This question comes up all the time, seriously. That being said, it was time to make this an official "FAQ".
We're constantly seeing people post topics about which winch they should get. First and foremost, let me say that when it comes to winches, Warn is the undisputed king. They've been around longer than anyone else, most of their winches are made in the USA, they have a fantastic warranty, great customer service, etc. You won't find a brand out there that has the stellar reputation that Warn winches do.
You'll find a lot of Warn winches on vehicles that have been in use for over 20+ years and still going strong. Most of these winches see extreme climates (salty air, rust, extreme heat) and daily use, but still continue to function without a hitch.
What is the best Warn winch for my Jeep Wrangler TJ?
I have no problem sticking to my claim that the Warn M8000-S (synthetic version) is the best winch you can get for your TJ, hands down. Yes, Warn makes higher end winches out there with higher tow ratings, but you don't need those for a small vehicle like the TJ. In addition to that, while there are higher end (and more expensive) Warn winches, the M8000 happens to be the most popular choice for Jeep Wranglers, and therefore is the most tried and tested.
Find any Jeep Wrangler owner out there, and I'd be willing to bet there's a high probability that the winch they are running is a Warn M8000 and absolutely love it.
The Warn VR8 is made in China, but being that it carries the Warn name, you can be sure that it is backed up by Warn's fantastic customer service and support. That being said, if a Warn M8000 isn't in the cards, the Warn VR8 is a great option.
Are there other, more affordable options?
Of course. Other extremely popular options are as follows:
For me personally, it's worth spending the extra money to get something as tried and tested as the Warn M8000. I'm not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, I'm simply trying to explain why it is that Warn can charge more than some of these lower end Chinese companies. I'm also saying that there is no doubt that these cheap winches will work. The question is, will they work when you need them to? You know, after hundreds or thousands of uses, exposure to extreme weather, etc.
It's something to think about, that's all!
What weight rating should my winch be?
The general rule of thumb is that whatever winch you purchase should be able to pull around two times the weight of the vehicle. It doesn't matter if it's slightly under or slightly over, as long as it's close enough. That being said, for our Jeep Wrangler TJs, 8000 lbs. is what most people run, and what I suggest as well. Anything over 8000 lbs. is fine, it's just not necessary by any means.
Synthetic Line vs. Steel Line
The following quote was taken from Blaine, one of the most knowledgable guys out there when it comes to our TJs and off-roading in general.
"Both lines store energy when stretched and that energy is released when the line parts under load. The difference is the weight and the simple way to understand it is you and your buddy each grab a 4 foot long piece of synthetic and the same in steel. Stand about 4 feet apart and take turns whipping each other and see who can inflict the most damage. I guarantee you the guy getting hit with the steel cable will run first.
The advantages of synthetic outweigh every aspect of steel except cost. We wheel some waterfalls in JV that you need a safety tether on. The ability to stand at the bottom of a 10 foot tall waterfall, unspool 20 feet of line and hand toss the whole mess up to the top is priceless.
The ability to spool on a same diameter line that is well over double the breaking strength of the same size steel at 1/5 the weight has some excellent value.
The ability to recombine and repair a broken or damaged line in the field with a simple buried tail splice is not to be sneezed at.
The extra strength alone is enough for me to switch even if it means I have to be just a tiny bit more aware of my rigging practices.
As for the maintenance of steel cable, it is most assuredly not maintenance free. If you do a bit of research, you'll discover that it needs to be cleaned, oiled, inspected for kinks, flat spots, bird's nesting, broken wires, and replaced if any evidence of those exist. The main reason folks think it is maintenance free is because they don't do any, not because it isn't required.
Synthetic isn't for everyone, but those of us who have been using it for a long time, wish it was. I switched in 2000 and at no point have I ever considered going back to steel for any reason."
In conclusion, it's safe to say that the majority of us are switching to synthetic these days. While steel winch line has been in use longer than synthetic, the benefits of synthetic far outweigh that of steel. Remember though, if you purchase a winch with steel line, you can always purchase a synthetic line down the road. In other words, you don't need a whole new winch to run synthetic line, it's nothing more than changing out the line from steel to synthetic.
Conclusion
Buy what you can afford, but if you want something that has been tried and tested for decades, the Warn M8000 as the pinnacle of winches for our Jeep Wrangler TJs. If you can afford it... buy it!
We're constantly seeing people post topics about which winch they should get. First and foremost, let me say that when it comes to winches, Warn is the undisputed king. They've been around longer than anyone else, most of their winches are made in the USA, they have a fantastic warranty, great customer service, etc. You won't find a brand out there that has the stellar reputation that Warn winches do.
You'll find a lot of Warn winches on vehicles that have been in use for over 20+ years and still going strong. Most of these winches see extreme climates (salty air, rust, extreme heat) and daily use, but still continue to function without a hitch.
What is the best Warn winch for my Jeep Wrangler TJ?
I have no problem sticking to my claim that the Warn M8000-S (synthetic version) is the best winch you can get for your TJ, hands down. Yes, Warn makes higher end winches out there with higher tow ratings, but you don't need those for a small vehicle like the TJ. In addition to that, while there are higher end (and more expensive) Warn winches, the M8000 happens to be the most popular choice for Jeep Wranglers, and therefore is the most tried and tested.
Find any Jeep Wrangler owner out there, and I'd be willing to bet there's a high probability that the winch they are running is a Warn M8000 and absolutely love it.
The Warn VR8 is made in China, but being that it carries the Warn name, you can be sure that it is backed up by Warn's fantastic customer service and support. That being said, if a Warn M8000 isn't in the cards, the Warn VR8 is a great option.
Are there other, more affordable options?
Of course. Other extremely popular options are as follows:
- 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
- Badlands (9,000 lbs.)
For me personally, it's worth spending the extra money to get something as tried and tested as the Warn M8000. I'm not trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, I'm simply trying to explain why it is that Warn can charge more than some of these lower end Chinese companies. I'm also saying that there is no doubt that these cheap winches will work. The question is, will they work when you need them to? You know, after hundreds or thousands of uses, exposure to extreme weather, etc.
It's something to think about, that's all!
What weight rating should my winch be?
The general rule of thumb is that whatever winch you purchase should be able to pull around two times the weight of the vehicle. It doesn't matter if it's slightly under or slightly over, as long as it's close enough. That being said, for our Jeep Wrangler TJs, 8000 lbs. is what most people run, and what I suggest as well. Anything over 8000 lbs. is fine, it's just not necessary by any means.
Synthetic Line vs. Steel Line
The following quote was taken from Blaine, one of the most knowledgable guys out there when it comes to our TJs and off-roading in general.
"Both lines store energy when stretched and that energy is released when the line parts under load. The difference is the weight and the simple way to understand it is you and your buddy each grab a 4 foot long piece of synthetic and the same in steel. Stand about 4 feet apart and take turns whipping each other and see who can inflict the most damage. I guarantee you the guy getting hit with the steel cable will run first.
The advantages of synthetic outweigh every aspect of steel except cost. We wheel some waterfalls in JV that you need a safety tether on. The ability to stand at the bottom of a 10 foot tall waterfall, unspool 20 feet of line and hand toss the whole mess up to the top is priceless.
The ability to spool on a same diameter line that is well over double the breaking strength of the same size steel at 1/5 the weight has some excellent value.
The ability to recombine and repair a broken or damaged line in the field with a simple buried tail splice is not to be sneezed at.
The extra strength alone is enough for me to switch even if it means I have to be just a tiny bit more aware of my rigging practices.
As for the maintenance of steel cable, it is most assuredly not maintenance free. If you do a bit of research, you'll discover that it needs to be cleaned, oiled, inspected for kinks, flat spots, bird's nesting, broken wires, and replaced if any evidence of those exist. The main reason folks think it is maintenance free is because they don't do any, not because it isn't required.
Synthetic isn't for everyone, but those of us who have been using it for a long time, wish it was. I switched in 2000 and at no point have I ever considered going back to steel for any reason."
In conclusion, it's safe to say that the majority of us are switching to synthetic these days. While steel winch line has been in use longer than synthetic, the benefits of synthetic far outweigh that of steel. Remember though, if you purchase a winch with steel line, you can always purchase a synthetic line down the road. In other words, you don't need a whole new winch to run synthetic line, it's nothing more than changing out the line from steel to synthetic.
Conclusion
Buy what you can afford, but if you want something that has been tried and tested for decades, the Warn M8000 as the pinnacle of winches for our Jeep Wrangler TJs. If you can afford it... buy it!
