Winch Make/Model

[KNorthcutt]

I have a 2004. 5 3500 4x4 with SRW, what brand would you all recommend and what size winch would be best for my truck.

 

[Billy Diesel]

If you are going to wheel your truck, we used the rule that the winch should be rated for 1. 5 times the weight of your truck. That being said, I would recommend a 10,000-15,000# winch. I have heard good things about Warn and Mile Marker winches in that size range. Haven't heard anything, good or bad, about the Ramsey

 

[MKoth]

Warn has a new 16,500 pound winch on the market. A little spendy, but a good product.

 

[jkalchik]

Billy's 1. 5x recommendation is right on the money.



I've got a Warn XD9000i on my modified Jeep Cherokee. Whether you go electric or hydraulic seems to be a little of a religious debate. With the dual batteries on a CTD, I'd expect electrics to be more favored.



Ramsey has a bit of a bad rep in my little corner of the world, both for product that isn't quite so good, and for occasional crummy customer service. YMMV.

 

[FTwardoch]

I've had a 12K lb Warn on my K5 and felt it was great. Great reputation, great service and a proven product.

 

[opjohnny]

I would wait till the power wagon was out. It has a winch on the front of it. When the Jeep rubicon came out the price of goodyear mtr's in the oem size for that jeep dropped like a rock. If Dodge is buying a bunch of these winches for the pw the price will come down for that winch. Economies of scale. Don't know if your in a big hurry or not.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

"If I were a rich man, da ba da doo" I would have a Mile Marker hydraulic.



As it is I have a second hand Warn. The old upright style. Works just fine and inexpensive. doo da ba da.

 

[y-knot]

I think there is only one real choice to make, that would be Milemarker and their 12,000lb model. They also have a 9,000lb model for about one hundred less. The truck is new and will most likely be driven on road with the winch mounted in some aftermarket bumper. Most of the time, all right 99% of the time the winch will set there and just take up space, but that is OK. You are ready for it's use if the occasion should arrive. The price of the MileMarker 12,000 is very low thanks to the US Army contract given to Milemarker to equip most every Hummer with one. They can be had for about 600 bucks which make them a steal. They are perfect for the Dodge and will do anything you could possibly ask of them. Matter of fact, they are so good for the Dodge, that Dodge themselves choose Milemarker to be the standard 12,000lb winch on the new Power Wagon. Go with MileMarker, they provide a great winch at a great price.

 

[dresslered]

Yes, there are pros and cons to going electric or hydraulic, but I chose to go with the Warn M15000. Though it is a little pricier, I haven't regretted the decision. Though I'm not knocking the Milemarker, I sure wouldn't choose a brand based on the US Army or Dodge for that matter (i. e. low bidder).

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Choose your style, electric or hydraulic. If you go electric get a Warn. And get the 16. 5. Its worth every penny. 1. 5x the trucks weight is good, 2x is better. I will be getting one sometime in the next year to replace the one I stole off my F-150 (Warn HS9500i, some pull is better than no pull).



If you want hydraulic go to the MileMarker. Good product from what I've seen.



Stay away from Ramsey. I work with them at work and they are a peice of junk. Motors burn out to often, gear system for free spooling hangs up, remotes need work every so often. To many failures.

 

[kober]

That 16. 5 Warn is one heavy SOB, almost too heavy for one person to lug around. Also, unless your hitch/mount is rated at 16,500 lbs you're wasting your money. It's for that reason I went with the Warn XD9000i. Plenty of power, I can mount/dismount the beast without breaking my back and if you need more pull simply use a snatch block.

Just my 2 cantavos.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

True the 16. 5 is heavy. Its not made to be moved around. Those hitch mount setups aren't strong to start with anyways. Any kind of hard pull with much angle in relation to the direction the truck is facing will bend or tear the unit off.



That is why you put on a heavy duty bumper capable of handling it. Most hitch setups aren't rated to tow more than 10k. Get a bumper that is made for a winch.



The most important thing is to consider what you want it to do and what makes you happy. Otherwise none of our opinions matter.

 

[MKoth]

Matter of fact, they are so good for the Dodge, that Dodge themselves choose Milemarker to be the standard 12,000lb winch on the new Power Wagon.

No, I believe they went with the 12,000lb Warn. That is what every article I have read, or picture I have seen, says.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I bought a 12,000# Mile Marker for my equipment trailer. It works great!! Very Very happy with it. I have it running off the power steering pump and it pulled a 17,000# farm tractor (IH5088) with dual rear wheel up the ramp to a 33" deck single line no problem. The 8,000# ramsey I had before would not do that with a snatch block in line!

 

[KB0OU]

I have a 9,000 lb Superwinch, it works great, has for a long time.

 

[JMcCoy]

I agree there are both pros and cons to electric or hydraulic.

hydraulic-Pro:light/strong con: If truck doesn't run(sunk etc. )it does you no good.

Electric-Pro: strong/works w/ engine not running. Con: heavy/kills battery quite fast.

Pick your poison!

 

[CFAR]

http://www.winchesplus.com/index.html



I don't think you can beat these guys on price.



12k hydrolic for less than the price of a XD9000i warn.