What costs less than a Harbor Freight Winch?

So the HF winches often get bashed here, and I expect this thread to get bashed some more. However, I decided to see if I could find a winch that costs even less than the Bad Lands Winches offered by Harbor Freight. Of course google helped a lot.

I found a winch manufacture that produces for OEM. Basically you can badge the winches anyway you want to, even with your own custom name brand. Yes, they are in China. You can order one as a sample and avoid the minimum order requirement.

Each comes with a fair lead, remote, selendoid, etc. They also use the standard 10x4.5" mount pattern. The price list I have currently have includes:

9500lbs Winchs:
Steel Cable, 5.5hp motor, 265:1 gear ratio, weight 89lbs- $158.00
Synthetic Line, 6hp motor, 172.8:1 gear ratio, weight 62lbs - $188.00

12,000lbs Winches:
Steel Cable, 6.5hp motor, 216:1 gear ratio, weight 89lbs - $155.00
Synthetic Line, 6.5hp motor, 216:1 gear ratio, weight 62lbs- $192.00

Everything on these is optional. Gear Ratio, Motor, Seldoid style and rating, clutch and brake, line color (on synthetic line), wired and/or wireless remote.

Prices do not include shipping, which changes depending on how fast you want it. Standard shipping (it ships when a container gets full, which can take up to 8 weeks) is free on the sample order. Faster cost more.

For these prices, I might just have to buy myself a christmas experiment.

 

That's cool that you found a lower cost alternative to a HF winch, but I have to ask why you want to get the cheapest possible winch, unless you are certain that you will never need to depend on it to get you out of a bad situation? As is the case with most things, you get what you pay for...

 

Why not post a link.

 

Is that cheaper than a HF winch with a 25 percent off coupon.

You won't hear me bashing HF winches. I've got several.

 

No idea what the OP has found.

However there are several, have to wade through lots of Alibaba ads to find them. Here's just a few that seem like they might be actual factories.

JNDO - http://www.jndowinch.com
Hebei Jiuniu - https://hbjiuniu.en.alibaba.com
Dawson Group - http://www.dawson-group.com
Ningbo Chima - http://www.chimawinch.com
Antai Winch - http://www.cnwinches.com

 

Sorry about that. Here ya go: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Car-electric-winch-12000lb-for-4WD_60420069533.html

 

Depending on who you go through, some websites and companies require an actual business license to avoid everyone just ordering one sample direct from the manufacturer. If they let you it may be worth it, even if for nothing more than testing the option.

 

I saw go for it! Get an overrated one for our trucks, 12000lbs.

 

Why not 15000lbs? Why not 2?

 

he didn't list that one. I'm just saying I'd go overboard on it to make sure that you're covered if their ratings aren't quite right.

 

OPs link says port Ningbo

 

That makes sense, I wouldn't trust the ratings much either. One thing to consider is, though, is the size of a 12K winch may (should) be larger than the 8K & 9.5K size so where it fits may be different. The reputable 12,000 lbs winches are larger, anyway.

 

I'm a fan of overboard... I'm not sure I would trust their ratings. The dawson-group.com has a 17000lb one... just in case you end up needing to rescue a whole row of F-350s...

 

At some point your truck just won't be able to handle it lol.

 

Subd

 

Until it breaks during a pull. That could end up somewhere between an inconvenience and killing someone. I've seen good Warn and Ramsey winches break, it happens. But at least when it does it's because you've seriously pushed it too far and in both cases the failure ended up in a locked winch, which is failsafe. If a winch lets go in free spool your truck could take a serious ride.

Not saying these are good, junk or that it's a requirement to spend a lot on a winch. But my $0.02 is there are things to save on and things that you need to trust. Winches, snatch straps, shackles and recovery stuff in general I try not to be skimp. Just me.

 

The ordering process is actually quiet complex as it turns out. There seems to be a never ending list of options. Everything from line color to solenoid housing thickness is all customizable, and they want an answer for everything. They even want to know how much and what grade of grease. It is mind boggling. I am hoping to get through the process soon.

 

Yeah, I'm just throwing my opinion out there. I agree that not everything has to cost your first born.

I guess you pick your budget battle and sometimes I have decided do without if there's a question. I bought my Warn probably 10 years ago but went without for years, maybe 15 I bet, because I never had the money. Back then there weren't as many cheap options as now, so hard to say what I'd have done if there were.

 

For $20 you get a lifetime warranty.

Most winch failures are not the winch, most cases its the controls. Its gonna take a lot to convince me there is 300 percent more quality in a Warm winch.

 

There is 300% more comfort in a warm wench