

Re: Re: Anyone run this winch?

poolman said:
I haven't had any issues with mine, I wired it directly to a toggle so I don't use the controller.

Same here....makes for a nice convenience.

tonybolton · Feb 7, 2016

Re: Re:

poolman said:
370, holy sh#t!!! I'm running a 120 now.

Its way overkill....but sometimes ya gotta help a 3 wheeled Rockwell rig up a steep hill. 8)

Keep in mind this is only an 8,000lb version. I've "double pulled" with an 8274 and had to wait on it a few times to catch up.

TBItoy · Feb 7, 2016

Re:

I've had an ol xrc8 on a few rigs. Works great, never let me down so far.

Fwiw if I'm spending ~ $500 on a winch, I'd much rather have a "nice" smittybilt than cheap warn vr series.

RustyC · Feb 7, 2016

I have a 2nd gen 9500lb. That I cut down to "comp" width. It has work flawlessly since day one. I was surprised at the speed considering my Jeep has a 8274 on it. The only tiny issue was one of the pins at the box for connecting the remote bent while connecting the remote. Probably my fault.

5BrothersFabrication · Feb 7, 2016

I put an XRC-8 on my Ranger, worked awesome. Fast, rope always wound up great. My Explorer has one on it, the engaged/free-spool selector won't stay in the engaged spot so either you zip-tie it to the grille or someone has to hold it. Other than that, works great.

civicmindedex79 · Feb 7, 2016

Josh Rohling (Rohlingoffroad) on here is has it on his buggy. :dblthumb:

easleycrawler · Feb 7, 2016

I've got a xrc8, works great, no problems.

BPINAZ · Feb 8, 2016

I had an XRC 8 on my truggy, but now it's mounted on my wife's XJ. I replaced it with an XRC 9.5. Both winches work great and I know a lot of people who use them without any issues.

tonybolton · Feb 8, 2016

I'm glad to see love for the "average brands" in the winch department. When I got into offroading I didn't know any better and the only name I knew in the winch dept was Warn. After searching and finding all their 1000$ winches it fell waaaaaay down on my "to buy" list

Hell, I remember trying to find groups to ride with and was told that they did not allow people in their trail rides that did not have a Warn winch. I remember asking why and got, 'Everything else is all junk.....it all sucks....You get what you pay for with Warn.".

Needless to say I didn't ride with them much and found other people that actually used their rigs. Probably woulda saved alota money if I had hung with the Mall Crawler crew, but certainly wouldn't have been as fun.

Most of the winches I see on the trails these days are Smittybilts and Superwinches. Don't see many Warns unless it's an 8274 or those XENON winches mounted on freshly waxed and armor all'd JK's.

617_Racing · Feb 8, 2016

I'm running that exact winch. Only issue I have had is the wireless feature no longer works, it just clicks a solenoid.

But, with it plugged in it works great, it has never let me down.