Opinions desired... Smittybilt XRC10 Comp Winch

[Philberto]

Hey again everybody,

Just wanted to see what, if any, opinions you guys have on the Smittybilt XRC10 comp winch with the synthetic line. I like what it has to offer, and I like the price point, especially compared to buying the line separately.

Pic:

[The Roadie]

[LAZY MODE ON]
You''re going to make me Google for the price and vendors? Whiney, whiney.....

[cowboy63645]

$599.99 through top gun customz...not a bad price! Would it be cheaper to order the $399.99 version and buy the synthetic rope seperate?

[Philberto]

I know how much it is and everything... sorry, should have specified... more concerned with your personal opinions on the thing... reliability, brand, etc.

[cowboy63645]

I personally have no personal experiance with the Smittybuilt winches, although I know alot of people run them here locally and they have nothing but good things to say about them, and they seem to be very reliable with no ill affects. I will talk to a few people around here and see what, or if they have had any trouble with them and if so what the problem was.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I got 3 jeep buddies that traded their Warns in for XRC's. I plan to run one in the future.

[teebes]

So far so good with my smitty. If it acts up I'll be sure to holler at yea.

Best advice I can offer is to make sure to practice with it, tighten it properly, etc. Also, when going alone on trails, make sure it works before you actually need it

Make sure to budget for necessary accessories, too. Winches aren't that useful without the goodies: snatch block, bunch of shackles, extra tree straps, extra syn rope, chain, etc. Easily a couple hundred extra to be able to actually use the winch on occasions that actually require a winch (and not simply a tug from a buddy).

What bumper are you thinking about??

[Philberto]

So far so good with my smitty. If it acts up I'll be sure to holler at yea.

Best advice I can offer is to make sure to practice with it, tighten it properly, etc. Also, when going alone on trails, make sure it works before you actually need it

Make sure to budget for necessary accessories, too. Winches aren't that useful without the goodies: snatch block, bunch of shackles, extra tree straps, extra syn rope, chain, etc. Easily a couple hundred extra to be able to actually use the winch on occasions that actually require a winch (and not simply a tug from a buddy).

What bumper are you thinking about??

Good to hear, didn't realize you had a smitty too. I'm looking at a custom tube job from Neil, but have to actually talk to him and figure out a price so I can save up for it. I'm also really, really looking into a central mounted winch a la foers winch system, but haven't figured if it'll be possible yet. Do you have the 10k winch or the 8.5k winch?

[Trail X]

I'd definitely get synthetic rope for any winch, which is really the main positive that winch has going for it.

I hate the wire rope for two reasons. Wire has memory... so it kinks up all the time and unspools as soon as you release the winch clutch. And the wire is heavy... so it adds something like 40-50 lbs to the winch. The only good thing about wire is it's toughness. You can run it over a rock and not have to worry about chafe guards, etc.

I considered the Smitty winch too, because of the decent price and that it already comes with synthetic. I read a good number of positive reviews, however, as in any situation, you get what you pay for. So obviously Smitty is cutting corners somewhere vs. the competitors. You're probably getting a little less power and some cheaper materials here and there.

I imagine it will be fine for occasional use as long as you care for it well. Be sure to check the syn rope after each use. I'd also buy a cover for it if you plan to leave it on the vehicle in order to prolong the life of the components. It's amazing what sunlight and rain can do in short order.

I'm also really, really looking into a central mounted winch a la foers winch system, but haven't figured if it'll be possible yet. Do you have the 10k winch or the 8.5k winch?

You'll really be hard pressed to find the room for the winch between the frame rails under your seat. Another thing to consider there, is that you have to find room to run the cable to the back of the vehicle, then run it to the front. The cable requires a straight line... and if you're using syn rope... you can't run it anywhere near anything hot. You also won't be able to get the rope to lay nice and straight in the spool... because you won't be able to get to it... and how would you unlock the clutch? Sorry... not trying to be negative Nancy with the idea... but it would be a huge undertaking.

[Philberto]

good points james. I haven't gotten around to mocking up a winch-sized cardboard box and strings yet, but that will definitely be something I do before I get around to doing anything. As far as unlocking the clutch, that can be accomplished with a stepper motor or linkage, probably a linkage. If I remember the picture correctly, the guy had the winch mounted so that it was accessible from inside the vehicle, and I may be able to utilize the recessed area in the cargo area for something like that if I want to. As far as getting the line in order on the spool, I could also devise something like they have on bait-casting reels, a gear-driven opening in the fairlead that aligns the line with the appropriate area on the spool based on the spool RPM. Another thing I likely wouldn't have to worry about if I made it cabin-accessible. All things that would have to be worked out, and also, all things that may make me choose to just stick with a perma-mounted front winch on a tube bumper. Let me know of any potential problems I face, though, because I value your input very much on this.

[Trail X]

If you used steel cable you could run it through bent pipe in order to get the line from the rear to the front of the vehicle. With large enough radii on the bends, I don't forsee any issues. You'd need to use a high strength corrosion proof pipe. Just don't plan to have your front line in the center of your bumper.

As for level winding of the winch... a geared guide mechanism is certainly an option, if more complicated than you need. I saw this a while back, thought it was interesting... albeit I think it only works with steel wire.

http://www.awdirect.com/ramsey-level-wi ... ensioners/

[bartonmd]

If you used steel cable you could run it through bent pipe in order to get the line from the rear to the front of the vehicle. With large enough radii on the bends, I don't forsee any issues. You'd need to use a high strength corrosion proof pipe. Just don't plan to have your front line in the center of your bumper.

With any real load, I see that wearing through the inside corners of the pipes in short order...


Also, some of the parts may be slightly cheaper on the smitty winch, but I don't think anyone will argue that you're paying Warn at least a little bit for the name, when you buy a Warn winch...

Mike

[HARDTRAILZ]

I also have seen more problem with Warn...They are about the last winch I would own now. I used to think they were the best, but seeing them fail in person has taught me otherwise.

[Trail X]

With any real load, I see that wearing through the inside corners of the pipes in short order...

Yeah, there will be some wear... but it'd be better than a steel fairlead, which can be used with steel cable. It wears some, but not a bunch. As long as the steel is an appropriate alloy, I think it'd last a good while. Granted, it's all opinions either way. I see no other obvious alternative.

[Philberto]

I agree, my only other alternative is to find straight lines for the cable runs and use snatch blocks (properly mounted to the frame) for the corners. Could get expensive for the blocks though.

[bgwolfpack]

Hey Philberto, you have any pics of this or diagrams? Not of what your thinking but what you've seen.

[Philberto]

I'll do you one better... here is the site where I first learned of the idea: http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/Foers/Winch.html

Here is a patent: http://www.google.com/patents?id=bNAKAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

And I did some more reading, and as long as the winch is sufficiently far from the fairlead, then wire/rope won't bunch up when winding. Should eliminate the need for a tensioner, and simplify everything. The patent makes everything much easier to figure out.

Also, the plan would be to have the line come out at one of the frame rails in front. No need for a center mounted line, since I could always use a snatch block and recovery hook mounted on the other frame rail.

[bgwolfpack]

It's too bad winches only pull in one rotation direction.

[Philberto]

What do you mean? The winch doesn't need to be able to pull in any other rotation direction as far as I can tell... Unless you have some other idea in mind.

[bgwolfpack]

What do you mean? The winch doesn't need to be able to pull in any other rotation direction as far as I can tell... Unless you have some other idea in mind.

Dual cable. Spun opposite directions, sent both for and aft. Not sure what to do with the slack cable though.