Badland winch from Harbor Freight

[Firedude]

I bought a HF winch a couple years back. Used a couple of times, no issues. Getting ready to relocate it to my equipment trailer cause if it fails, it won't be critical. Buying a new Sherpa for the Bronco, cause I can't tolerate a failure in this application. Guess I'm buying peace of mind.

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[chtucker]

Guess that answers that question. Thanks.

Almost everything else Warn winch is assembled in the USA from "global" parts. I think the 8274 is the only winch product that could be considered USA made anymore.

 

[Mitragorz]

Matt's Off Road Recovery uses Badlands winches exclusively.

 

[Flourman]

I had one on my YJ. I never used it before I sold the Jeep with it on it. They seem like a good unit. I’d say go with the Apex series as they come with a synthetic rope and wireless controller.

There are a lot of people that run the steel cable ones with no issue. I think most of the issues are going to come from the “buy American” crowd or the people that look down their nose because it doesn’t say “Warn” on the winch.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

I bought a HF winch a couple years back. Used a couple of times, no issues. Getting ready to relocate it to my equipment trailer cause if it fails, it won't be critical. Buying a new Sherpa for the Bronco, cause I can't tolerate a failure in this application. Guess I'm buying peace of mind.

I just checked them out. They have a mustang, colt, and steed. They definitely need a Bronco!

 

[onetong8r]

I'm late to the show but I've used HF winches on two past Jeeps. On my JK I replaced the cable with synthetic rope. I probably used it 20X or so to pull myself out of the mud or help get someone else out. I never had an issue with either one and would definitely buy one again.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

I'm late to the show but I've used HF winches on two past Jeeps. On my JK I replaced the cable with synthetic rope. I probably used it 20X or so to pull myself out of the mud or help get someone else out. I never had an issue with either one and would definitely buy one again.

Thanks for your input!

 

[MaverickMan]

Well I have owned 3 of the regular badlands 12000lb units over the last 12 years. My current one is 3.5 years old and going strong, however I did replace the $45 solenoid. But mine sat fully exposed for 3 years in the tropics. So corrosion happens fast out here. The other 2 I had were sold on vehicles to sweeten the deal. The only other failure I have had with them is one had the cable pile up while my spotter wasnt watching as I pulled a suburban out of a slop pit from the opposite end of the truck since he had no recovery points on the rear. Turned him in a 180 then puled him out. All with a cj7 butted against a tree. So the cable piled on one side of the spool and broke one of the ears holing the cross bars. I did some fabricating with old fence parts and put it back together. Worked fine for another year till I sold the jeep.

As for the new apex ones they do address quirks with the $300 model on it so I think it should be a good deal to have that warn look, coupled with smittybuilt range quality. They arent fast but they pull.

 

[Daktari]

I'll be getting one of the Apex models, just watched some videos yesterday, once guy had it on his jeep for a year and pulled himself up things that looked like waterfalls, not anything near what I'd ever consider a 'trail' and it worked flawless. So powerful that it bent his mounting plate and that cracked the housing of the electronics on top, so he took the whole thing apart to fix it, everything looked very well made and tough.

I will NEVER be driving up anything like what that guy did, so I'll be fine for ever. Plus while dorky, a badland on a badlans is just a bit of added silly fun IMO.

I also like the wireless controller and everything you get in the box seemed of great quality. Don't care where it's made as long as it's good if the price difference is this big. It's capitalism at work and my wallet is not fat enough to fight global economies.

Current plan is to have it hitch mounted and get a hitch receiver in the front, but I won't be needing it for a while. If I get my Bronco in late summer my chance of taking it on tougher trails in Moab etc will be gone as the kids will be back in school.

Most of the youtubers I've seen got their's for free with no strings attached. Here it is, play with it, say what you want about it, seems HF stands behind the quality of this thing.

This is the video I watched, just something random that showed up on YT for me:

 

[Tonka Bronka]

I'll be getting one of the Apex models, just watched some videos yesterday, once guy had it on his jeep for a year and pulled himself up things that looked like waterfalls, not anything near what I'd ever consider a 'trail' and it worked flawless. So powerful that it bent his mounting plate and that cracked the housing of the electronics on top, so he took the whole thing apart to fix it, everything looked very well made and tough.

I will NEVER be driving up anything like what that guy did, so I'll be fine for ever. Plus while dorky, a badland on a badlans is just a bit of added silly fun IMO.

I also like the wireless controller and everything you get in the box seemed of great quality. Don't care where it's made as long as it's good if the price difference is this big. It's capitalism at work and my wallet is not fat enough to fight global economies.

Current plan is to have it hitch mounted and get a hitch receiver in the front, but I won't be needing it for a while. If I get my Bronco in late summer my chance of taking it on tougher trails in Moab etc will be gone as the kids will be back in school.

Most of the youtubers I've seen got their's for free with no strings attached. Here it is, play with it, say what you want about it, seems HF stands behind the quality of this thing.

This is the video I watched, just something random that showed up on YT for me:

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[redone17]

I know this is an old thread, but I figured better than starting a new one.

Anyone have an issue where OUT doesn’t work wirelessly? I assume perhaps it’s the 2032 batteries in the remote that may need replacing - but, why only OUT?

Thankfully I keep the wire coiled up and tucked away under the hood. Had some tree work to take care of.

 

[Roger123]

I’ll have to watch more video. I know it’s stupid but it would be cool to have a Badland branded winch on a Badlands Bronco.

Watch a few episodes of Matt's Off-Road Recovery, they seem to put them through the wringer.

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