Winch size question

imag

Member
What size winch is best or adequate for use with a LR3? Is 10,000 lb adequate or must it be a 12,000 lb strength?
 

LR Max

Well-known member
10,000lb is good. As long as you aren't buried to the axles or you aren't stuck on a stump that is jammed up between the frame, it'll be fine.

Best bet is to get a fastest winch you can afford. Ideally that would look like a Warn Zeon or similar, but do what you can. I highly recommend synthetic rope. Its just easier to handle.
 

erover82

Well-known member
I'd opt for the 12,000lb. An LR3 is very heavy to begin with and it multiplies quickly when hills, mud, etc get involved. You can use a lower capacity winch with a snatch block, but will you actually carry it, and use it? It ends up moving even slower than a lower geared winch and takes more time to setup. Again, it's good practice, but will you do it? I don't think winch speed matters outside of competition.
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
The LR3 is heavy, and when bogged down can require a serious line pull to break it loose. But I second what @evilfij has to say, a lower capacity but higher quality winch is a better bet than a larger capacity, lower or unknown quality winch.

Prices have gone way up over the years. I thought it was bad paying $650ish for my XD9000i (20+ years ago), but the same winch has an msrp over $2k now!!! So i see the appeal of the Chinese Badlands/ Smitty built etc winches. And I'm sure there are plenty of folks that will tell you they are just as good, but I seriously doubt it..

How much you plan to use it, and how hard needs to be factored in. If it is more decoration, and an insurance policy for an occasional stuck, maybe the cheaper winches are okay. If you are doing Vehicle Dependent Travel (particularly solo), I wouldn't skimp here..
 
Last edited:

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
I see people run and swear by badlands. I see people who swear at them too.
I’m annoyed at Westin for effectively killing off the superwinch brand. Like them simply because their HQ was an hour away if I ever needed it for service.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
My real advice is the same as it was in the 90s, it’s not a winch unless it has a driveshaft, but I don’t think there are any PTOs for the LR3.

Overloaded 110s got out fine with 8274 warns. Heck, I had a bellview 6000 (the OG which that warn bought and made into the 8274) and it ran like new.

But the best winch is a fairey/superwinch PTO driven one. If the engine is running, it will drag you out.

M8000 are under a grand, think I paid $700 delivered for the last one. They are much nicer than chinesium (including the warn zeon EDIT I MEANT WARN VR SERIES). But again, IMHO.
 
Last edited:

blueboy

Well-known member
Keep in mind electric winch rating is with a single wrap on the drum so if really stuck you’ll probably double line with a snatch block to get to the single wrap. The Warn kit has a snatch block included making it easily accessible.

Have a late 90’s era Warn M10000 on the RRC which is usually overloaded when on outings and it has performed well over the years. Also carry a Pull Pal. As mentioned synthetic line is your friend as well. I’m in the Bill Burke camp and use a roller fairing vs a hawse.

In my mind a winch is just another traction aid that when needed you really need it to work as the other traction aids still got you stuck.
 
Last edited:

pmatusov

Technical Excellence Contributor
Callsign: AK6PM
I much rather have a warm 8274 or even M8000 than a chinesium 12k winch.
There is an almost thousand-dollar difference now, besides all winches being chinesium nowadays.
Also, it is just about impossible to have an 8274 on anything without an ARB-style bumper that makes approach angle miserable.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
There is an almost thousand-dollar difference now, besides all winches being chinesium nowadays.
Also, it is just about impossible to have an 8274 on anything without an ARB-style bumper that makes approach angle miserable.


$750 for an M8000. Made in USA. Swap out the steel cable for synthetic rope is a lot less money than buying the M8000 that comes with synthetic rope. It’s what I put on my D90 (although I have had no need to use it). I’d prefer this to anything else, even if it is only 8000lbs.

I agree I don’t see a good way to fit an 8274 to an LR3, although some of the 8274 mounts for defenders that are available don’t compromise approach angle.
 

erover82

Well-known member
I see people run and swear by badlands. I see people who swear at them too.
I’m annoyed at Westin for effectively killing off the superwinch brand. Like them simply because their HQ was an hour away if I ever needed it for service.

You may know this, but Comeup was the OEM for Superwinch EP series, and are now sold as the Comeup DV series.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
Still would go with a 10,000# rated one.
Ya, the 10k, 12k, 15k are probably better, but a warm 12k zeon is like $1500. I don’t think warn makes the M10000 anymore, only the M12 and that’s $2k. It’s also not assured that an M12 (or other bigger winches) will fit the mount.

My main point is that I would avoid the VR series and other Chinese winches. I mean if that’s what you want/can afford, fine, but I rather have the M8000 than a 10k or 12k chineseium winch.

I thought the comeups were chinesium like the last superwinch. The local overland shop stocks them and they seemed like nothing special and were very expensive.

The truth is you can buy a 9500lbs winch on Amazon for $220 delivered with synthetic line and a fairlead etc. if you just need a winch, that probably makes sense and is certainly better than no winch at all. I would not count on it working when you really need it, then again, my experience is you can’t count on any electric winch when you really need it and it’s a matter of degrees.
 
Last edited:

blueboy

Well-known member
My main point is that I would avoid the VR series and other Chinese winches. I mean if that’s what you want/can afford, fine, but I rather have the M8000 than a 10k or 12k chineseium winch.
Yep and mount it so you can see the drum when actually using it.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
Suppose we shouldn’t ignore Ramsey winch, all American made. The Amazon/HF brands will always find buyers thanks to pricing.
 
Top