Badland Apex Advice

[Torpedo01]

So Harbor Freight has the Badland Apex 12000lb winch that I can get for $488. I’d say it fits my needs as it would be mostly for occasional use and the price is right for what it is.

I have no problems with the stock bumper though and would prefer to keep it. Does anyone have pictures of that specific winch on a stock bumper, or is there any reason I shouldn’t use the stock one?

 

[tworley]

8-10k would be a little more reasonable. Plus there are better winches out there...take that for what its worth.

A winch plate bolts to the frame, and your winch on top of that. Assuming the HF bolt pattern is the standard 10x4.5" then something as simple as the rough country winch plate would suit your needs and fit the stock bumper.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-...0001&campid=5337789113&icep_item=383802849870

Stock bumper with an RC plate.

 

[hear]

There is currently a 25% coupon that appears to work, making that winch $450 (it's regularly $599 at my store). Coupon expires on 12/6 I believe.

 

[whitrzac]

The usefullness of the hobofreight winches is they're cheap and work most of the time. Keyword: most...
The apex winch is a stupid purchase. If you're going to spend that much, get something name brand with a warranty and actual support.

IMO if you're going to spend more than the $250-$300 for ghetto winch, spend the $600 on the warn m8000

 

[Torpedo01]

Ye

There is currently a 25% coupon that appears to work, making that winch $450 (it's regularly $599 at my store). Coupon expires on 12/6 I believe.

Yep that’s what I’d be using, it’s $488 total with tax and everything.

 

[Torpedo01]

ALL winches for under $500 are made in China, even Warn. Take your pick. My brother had the Chicago Electric (HF brand) winch for 7 years with no problems. It even beat some of the HIGH END winches in the old "Winches in Hell" shootout. Paying more doesn't always mean you get more.

Jeep Articles / General (Winches In Hell) - MoabJeeper Magazine

Yeah I’m happy with the winch choice, I think for the Apex they are gunning for more of a quality product, like they are trying with their Icon line.

 

[TheBlackPearl]

I have the 12,000 lb. Apex (latest version) and I have used it 5 times since new (purchased in October). I have already saved more than the winch cost me. It pulls fast and strong and I foresee no issues.

 

[KingCarGuyZ]

I picked up a X20 (was 330 when I bought it) works well, no problems so far. Been through a few rain storms and some street pulls (cycle the winch at least once a month to Jeep things from sticking up) mounted it on the stock bumper with a flat plate from @Ephry73 (RC I think but it doesn’t really matter, it’s just plate steel)

I like the look, and for me it works great 5year electric warranty and lifetime mech. Waterproof to. It’s no warn, but it’s got the APEX beat IMO

(you can also mount the Control box above the drum if you like that look)

 

[Ephry73]

I picked up a X20 (was 330 when I bought it) works well, no problems so far. Been through a few rain storms and some street pulls (cycle the winch at least once a month to Jeep things from sticking up) mounted it on the stock bumper with a flat plate from @Ephry73 (RC I think but it doesn’t really matter, it’s just plate steel)

I like the look, and for me it works great 5year electric warranty and lifetime mech. Waterproof to. It’s no warn, but it’s got the APEX beat IMO

View attachment 207987
(you can also mount the Control box above the drum if you like that look)

I have the X20 in 12k# I am moving the control box to the engine bay just because.

Looking good!!

 

[Zorba]

FWIW, I'm pretty sure HF sells a plate that works with the TJ. One stop shopping...

 

[Torpedo01]

Hmm now you guys got me thinking... I didn’t think about the availability of replacement parts and warranty lengths. The Warn is out of my price range, and I can’t find the X20 anywhere close to $330 though..

 

[KingCarGuyZ]

Hmm now you guys got me thinking... I didn’t think about the availability of replacement parts and warranty lengths. The Warn is out of my price range, and I can’t find the X20 anywhere close to $330

Amazon just pumped there prices up for Christmas, if you can, wait and it will hopefully come back down.

 

[RaiderNation07]

I have the 12,000 lb. Apex (latest version) and I have used it 5 times since new (purchased in October). I have already saved more than the winch cost me. It pulls fast and strong and I foresee no issues

How has it held up 4 years later?

 

[tnjeepguy]

Hard to beat the value of a good used Warn winch. Be patient one will come along on FB marketplace for 300-500
M8K, 9 or 9.5 (American made) Fun to take apart and refurbish. D

 

[Danarch]

How has it held up 4 years later?

My wife’s is 3 years old and we haven’t had any issues to date. That said we’ve only had to use it a few times. Not something we want to use a lot but sure is good to have when we need it.

My sons is also about 3 years old and no issues with it either. Again only used it a few times.

 

[macleanflood]

I've got two HF 9k winches. One on top of my dump trailer. One was on front of my wife's JK.

JK one stopped working after 3-4 uses but I think the issue is the solenoid pack.

The dump trailer one gets used a LOT pulling trash and RV parts into the bed. Holding up great.

-Mac

 

[tnjeepguy]

So 50 % utilization is worth how much when you are out stuck, many miles from home and the wife is cold and tired ??

Warn, good used winch; hard to beat. I could be wrong. D

 

[hear]

JK one stopped working after 3-4 uses but I think the issue is the solenoid pack.

I fully expected you to say it stopped working when it fused with the rear bumper on your old TJ.

 

[macleanflood]

I fully expected you to say it stopped working when it fused with the rear bumper on your old TJ.

I'd swapped it for my Warn M8000 that went through 4 motors on warranty when I bought a 9.5 XP.

So yeah I took a dead HF winch and swapped it with a Warn that hasn't done anything but break when I needed it. On my wife's JK.

Shortly after this act the JK sought revenge...

That M8000 and the TJ killing Smitty Built bumper took a licking and kept right on ticking.

Oh, and the 9.5 XP came with a wireless remote. I left one end plugged into my solenoid pack, which I relocated under the hood. It worked twice and died. My theory is it couldn't take the under hood heat.

I called Warn. They said the 9.5 XP doesn't include a remote. My Warn box says "includes remote." They said they didn't have any available and call back in a couple of months. I called back six months later. Warn said their remotes are covered by a 18 month warranty and unless I had a case number from my previous call I was shit out of luck. I didn't. I bought a 2 pack of cheap Winch remotes for $14 off Amazon and wired them in. Both work better than Warn's $200-300 remote with zero warranty support.

-Mac

 

[Zorba]

I'd swapped it for my Warn M8000 that went through 4 motors on warranty when I bought a 9.5 XP.

So yeah I took a dead HF winch and swapped it with a Warn that hasn't done anything but break when I needed it. On my wife's JK.

Shortly after this act the JK sought revenge...

That M8000 and the TJ killing Smitty Built bumper took a licking and kept right on ticking.

Oh, and the 9.5 XP came with a wireless remote. I left one end plugged into my solenoid pack, which I relocated under the hood. It worked twice and died. My theory is it couldn't take the under hood heat.

I called Warn. They said the 9.5 XP doesn't include a remote. My Warn box says "includes remote." They said they didn't have any available and call back in a couple of months. I called back six months later. Warn said their remotes are covered by a 18 month warranty and unless I had a case number from my previous call I was shit out of luck. I didn't. I bought a 2 pack of cheap Winch remotes for $14 off Amazon and wired them in. Both work better than Warn's $200-300 remote with zero warranty support.

-Mac

Goddess Mother, is Warn starting to go the way of other once reputable companies? @Blackjack