What kind of winch to go with!?!?!

[CyberSniper]

Don't buy the Ramsey. It's only $80 cheaper than a 16.5ti. Buying a Ramsey (unless it's a worm gear one) is like buying an upscale chinese Mile Marker at Warn prices. The only time I've ever heard anyone or seen anyone happy with their Ramsey was on this forum. Maybe I'm prejudiced or something, but there's no way in hell I'd ever buy a Ramsey unless it was worm gear driven.

http://www.clemson4wheel.com/product.asp?prodcode=WAR-68801&tier=3&catcode=130

 

[RootBreaker]

Don't buy the Ramsey. It's only $80 cheaper than a 16.5ti. Buying a Ramsey (unless it's a worm gear one) is like buying an upscale chinese Mile Marker at Warn prices. The only time I've ever heard anyone or seen anyone happy with their Ramsey was on this forum. Maybe I'm prejudiced or something, but there's no way in hell I'd ever buy a Ramsey unless it was worm gear driven.

http://www.clemson4wheel.com/product.asp?prodcode=WAR-68801&tier=3&catcode=130

dude how is it only $80 cheaper????\

I was asked not to tell the price I was quoted and I will honer that... however that is HUNDREADS over the 15k price I was quoted... and like $400+ and plus like A LOT of+ to it...

 

[CyberSniper]

The cheapest I found the Ramsey 15k was $1100 plus shipping.

So, at $1320 + free shipping it's probably about $130 cheaper for the Ramsey. And I don't care who says what, anything planetary Ramsey isn't as good as Warn. I believe Clemson 4 Wheel is still an authorized Warn service center which is an added bonus.

So, if you managed to find the Ramsey for a price comparable to the Warn 9.5ti then I'd say go for it. Otherwise, save your lunch money for another month and buy a Warn.

 

[RootBreaker]

The cheapest I found the Ramsey 15k was $1100 plus shipping.

So, at $1320 + free shipping it's probably about $130 cheaper for the Ramsey. And I don't care who says what, anything planetary Ramsey isn't as good as Warn. I believe Clemson 4 Wheel is still an authorized Warn service center which is an added bonus.

So, if you managed to find the Ramsey for a price comparable to the Warn 9.5ti then I'd say go for it. Otherwise, save your lunch money for another month and buy a Warn.

Ok lets put it this way... I can get a ramsey 15k for for alot less than the listed price you have above.... and I said LESS... so Ramsey here I come...

 

[Keith in CO]

hydraulic winches

If you are going to run a dedicated pump, why not use a real hydraulic pump?

I use a 10,500# hydraulic Milemarker on my 6,000# 4x4 with an AGR super pump. The first time I tried to use the MM for self extraction with my old high mileage P/S pump I accidently switched the winch from low speed to high and smoked my PS fluid - had to be extracted by another vehicle.

The AGR pump provides the needed higher volume or pressure or whatever. I shipped my old PS pump to AGR and they inserted the super pump guts into my housing - saved a bunch of dough and I did'nt have to fiddle with new brackets, belts etc.

I went hydraulic as I can winch as long as I want without overheating (ala I don't try to use the 2nd speed for winching! -Doh), and I will never fry my batteries trying to winch. True, if I am upside down with engine off I have no winch ability.

Two issues with MM. One is they don't mention the need to keep the fluid cool - this is critical with hydraulic winches, and just hooking up a winch to a pump won't work. Overheated fluid will move nothing. I've noticed that car haulers often use hydraulic winches and they have a 3 gallon or so reservoir to keep things cool. I plumbed in an auto-trans cooler on my radiator both to cool the PS fluid and to provide extra volume. Two, they furnish stainless steel bolts for the mounting of the winch to the frame and for the fairlead - which is just way wimpy in my book. I used Grade 8 instead.

 

[78Buford]

Powdered steel is simply a newer way of forming parts, and there is nothing wrong with it IF done correctly. Making a general statement that all powdered steel formed parts are brittle is not accurate at all, because just like ALL steel there are numerous types with a wide range of properties.

For more specific examples of why I would recommend staying away from MM winches:
- friend burnt out the motor on his 12k after only a few pulls
- another friend constantly has to mess with the remote and connections to make it run
- there is not anywhere near enough room on the drum for the lenght of cable they provide. Unless the pull is perfectly straight (which they seldom are) it's basically impossible to make any more than a very short pull without the cable bunching up on one side and binding......which either bends the support rods or breaks the housing. Other brands of winches do not have nearly as much problem with this.

A) I would be "friend #1" above........yep burnt it up on the first really hard pull. My junk weighs 7000 lbs. 6.2 Blazer's comment about lack of room on the drum for "unperfectly wound in cable" IE: real world use..........is 100% accurate.

B) Friend #2 above has had problems but defended the same 12K electric MM winch. (I have advised him several times that they are indeed junk). His rig weighs around 3800-3900 lbs.

C) 6.2 Blazer has owned a Ramsey 9500 winch since the late 1990's.

D) 6.2 Blazer installed said winch in earlier this year.

E) I was always under the impression that Ramsey was a quality winch, second to Warn from "general hearsay".

F) I'm not gonna get all damp & moist over Warn.....I've personally observed some Warns overheat while pulling a 3900-4000 pound Jeep on relatively short pulls.

G) Ask 6.2 Blazer about the performance and quality of his Ramsey.

Roy

 

[CyberSniper]

I cut 20' off my E12000 and it works beautifully now.

 

[jekbrown]

Warn 8274. If ya want 16,000#s, do a double line pull.

j

 

[bigjbear]

...and it will STILL be faster than most 12K winches

 

[78Buford]

I cut 20' off my E12000 and it works beautifully now.

Cyber: I had thought of buying a 75' replacement cable to do the same thing you did (get rid of some of the cable). I'm glad to hear this was effective for you......this is something I'll likely try in the future. You mentioned that you cut 20' out.......was it a PITA to put the new loop & hook on, or did you cut 20' off from the "drum end" of the cable?

Roy

 

[CyberSniper]

Like all winches, it comes without a thimble or clamps (even those famous Warn ones)... and I had put a thimble and a clamp on it... so I just cut the cable with an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel then put the thimble and clamps back on. Basically, I got rid of that last partial wrap of cable. So, if you put the cable on nicely I have roughly 1.3 wraps of "free space" that, so far, seems to be enough to keep the cable from stacking and binding as much.

I put slip hooks on the cut off piece of cable.

 

[6.2Blazer]

A) I would be "friend #1" above........yep burnt it up on the first really hard pull. My junk weighs 7000 lbs. 6.2 Blazer's comment about lack of room on the drum for "unperfectly wound in cable" IE: real world use..........is 100% accurate.

B) Friend #2 above has had problems but defended the same 12K electric MM winch. (I have advised him several times that they are indeed junk). His rig weighs around 3800-3900 lbs.

C) 6.2 Blazer has owned a Ramsey 9500 winch since the late 1990's.

D) 6.2 Blazer installed said winch in earlier this year.

E) I was always under the impression that Ramsey was a quality winch, second to Warn from "general hearsay".

F) I'm not gonna get all damp & moist over Warn.....I've personally observed some Warns overheat while pulling a 3900-4000 pound Jeep on relatively short pulls.

G) Ask 6.2 Blazer about the performance and quality of his Ramsey.

Roy

Well.............not overly impressed at this time. I guess the first real tough pull will be the true test of the Ramsey. Though on it's behalf it has been sitting in the garage for years.

 

[Timc]

Oh, and Warn a distant number 2!

MileMarker (which is now made in China, except for the military hydraulic version) and all the OTHER Chinese made crap would not even be considered...

worens allright but if I had a choise I would have a 20000 lb ramse worm drive I run them in tow trucks and thay are as strong as you will ever need thay free spool in the ice snow mud every time but rely if you stay away from electric youer good

 

[W7NB]

yeah I saw them but they say that it is an ECONOMY Warn.. does that mean they dont put as good of parts in and not as much heart????

I run a 12K Tabor on my K5. It's certainly an economy model warn, but for the price still makes MM and the other Chinese crap look bad. Uses a lighter motor then a "real" Warn, but still pulls Jeeps easily

And the best part is that unlik MM and the other Chinese knock-offs you can get parts and service!