Harbor Freight winch?
- Thread starter GeorgeSully
- Start date
I personally wouldn't trust anything from HF, usually low quality tools that don't hold up to any actual use. Have had a HF air compressor that never worked and multiple tools that have broken after only a bit of usage. Some of the products might be decent, however, I would stay away.
I use HF tools all the time, but I wouldn't trust their winch at all.
This thread may be worth checking out:
What is the best winch for my Jeep Wrangler TJ?
Some of the more affordable winches (that are still better than a HF winch) would be:
This thread may be worth checking out:
What is the best winch for my Jeep Wrangler TJ?
Some of the more affordable winches (that are still better than a HF winch) would be:
- Engo SR9S (9,000 lbs.)
- Smittybilt X20 (10,000 lbs.)
- Smittybilt X20 Comp (10,000 lbs.) (this one would be my second choice personally)
- Smittybilt XRC (9,500 lbs.)
- Smittybilt XRC Comp (9,500 lbs.)
- Superwinch 1595200 Tiger Shark
People in one of the larger local clubs post questions all the time about which winch to get for under XXX dollars. Every. Single. Time. they get recommended the HF Badlands with cries of "I've never had a problem with it" and "if you do have a problem HF has a great return policy". The problem is that they have never had a problem with it because they have never used it. They buy it as bumper jewelry along with shiny anodized shackles. On top of that, I don't want to have to deal with returning a winch because it didn't work. If it didn't work, I was in a situation where I needed it to work.
Then they have a local trail ride and the reports start coming back about they didn't work, or how slow they are, or how they rusted up.
Then they have a local trail ride and the reports start coming back about they didn't work, or how slow they are, or how they rusted up.
Anything involving electrical and HF is junk (IMO). I bought an 18V drill and it failed after 1 year. The battery would not take a charge. I bought a heat gun and it too failed before 6 months (though I used the hell out of it in those months). A soldering iron lasted less than 6 months (the tip no longer would heat up). I bought a 100ft extension cord and the insulated coating has torn already.
I had one for a couple of years. The Badlands 9000lb. Used it a lot not just for recovery but for pulling bushes out of the ground, raising walls, dragging tool boxes across the ground and I didn't have any problems, the only thing is, it would get crazy hot and the cable that came on it was questionable and it was slooooooow. So by the time you get the winch and change the cable you'd be better off with a higher end one.
My $.02
My $.02
use a 8 or 9,000 lb one to drag my 59 chevy wagon up my inclined driveway when I was working on it never failed. some things at hf are junk but i'll tell you this ,I got tired of replacing my bosch big brute $1500 jackhammer after the second one was stolen. Hf had a sale and there big jackhammer cost me under $400 on sale including warranty . well my 3 yr warranty has expired and the hammer is still working busting up 6" concrete floors.
tquig01
TJ Enthusiast
I have used their tools for various projects. I have a right angle grinder that just won't die- one of my first purchases. I have also bought items that failed almost immediately, drill bits as an example. I think in the end you have to understand the quality variances will be much greater with HF than Sanp-on. You might get a tool that performs/last as long as a premier brand but there is also a greater chance that it is a piece of crap. Less likely to get the crap with Matco/Snapcon but it still happens. I had a new S-K ratchet many years ago that I broke the handle off.
The issue with winches is that when you need it, you really, really need it, while with a wrench, you tend to be in less dire straits. If I knew that it had to work, I would not go with HF.
The issue with winches is that when you need it, you really, really need it, while with a wrench, you tend to be in less dire straits. If I knew that it had to work, I would not go with HF.
Cudabnu
TJ Enthusiast
I went with engo, time will tell... I ordered the 10K winch because it was actually cheaper than the 9K, they ended up shipping the 12K. Added the wireless remote and neoprene cover for under $400. Can get them on ebay when they have their 15% off deals like the just had yesterday.
There is only one word in the winch world and it starts with the letter "W" in bold RED.
Look around for sales, the M8000 can be had for very good prices if you know where and when to buy. Used winches under $600 that are late model Warn in the 9000-10,000 Lb. range can be had on ebay, CL, Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up and all kinds of places if you search for a little bit. You really are better off with a top name Winch rather than a China toy......
SUPERWINCH would be a good 2nd choice in the list of "Go-To" winches in a pinch.
If you will only will spend a little coin on a tool that may save your life, property or someone elses', buy a used Warn and call it a day.
Don't waste your time on China crap from anyone on any other brand. Not worth it in the long run. This is not an LED light, rocker guard or a tail light grille we are talking here. This is a valuable tool that may save lives and property. It's like knowing CPR. You may never ever need it but boy when you do it can be all the difference in success or can turn to utter disaster and failure in an instant. Besides, ALL the parts necessary to rebuild or refurbish it are available new from Warn themselves directly.
My original winch I bought NEW in the 1980's for my CJ still works the way it did when it was new! The harbor freight winch I had on another Jeep a few years rusted to sh!t in a few months and was SLOW AS HELL. The bolts failed on a hard pull and nearly killed one of my assistants helping me on a heavy pull.
You bought a genuine Jeep right?
So spend your money on a genuine Warn winch to go with the real article.........
Cheapen out somewhere else if you are looking for more than bumper jewelry for mall crawling.
"The right tool for the job makes all the difference in the job being done right!"
Look around for sales, the M8000 can be had for very good prices if you know where and when to buy. Used winches under $600 that are late model Warn in the 9000-10,000 Lb. range can be had on ebay, CL, Facebook Marketplace, Offer Up and all kinds of places if you search for a little bit. You really are better off with a top name Winch rather than a China toy......
SUPERWINCH would be a good 2nd choice in the list of "Go-To" winches in a pinch.
If you will only will spend a little coin on a tool that may save your life, property or someone elses', buy a used Warn and call it a day.
Don't waste your time on China crap from anyone on any other brand. Not worth it in the long run. This is not an LED light, rocker guard or a tail light grille we are talking here. This is a valuable tool that may save lives and property. It's like knowing CPR. You may never ever need it but boy when you do it can be all the difference in success or can turn to utter disaster and failure in an instant. Besides, ALL the parts necessary to rebuild or refurbish it are available new from Warn themselves directly.
My original winch I bought NEW in the 1980's for my CJ still works the way it did when it was new! The harbor freight winch I had on another Jeep a few years rusted to sh!t in a few months and was SLOW AS HELL. The bolts failed on a hard pull and nearly killed one of my assistants helping me on a heavy pull.
You bought a genuine Jeep right?
So spend your money on a genuine Warn winch to go with the real article.........
Cheapen out somewhere else if you are looking for more than bumper jewelry for mall crawling.
"The right tool for the job makes all the difference in the job being done right!"
Warn should always be the first choice.
If a budget winch is absolutely necessary, then Engo.
Harbor Freight/Badlands winches are best relegated to non-mission critical uses such as dragging a broken down vehicle onto a car hauler trailer, hardtop hoist, bumper eye candy, etc.
If a budget winch is absolutely necessary, then Engo.
Harbor Freight/Badlands winches are best relegated to non-mission critical uses such as dragging a broken down vehicle onto a car hauler trailer, hardtop hoist, bumper eye candy, etc.
To piggyback on this........ (damn i always hated that term).
When you are miles away from a good road. And you get stuck. The last thing you want to say is "I sure wish i spent more on a good winch"
tquig01
TJ Enthusiast
The experts agree! Like I said, if a wrench breaks, it is usually not during a life-saving event, however the winch...
After building a Jeep ('69) I had a few thoughts on HF products I used in the process:
- They are fantastic for limited or single use tools, the one time you need an obscure size or tool - the cheap price works okay (even if the manufacturing tolerances are a little off). For anything bound we had penetrating oil to help free them up (kroil - this stuff is amazing).
- For anything you plan to use more than a few times, the quality doesn't hold up. Arguably you may only need a winch a few times, but it would be quite miserable to need it and not have one that works. I think I would favor saving a bit longer to get a second hand or lighter winch and throw a few more lever points in the mix to lower the load requirement.
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What about quadratec brand?
https://www.quadratec.com/products/...2Fb2RU66sBwAQzTK2f7uK7Bjg_Kd84rxoCg6AQAvD_BwE
https://www.quadratec.com/products/...2Fb2RU66sBwAQzTK2f7uK7Bjg_Kd84rxoCg6AQAvD_BwE
I don't have any clear evidence of this, but knowing how many products are built these days - I believe the Quadratec brand is likely a rebrand of a Chinese mold. Usually these will look and perform similar to other, for lack of a better term, "budget" brands.
crackedcornish
TJ Enthusiast
another vote for Engo for an inexpensive winch that works..I have the E10000s on both my TJ and my YJ
