Winches Mile Marker winches

[Rod1]

Mile marker Hydros are top notch...

The ELECTRIC SUCK. I have have a 12K on my truck and nothing but issues. I have a 10 year old Warn 9500, that hasn't missed a beat, and a smittybilt 8000K on my jeep thats 3 yeras old... decent too.

I see you are looking at a ATV size 3500 winch... If you are hard core then get a warn... For occasional use its hard to justify the money for a warn. you might try an off brand, Northern tools sells a bunch.... Or a superwinch/ ramsey/ etc...


Also I dissagree with the above, on sythetic lines.

They are SOOOOO much nicer to work with, especially pulling on and off the winch and not having to worry about meat hooks. (little slivers on metal sticking out of steel cable. You'll surely get these if skidding over rough terrain)

Sythentic is HIGHLY abrasion resistant, and sure it'll chafe slightly but as long as the line isn't rubbing on the same point (like sawing a piece of rope on a rock edge) is isn't a major issue. pulling over logs and rocks doesn't cut the line like you think...and chafe gear isn't all that bad... Hit your local fire department for some old out of service hose

Also for the same diameter synthetic vs steel, you usually get a more pound rating, so if you were to chafe a few threads you are still well with in a safe working limit.. My 12K winch has 18K sythetic cable on it...Same diameter cable as the steel that came on it..

Hi, Firefighter.

I'll use it rarely, I hope! And I also prefer synthetic rope.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Rod1]

Rod1,

I have had both on my ATV. I started out with a Warn and thought I broke it. I ordered a mile marker to replace and found it to be very cheap(I got what I paid for) switch broke before I got it installed. I then returned it and rebuilt my warn(should have done this to begin with). turned out there was a few years that they were making a plactic piece that was a weak point. I got a new piece and regreased it and it workes better than new(total cost was less than $20). My advise go with a Warn. You will pay a little more now but you will never buy a new one. I have 8 guys that I ride four wheelers with (not as much lately) and all have Warn we used them HARD playing in mud and the worst we ended up finding it that piece I told you about. We broke two but had no problems once we relaced them. Warn has upgraded this part now not an issue.

Hi, gsmaneeley.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Rod1]

A buddy of mine has an 8K Mile Marker on his Jeep. It is slow, noisy and high amp draw. I can live with slow. I can live with noisy. I cannot live with high amp draw. Nothing more frustrating than being in a long hard pull and killing your battery. Now you are not only stuck, but you aren't running.

As said above, if all you are planning to do is carry around a winch and only use it once a year or less, doesn't matter what you buy, they'll all do that. If you are planning to use your winch and expect it to retrieve you from a total stuck repeatedly, buy a good winch. In the ATV size I don't think anyone makes a winch as good as a Warn. Also get a synthetic rope.

I've got a Warn 9500TI on my buggy. I can get by with one battery because of the winch speed and low amp draw. It's rated at 67ft per min with no load. I love it when hanging on the rope trying to climb a cliff.

Hi, ovrszd.

I'll use it rarely, I hope, as I said above.

Thank you for the input.

 

[Rod1]

And what about Kolpin and KFI?

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

There is a larger market of producers in the ATV market... Kolpin has a solid name, so I 'd give thier winch a try...

 

[Singalo]

I have a Viper Max 3500# winch on my King Quad. I got the set up at the time through Amazon for $250 shipped with the bike specific mount plate. This too is an American company. The winch came with all the "Kit" that you would expect with any of the top brands. SyntheticBlue Armor cable, in red to match my King. Rubber stopper, Snatch Block, wired Remote and just EXCELLENT cables. I have nothing but good things to say about it. And for the $250, I could not be happier. The phone support is real human beings, and they are a small company, so they have just a handful of super helpful people that work with every customer. If you have not checked them out, I would at least look into them.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I have milemarker 4500lbsfor my prowler but haven't used it much,the switch is big bulky plastic thing,its cheap and looks cheap,and burned the motor up on the milemarker 8,000lbs that goes on Bronco,doing a long pull one night. But both have been sunk in water several times,so if just using every now and then may last. I have also had a warn 2500lbs on my BruteForce that also went out,all mine have had the cable,the rope would be the way to go. I'm sure I had a lot to do with them not lasting

 

[Rod1]

I have a Viper Max 3500# winch on my King Quad. I got the set up at the time through Amazon for $250 shipped with the bike specific mount plate. This too is an American company. The winch came with all the "Kit" that you would expect with any of the top brands. SyntheticBlue Armor cable, in red to match my King. Rubber stopper, Snatch Block, wired Remote and just EXCELLENT cables. I have nothing but good things to say about it. And for the $250, I could not be happier. The phone support is real human beings, and they are a small company, so they have just a handful of super helpful people that work with every customer. If you have not checked them out, I would at least look into them.

Hi, Singalo.

I'll check it too. Thanks for the input.

 

[Rod1]

I have milemarker 4500lbsfor my prowler but haven't used it much,the switch is big bulky plastic thing,its cheap and looks cheap,and burned the motor up on the milemarker 8,000lbs that goes on Bronco,doing a long pull one night. But both have been sunk in water several times,so if just using every now and then may last. I have also had a warn 2500lbs on my BruteForce that also went out,all mine have had the cable,the rope would be the way to go. I'm sure I had a lot to do with them not lasting

Hi, foreman.

Thanks for the input.

 

[alaskakubota]

I have owned many different winches that have been abused in the alaska wilderness for the last 16 years. Places where you are 50 miles out from the road and still have another 200 miles to get back to town.

I think all electric winches are junk. All, I said it. I have owned a milemarker, many warn, ramsey, and a super winch. Every one of them has failed. Some not so bad, some leaving me stranded by myself having to walk back to the truck and taking over 30 hours to do so.

So far, the warranty on the warn has been the best. the latest one on my polaris ranger was fixed for no cost and it broke the case. It has a lifetime warranty on the case but not electric motor which usually fails over time. It still took two months to fix and to authorize. But still it was fixed at no cost.

I now always carry a come along. Just in case. Not fast at all, but I know it works.

Synthetic line is superior except in two situations. One of them was already posted which is the rocks. They will eat the rope. It will fray and will go bad over time. Key is to protect it. Number two is when pulling hard, that rope gets sucked so tight in between the strands on the drum, it is almost impossible to free spool the winch when pulling out. Thats downside. There are many more pros than cons.

If they ever made a hydraulic winch for an atv i would buy it in a heartbeat. Dont care if it weighed 30lbs more. They never fail.

I have three trucks with them on. One is over 15 years old and has always worked. Always. Never failed me once. No battery draw, no duty cycle to worry about, just have to have the motor running and people always tell me about this river crossing that they saw and truck was not running stuff. Never had that issue. Thats the excuse I always hear.

For electric winch on quad, look at the best warranty. It will fail you. You may be stranded too. But what will you have to pay to replace. more money isnt always better.