Rebuild or Replace

[01TJ-Blues]

So. I inherited a Smittybilt X2O 8500 winch that is in need of repair. Tore it down, rusty and evidently not as waterproof as advertised. It needs for sure a new cable or possibly synthetic rope, e-motor terminals (snapped removing cables)if that’s even possible to de-solder and solder new ones in and possibly the solenoid pack as the wiring was burned from a smashed push bar into it.

That said a new Smittybilt XRC is $299.95 and the obvious Warn 8000 choice at a bit higher price.

Thoughts anyone?


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[Rob5589]

Buy a new winch. I seem to recall Jerry saying parts were not available for SB winches. For budget winches, the Engo is well regarded. Allen at @AOR can set you up. The Engo SR9S is under 400, the steel cable version under 300.

 

[01TJ-Blues]

Buy a new winch. I seem to recall Jerry saying parts were not available for SB winches. For budget winches, the Engo is well regarded. Allen at @AOR can set you up. The Engo SR9S is under 400, the steel cable version under 300.

That’s what I figured. I priced a couple of the items and I think they would be around $200 IF...and that IF it doesn’t need more and then it’s still a used winch.


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[Chris]

Replace it. I'm very happy with my Smittybilt X20 Comp for what it's worth. Can't beat the price either! I know a lot of people who run the same winch and have put it through the ringer without any issue whatsoever.

 

[MaloStapalo]

Replace it. I'm very happy with my Smittybilt X20 Comp for what it's worth. Can't beat the price either! I know a lot of people who run the same winch and have put it through the ringer without any issue whatsoever.

Are you reaaaallly sure because I would rather fight rust than put smittybuilt anything on my rig

 

[Chris]

Are you reaaaallly sure because I would rather fight rust than put smittybuilt anything on my rig

I used to think that as well, and still do for the most part. However, they seem to build a nice winch in all honesty. The guys I know who have this winch have beat it to hell and back and never had an issue with it whatsoever.

Take it for what it's worth. I wouldn't put anything Smittybilt on my TJ, but this winch seems to be the exception.

 

[Xposure]

I used to think that as well, and still do for the most part. However, they seem to build a nice winch in all honesty. The guys I know who have this winch have beat it to hell and back and never had an issue with it whatsoever.

Take it for what it's worth. I wouldn't put anything Smittybilt on my TJ, but this winch seems to be the exception.

Does Smittybilt actually build anything or do they just market well? A lot of their stuff just looks like a rebadge. We have a clothing store and with clothing (and many other industries products) people think stuff from China is knockoffs but in reality the manufacturer in China can sell the products to whoever they want. They will come up with a product and various companies will buy it. Some companies rebrand it and mark it up through the roof to keep their market image while others sell it on Ebay with very little markup. We see it all the time. To me it seems like some (or maybe all) of the Smittybilt stuff looks like rebranded China manufactured products.

 

[Chris]

Does Smittybilt actually build anything or do they just market well? A lot of their stuff just looks like a rebadge. We have a clothing store and with clothing (and many other industries products) people think stuff from China is knockoffs but in reality the manufacturer in China can sell the products to whoever they want. They will come up with a product and various companies will buy it. Some companies rebrand it and mark it up through the roof to keep their market image while others sell it on Ebay with very little markup. We see it all the time. To me it seems like some (or maybe all) of the Smittybilt stuff looks like rebranded China manufactured products.

Chances are, just like the Chinese LED headlights you see everywhere, that the winches are built by a manufacturing facility in China that manufacturers other winches as well... I would almost guarantee it.

Everything coming from China is re-branded something or another. They make 100 different "brands" of the same exact LED headlight, all made in the exact same factory, using the exact same parts. They just sell them under different names. It's the Chinese way of doing business... flood the market.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Smittybilt doesn't make anything since old man Smitty died years ago and his company's name was bought by investors. They only bought the name, not any of his manufacturing facilities. All Smittybilt stuff comes from China, they're just an importer who bought a widely recognized name to use for instant name recognition. How deceitful, the only link to the old Smittybilt is the name. Old man Smitty has been rolling over continually in his grave over what has happened to his company for many years.

I doubt you'd have much luck getting the parts needed from Smittybilt. Someone recently had a solenoid problem with their Smittybilt winch which was fortunately still under warranty. Because it was still under warranty and Smittybilt's HQ couldn't provide a replacement solenoid, they sent him a replacement winch. Which sounds good but what about once the warranty has expired.

I'd be on the hunt for a good used Warn winch, they're out there. 8,000 lb. to 9,500 lb. capacity works well.
.

 

[01TJ-Blues]

Already planning out a new Warn. Thanks everyone.


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