Warn 8s vs 10s

I'm going to be adding a winch capable bumper, and winch. Warn seems to be the way to go. The base GVW is 5600. With the adds, and gear, etc., probably close to 7000. My chances of actually needing to use the winch where I'll be going are probably very slim. Having said that, if I need it, I need it. So in trying to keep the cost and weight down as much as possible, is the 8K enough? Or, should I really go with the 10K to be safe?

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

Bigger is always better if $$$ aren't an issue.

 

You could probably get by with the 8 but I'd go with a 10. Being oversized will make life easier for you and for your winch. Last time I priced them the 10 was only a couple hundred dollars more anyway and if you're already spending Warn money a couple hundred dollars isn't much for a little extra peace of mind.

 

I do agree with @grandpawmoses that bigger is better, but if you want to use a smaller/cheaper winch and need more pulling power, you can always add a pulley on the cable and double the capacity.......

 

I seem to remember a rule of thumb was to go 1.5x your vehicle weight when choosing a winch. That would put you in the 10k territory.

 

Disclosure: ~6 years later, I have yet to pull the trigger on a winch [life], one day soon I hope.

I was leaning this way, may still (As I have a good amount of quality "Tackle" lets call it. However, check the prices on a good snatch block + the additional cable/rope and soft shackles etc.... can be higher than the 8k vs 10k difference.

At this time, I am leaning towards a 9k Sherpa winch (sans pulley)

 

Go with the 10k synthetic rope. Give Hotshot off road a call. Talk to Colton. Gave me a pretty good deal. His handle @memario1214.

 

I've ran 8k warn on all my Toyotas and even my half ton Silverado that I had. Never had an issue with not enough pulling power. Only one time in some think Creek bottom mud did I need to at a block and double back.
The more line you have out, the better the pulling power.
I like rope a lot, but I run cable anymore. I use my winch more for dragging logs to the road for cutting firewood. I ruined a good rope doing that.

 

10 all the way, no question about it.

 

Not the EVO I take it. All I see is Zeon's.

 

Thanks for all the info. One of the reasons I thought there was a bigger price difference is when looking for these on Amazon, searching EVO 10s, the Zeon 10s was coming up. For some reason the EVO 10s is the only one not available on Amazon. I always go there first for the free shipping and ridiculously easy returns.

Anyway, something I forgot to ask initially, how much recovery extras do you carry. I don't want to go insane but was thinking some basics. Maybe a snatch block, tree strap, and a couple soft shackles. Thanks

 

I've had a Warne Evo 10 along with my ADD bumper since January of 2020. Number of times I've used it to winch myself out: 0
Number of times I've winched other people out in the desert around me: Probably 6-7 or so.

So basically I paid $1,000 for the winch, + the cost of the bumper to house it, plus carrying around all the extra weight/reduced mpg all so I can give free recoveries to other people in need. Happy to do it, because I've been rescued myself in the past, but from a cost benefit analysis, doesn't make much sense.

Pic of some rando I pulled out recently:

 

I disagree. My HF Badland Apex 12k has been put through a lot in its first month and has performed beyond my expectations. For $649.00 this thing has a synthetic line and a wireless remote - both features of the warns that are 2x its price. Matt's Offroad and Fab Rats run these winches exclusively in their recovery rigs and they do it for a living. If I were you I would seriously consider the Harbor Freight Option. Parts info, wiring, and details linked in my build thread in sig.

 

Because they both get them for free. With that said I would go with the Badlands too and get the extended warranty too.

 

Data? It wouldn't surprise me since they have such large followings but are you 100% that they get them for free? I'm glad I went with mine although I have only had it for a month so I don't have any long-term experience. Thing had no problem moving a heavy ass 4 door Ford LTD with a frozen wheel and flat tire out of the yard.

By the way, if that is your King Air in the profile pic you are living right my friend.

Edit: I had a Warn 16.5 ti in my 3/4 ton Diesel Rig. That winch was a beast so this isn't a brand thing. I went with the HF option on the taco for $ to performance ratio. I don't think Warn is a bad choice if you have the $$ to spend. I have a couple projects running in parallel and wanted to stretch my dollars.

 

I watch Matts Off Road Recovery all the time. Didn't notice what winches he uses. But as others suggested, he probably does get then for free and has no less then one spare with him at any given time. Probably takes those guys 10 minutes to swap one out. Having said that, I went to Harbor Freight yesterday just to look at it. And, it's $549 right now.

 

Matt's recovery uses HF Badlands winches. Brand aside get the largest you can. The rated weight is with 1 wrap of rope and there is a loose with each wrap. I had a 8k on my 2nd gen, worked fine, new truck has a 12-s Zeon. It is amazing how little it works to move my ruck or even full size rigs.

 

For actually wheeling I keep at minimum enough snatch blocks in the trail rig to winch myself backwards and that takes at least 3. I keep these as recovery rings and soft shackles strictly for the weight. So that means at least 3 tree straps as well. A couple more soft shackles, rope damper, fast fid, and a bow shackle should have you totally covered in winching gear for nearly every scenario. A pull-pal would be prudent if you wheel where trees aren't plentiful and a rope extension is never a bad idea.