Hello,

I've started to prepare my 80's Series Land Cruiser for a RTW trip I am planning and I am now trying to decide on what winch to put on it. The guys who are helping me with the car gave me 3 options, but I am also open to other ideas:

- SuperWinch TS9500
- SuperWinch TS11500
- Warn Tabor 10000

What are your opinions on these three models and which one (if any) would you recommend? Do you have other winches in mind?

I probably won't use it very often, by the way, and speed will not be an issue. So, basically, I am looking for something easy to use and mantain and reliable to get me out of a jam, not some top of the line tool to throw my money away on

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts,

Alex

On the recommendation of my mechanic, who has used and abused one for years, I went for a winchmax 13000 for my 60 series. The price is remarkable, yet they seem to be very well made with a full spares backup, in the unlikely event you might need spares, which he never has. It isn't the fastest winch on the market, he has used it on challenge events and struggled with the speed compared to other competitors, but like you that's not an issue for me. I just needed reliability and a good price.

Here you will find severall comparison tests and reviews who may help you to choose:




4x4tripping: Vergleichstest Seilwinden: Warn, Horn, TJM, Tiger uvm inkl. Video

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Thanks for your input

Actually, I think the first question I should have asked is: do I really need a winch? What is you experience in this matter? Do you have winches on your 4x4s? How often did you have to use them while overlanding?

where are you planning to travel and will you be a solo vehicle, I thinks these are 2 things to consider, a winch will be no good if you have nothing to winch off

I don't have a winch but have only done 3 trips to Morocco twice with other vehicles so a winch wasn't necessary

the TDS Goldfish from Goodwinch is highly recommended and in the sameprice bracket.

Its waterproof so it may actually work when you want it!

Use a ground anchor or bury your spare wheel (on its FLAT) to winch off if solo and there are no handy trees.

Remember you need a decent recovery kit to actually use a winch effectively, and you know how to use it properly and safely.

You don't need a winch...... until you need it, its extra weight and expense unless you are going remote places.


Where are you planning to travel?

I plan a 2 year long RTW trip,including roughly Africa, the Middle East, India, the Stans, The Far East and the Americas. The exact route is still
to be determined, depending on a lot of factors,not the least important pf which will be the political situation in 2 and a half years,when I plan to leave. There will be only one vehicle basically... I am still worhout any experience in recovery at this time, but I intend to get prepared until I leave.

Boddah, which market (country) are you buying the winch in ? take a moment to fill out your location in your profile, then its easier for us to know where you are buying gear etc. UK Im guessing currently?

I have had a Superwinch X9 on the D90 for 19 years with no problems and a Warn XD9500 on the D2, both good winches. I have used the X9 in Mali, my buddy got his TLC well and truly stuck (almost to bodywork) in a patch of deep soft sand and and I couldn't pull him out with a KERR as the 90 only just made it through on its own, so the winch was used with digging and sand mats.

Whilst winches see very little use overlanding and lots of people argue that they are a waste of money, when you need one they are invaluable and for travelling solo IMO whilst not essential, they are a good idea.

Warn describe the Tabor as 'budget' and its not actually available in the USA, so Im concerned this unit series has cheaper components, it also has a higher current draw than the Superwinch units at max load.

Generally Warn has a faster pull rate than most other makes, which is better for competitions, but in the real world you want a slower more controlled pull rate especially when doing self recovery, but they do make good (premium) winches, use of a pulley block will slow the line pull down though.

Im not a huge fan of the TigerShark (TS) Superwinches either, they cannot use synthetic rope as the drums run too hot and are again built to a price.

In the UK, as liammons mentions id seriously look at Goodwinch range, David Bowyer has been building winches for well over 20 years, what he doesn't know about them isn't worth knowing, whilst he is running a business and trying to sell units, he is a genuine guy and is very helpful. The goldfish series look pretty good, not the cheapest, but quality gear seldom is.

If you buy a winch, consider doing a course and make yourself familiar with using it to its potential and learn how dangerous they can be too. You should also take a pulley block (swingaway are best) a couple of tree strops and small, med, large D rings, also make sure you have strong recovery points 2 x front and 2x rear on your vehicle.

Just looked at the Winchmax 13000 Moggy suggested, it looks pretty good too, decent current draw, line speed similar to a Warn, but overall worth considering too.

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Thomas PTO, simply the best !

@Gipper: I live in Romania, actually, which means everything which is available in the UK should als be available where I live, albeit a little bit more expensive, probably.
Thank you for all the sound advice, I'm not sure there are such courses in Romania, but I will most definitely be able to find more experienced enthusiasts who will help me learn all I need to know.

@Gipper: is the synthetic rope such a big advantage? I gather it is lighter than the normal cable and it is probably easier to wind, but is it really worth the difference?

A wire rope works just as well , but is heavier , can be spikier, and if it parts is slightly more danger . Synthetic rope , can melt , get damaged easier, cost more , etc , so you pays your money and makes your choice !

+1 with Tacr2man, though IME a synthetic rope loses its energy instantly and goes 'dead' with much less danger, a wire cable, having much more weight (especially a thicker cable on a higher rated winch) is extremely dangerous if it goes under high tension, Ive seen a couple of wire cables go and both times the users were lucky to not get injured.

You have to be careful handling both types, cables fray and synthetic can get snagged and catch, id much rather use synthetic any day, its very easy to handle, doesn't kink or twist and super light (about 15% of the weight of a wire cable) they do need to be kept clean, if you can afford it then I would recommend using synthetic.

You also have to use a smooth aluminium hawse fairlead with synthetics, which saves a little weight and has the benefit of not snagging over or under the vertical side rollers at acute winching angles as roller fairleads can.

__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

I've not needed a winch on my travels, but I have needed a good bull bar for an errant bovine in Africa, and the only way you can legally fit a bullbar in the UK is to have it fitted with a winch, so I did. 24v Winchmax 1300lbs with synthetic rope, for safety, weight, corrosion resistance, handling and ease of single handed operation (less likely to be damaged winding onto the drum if it doesn't go on straight.)

under £400