"Cheap" Warn vs "Top end" Smittybilt winch questions

Here's the deal if you by Warn you can get that cool sticker that says "Go Prepared"...Smittybilt don't have that shit!
 
Guy at the mall: "hey bud, what kind of winch do you have"
You: "Its a Warn VR Series"
Guy at the mall: "Oh, nice! I hear Warn makes one of the best! :thumb: nice jeep"
Guy from the mall after walking away: "what a bad ass jeep"

OR

Guy at the mall: "hey bud, what kind of winch do you have"
You: "Its not a Warn"
Guy at the mall: "Oh, but I heard Warn makes one of the best?"
You: "yeah, they do, but this is just as good. it hasn't failed me once"
Guy from the mall after walking away: "I wonder what other cheap chinese crap plagues that jeep"

If you were buying a winch because you need it, IMO recovery gear/WINCH would NOT be where i choose to SAVE money... this decision would be EASY.

Fast forward to 12:33

 
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DWiggles said:
Guy at the mall: "hey bud, what kind of winch do you have"
You: "Its a Warn VR Series"
Guy at the mall: "Oh, nice! I hear Warn makes one of the best! :thumb: nice jeep"
Guy from the mall after walking away: "what a bad ass jeep"

OR

Guy at the mall: "hey bud, what kind of winch do you have"
You: "Its not a Warn"
Guy at the mall: "Oh, but I heard Warn makes one of the best?"
You: "yeah, they do, but this is just as good. it hasn't failed me once"
Guy from the mall after walking away: "I wonder what other cheap chinese crap plagues that jeep"

If you were buying a winch because you need it, IMO recovery gear/WINCH would NOT be where i choose to SAVE money... this decision would be EASY.

Fast forward to 12:33

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Of all the reasons I can think of why you should buy one brand over another - what some guy at the mall thinks about it has got to be the least important.


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ChiliDawg said:
Of all the reasons I can think of why you should buy one brand over another - what some guy at the mall thinks about it has got to be the least important.


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Resale value could play into it. I know I'd be more skeptical of buying a used Jeep if he put a Smittybuilt on the front because makes me think he cut corners elsewhere as well.

If you're on one it forever though, this doesn't matter like you say.
 
GraniteCrystal said:
Resale value could play into it. I know I'd be more skeptical of buying a used Jeep if he put a Smittybuilt on the front because makes me think he cut corners elsewhere as well.

If you're on one it forever though, this doesn't matter like you say.
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You never get your money back out of your investment when you sell it anyway.

Personally I think if you've got the money and want to buy the brand name, go for it. But I wouldn't steer anyone away from a Smittybuilt because "it's not cool." It's a winch. It's a utility item. And they work. Most of the bigger price tag on a Warn is paying for the brand name. JMO.


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I think Warn's outstanding reputation of quality is why people do pay the higher price.
 
ChiliDawg said:
You never get your money back out of your investment when you sell it anyway.

Personally I think if you've got the money and want to buy the brand name, go for it. But I wouldn't steer anyone away from a Smittybuilt because "it's not cool." It's a winch. It's a utility item. And they work. Most of the bigger price tag on a Warn is paying for the brand name. JMO.


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In 70 degree weather at an offroad park with lots of guys around its a utility item.

Stuck in the snow by yourself miles into a trail that utility item now becomes a safety item.

It all comes down to what you are willing to take a chance on. If you will never be in a life threatening situation with your rig go for what you feel best. I'd just rather
err to the side of caution for a few more hundred bucks.
 
I'll add my input to this:

If I could afford it, I would buy a WARN. But, there's so much other stuff I can spend that extra money on I couldn't justify the WARN so I ended up with a Smittybilt XRC9500. I also don't do any major rock crawling, just little basic stuff and a few ledges here and there. It has worked extremely well for me so far. I say go for the Smittybilt if you only take your Jeep offroad once in a while, but if you find yourself on the rocks once a week or more, a WARN is probably a good investment. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll be happy! Good luck :thumb:
 
Ddays said:
In 70 degree weather at an offroad park with lots of guys around its a utility item.

Stuck in the snow by yourself miles into a trail that utility item now becomes a safety item.

It all comes down to what you are willing to take a chance on. If you will never be in a life threatening situation with your rig go for what you feel best. I'd just rather
err to the side of caution for a few more hundred bucks.
Click to expand...

I think this puts it best into perspective. I agree


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ChiliDawg said:
But I wouldn't steer anyone away from a Smittybuilt because "it's not cool." It's a winch. It's a utility item. And they work.
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LOL! You make it sound like like we're talking about Walmart brand designer jeans versus a pair of Levi's. It is a winch - a "SAFETY" item and while I may not be as experienced as you, I have seen U.S. made WARN winches work reliably again and again and I have seen a ton of China winches that always seem to fail when you really need them to work most.

Most of the bigger price tag on a Warn is paying for the brand name. JMO.
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Funny, I've been to the WARN manufacturing facility in Oregon and watched how they are meticulously made from beginning to end by hard working Americans. It seemed to me that most of what I've paid for was quality materials and skilled labor but then, that's just my opinion. I haven't been to China to see how they make Smittyblit winches.
 
ChiliDawg said:
Of all the reasons I can think of why you should buy one brand over another - what some guy at the mall thinks about it has got to be the least important.


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Click to expand...

ded.gif


exactly. :cheesy:

In my opinion, I just dont understand why ANYONE would waste there money on inferior RECOVERY gear! I bought my winch for when I NEED it, not so it looks pretty on my bumper. clearly SOME people think its better to have "A" winch, rather than "A reliable" winch. I would rather wheel without a winch then wheel with the confidence of "having one" only for it to fail when I need it most... :idontknow:
 
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Ddays said:
In 70 degree weather at an offroad park with lots of guys around its a utility item.

Stuck in the snow by yourself miles into a trail that utility item now becomes a safety item.

It all comes down to what you are willing to take a chance on. If you will never be in a life threatening situation with your rig go for what you feel best. I'd just rather
err to the side of caution for a few more hundred bucks.
Click to expand...

If we were talking about parachutes instead of winches, I'd have to wonder if we would even be having this discussion now.

I would argue that most people don't even need a winch at all especially if they wheel in off road parks with a ton of other guys.
 
wayoflife said:
LOL! You make it sound like like we're talking about Walmart brand designer jeans versus a pair of Levi's. It is a winch - a "SAFETY" item and while I may not be as experienced as you, I have seen U.S. made WARN winches work reliably again and again and I have seen a ton of China winches that always seem to fail when you really need them to work most.



Funny, I've been to the WARN manufacturing facility in Oregon and watched how they are meticulously made from beginning to end by hard working Americans. It seemed to me that most of what I've paid for was quality materials and skilled labor but then, that's just my opinion. I haven't been to China to see how they make Smittyblit winches.
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If they were all American made I'd agree with you but a lot of their winches are made in China now too as I understand so I think that negates that advantage.


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DWiggles said:
ded.gif


exactly. :cheesy:

In my opinion, I just dont understand why ANYONE would waste there money on inferior RECOVERY gear! I bought my winch for when I NEED it, not so it looks pretty on my bumper. clearly SOME people think its better to have "A" winch, rather than "A reliable" winch. I would rather wheel without a winch then wheel with the confidence of "having one" only for it to fail when I need it most... :idontknow:
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I'm not dogging your choice or winch. But mine works fine so I don't think it's a "waste of money." You are of course entitled to a different opinion.


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ChiliDawg said:
If they were all American made I'd agree with you but a lot of their winches are made in China now too as I understand so I think that negates that advantage.
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Negative. What you understand is incorrect. ONLY their VR line of winches are made overseas. As I specifically stated, "I have seen U.S. made WARN winches work reliably again and again" - essentially, EVERYTHING ELSE they make and they are the only winches I would recommend.
 
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