I was looking at two Warn winches. The first one that caught my eye was the 9.0Rc, billed as Warn's competition winch for Jeeps. The reason that I looked at it was because it was a much more compact unit. Methinks to myself, it's smaller, so it's got to be lighter! (I'll get back to this in a moment) The second is the classic Warn M8000 that is recommended by all and hangs off the front of a lot of the older, more "used" rigs around here.
Here the part that I found very interesting. The Warn 9.0Rc weighs in at only a pound less than the classic M8000, and it has 50' less line on it!
9.0Rc SPECS/PART NUMBER
Winch Model: WARN 9.0Rc
Part Number: 71550
Rated Line Pull: 9,000 lbs. (4080 kgs) single-line
Motor: Series Wound, 12V 4.8 hp
Electrical controls: Contactor
Remote Control: Remote switch, 12' (3.7m) lead
Geartrain: 3-Stage Planetary
Gear ratio: 216:1
Clutch (freespooling): Sliding Ring Gear
Brake: Automatic mechanical cone brake
Drum diameter/Length: 2.75 in/4.75 in (7.0cm/12cm)
Weight:
54 lbs. (24.8kgs.)
Rope:
50 ft, 3/8 in (15m, 9.5mm) Spydura™ synthetic Rope
Fairlead: Matte aluminum Hawse
Recommended Battery: 650 CCA minimum for winching
Battery leads: 2 gauge, 72 in (1.83m)
Finish: Gloss red paint over primer undercoating
M8-s SPECS/PART NUMBERS
Winch model: M8-s
Part number: 87800 (currently not CE compliant)
Rated line pull: 8,000 lbs., (3630 kgs.) single-line
Motor: Series Wound, 12V 4.8 hp, 24V 2.1 hp,
Electrical controls: Contactor
Remote Control: Remote switch, 12' (3.7m) lead
Geartrain: 3-Stage Planetary
Gear ratio: 216:1
Clutch (freespooling): Sliding ring gear
Brake: Automatic mechanical cone
Drum diameter/Length: 2.625"/9.0" (6.66cm/23cm)
Weight:
55 lbs. (25 kgs)
Rope: Spydura™ synthetic —
100', 3/8" diam.
Fairlead: Full radius matte aluminum hawse
Recommended Battery: 650 CCA minimum for winching
Battery leads: 2 gauge, 72" (1.83m)
Finish: Argent gray powder coat
Then here's the M8000 in all it's glory (and weight)
M8 SPECS/PART NUMBERS
Winch model: M8
Part number: 26502 (wire rope, 12V)
Part Number: 88502 (wire rope, 12V, CE, International sales only)
Rated line pull: 8,000 lbs., (3630 kgs.) single-line
Motor: Series Wound, 12V 4.8 hp
Electrical controls: Contactor
Remote Control: Remote switch, 12' (3.7m) lead
Gear train: 3-Stage Planetary
Gear ratio: 216:1
Clutch (freespooling): Sliding ring gear
Brake: Automatic mechanical cone
Drum diameter/Length: 2.5"/9.0" (6.4cm/23cm)
Weight:
74 lbs. (34 kgs)
Rope: Steel —
100', 5/16" diam. (30m, 8mm diam.)
Fairlead: Roller
Recommended Battery: 650 CCA minimum for winching
Battery leads: 2 gauge, 72" (1.83m)
Finish: Argent gray powder coat
Plus that red color on the 9.0Rc is just not going to fly.
@Jerry Bransford pointed out in another thread that getting the M8000 with the steel cable and then swapping it out for synthetic is not a bad option for saving a little money. Walking around the parking lot last night, I'm sure that I could pawn a new Warn cable off on someone at work and recoup a little cash towards a synthetic line.
This winch mounting plate is intriguing, from Under Cover Fabworks
It weighs in at 8 pounds.