JT4x4

The Mud Pit => Wrenching => Topic started by: BayouGold on March 03, 2009, 05:06:41 AM

Title: Smitty winch
Post by: BayouGold on March 03, 2009, 05:06:41 AM
Smitty has a new product. Their answer to warns powerplant at half the price. wonder how good it is.





http://www.smittybilt.com/docs/new_products/SB_18.pdf
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: Axle on March 03, 2009, 03:22:59 PM
If it's anything like my XRC-8, don't waste your money.   :-\
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: Seabee_BUC on March 03, 2009, 05:11:37 PM
If it's anything like my XRC-8, don't waste your money.   :-\

What's wrong with your winch???
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: Axle on March 03, 2009, 10:38:09 PM
It's falling apart.  It won't free spool.  You have to hold the clutch handle in place when you spool out or it will pop out of gear.  And yesterday when I went to spool it in, it just sat there making a clicking noise.  Finally after a few attempts it started working.  You get what you pay for...  It's very cheaply made and probably won't last me through the summer.  Good thing I have lockers! 

For the record, I've had it for less than a year. 
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: WillC on March 03, 2009, 10:44:09 PM
  Good thing I have lockers!

And I forgot my camera yesterday.....
 :D
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: rocket on March 03, 2009, 11:35:58 PM
I've never had a problem w/ mine, nor have I heard of anyone.  lots of people run smittybilts for years w/ no major problems.
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: kirksjeep on March 04, 2009, 12:04:02 AM
Axle is your's the new model with the bigger motor, or the original style?
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: Axle on March 04, 2009, 12:19:33 AM
I'm not sure, but I think it's the latest generation.  I don't think the XRC-8 has been around for very long, so I doubt people have been running them for years.  I have also used mine for a lot of pulls.  Hopefully it will last me until I can afford a new one.
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: Seabee_BUC on March 04, 2009, 12:40:31 AM
JD has the 8K Chicago Electric special from Harbor Freight and its going on 3 years with quite a few HARD pulls. Makes a bit of racket when it's not under load but when I need it to pull hard, its ready. It's only $399 and if you score a coupon in the mail or from a flyer, it's even cheaper...
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: PaulW on March 04, 2009, 02:26:56 AM
I'm currently winch less, but I still like my ramsey the best!!
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: phoenix on March 04, 2009, 11:05:05 AM
JD has the 8K Chicago Electric special from Harbor Freight and its going on 3 years with quite a few HARD pulls. Makes a bit of racket when it's not under load but when I need it to pull hard, its ready. It's only $399 and if you score a coupon in the mail or from a flyer, it's even cheaper...
got the same one here, but it has only ever been mounted for about 8 months, and that was 2 trucks ago!!! From everything I hear about them, they are good, but slow and do NOT like being used wet.
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: Seabee_BUC on March 04, 2009, 07:14:12 PM
JD has the 8K Chicago Electric special from Harbor Freight and its going on 3 years with quite a few HARD pulls. Makes a bit of racket when it's not under load but when I need it to pull hard, its ready. It's only $399 and if you score a coupon in the mail or from a flyer, it's even cheaper...
got the same one here, but it has only ever been mounted for about 8 months, and that was 2 trucks ago!!! From everything I hear about them, they are good, but slow and do NOT like being used wet.

Yeah it's kinda slow but in times when we are in a hurry, I just wind the rope up around the bumper and roll on. Haven't had any issues with it in the rain though...Pulled 3 hard times on Old Florida Road 2 summers ago (everyone remembers that one huh???) and then last summer on Rockfall and Boulder like 8 or 9 times in some super slick mud...basically all day...Can't beat the price either...
Title: Re: Smitty winch
Post by: HOT-ROD on March 16, 2009, 03:47:48 AM
it is a great winch. i remeber OFR, LOL.