Smittybilt XRC8 8,000lb winch

[FlyingWil]

Just curious as to what you guys think about the Smittybilt XRC-8 8,000lb winch.

It is the new guy on the winch market, my wife ordered one for testing in her Xterra. I plan on testing it, and was wondering what other's think. I know the typical response is it is not a Warn... blah blah blah... But new and better products do come around and the price is right at under $300.

[ChickenLover]

Less than $300 for a winch? You are a brave man.

A winch is a tool of necessity. IMHO, you'd be crazy to go with anything less than the best.. Warn has a great reputation, and for good reason.

[Intrepidyota]

There was a thread on pirate about it, apparently it works great. It isn't the fastest, but the quality is good. I will see if I can find it.

Anyone who judges "the best" by price alone is a sucker.


*edit- here it is

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=590833

[Good Times]

interesting product and the pirate thread. keep us informed on your field testing. will make it interesting as I'm searchin for a few parts now.

[slosurfer]

Looking forward to your testing on it. I will be in the market for one soon.

[FlyingWil]

Just checked in on it... they are saying another couple of weeks due to the back order problem they are having... what a pain in the ___!

Will update once we have it.


Oh, and on a side note... my wife asked me if she can get some Viking Trail line to reduce the weight (she also has a Shrockworks front bumper) and increase the safety aspect of it... Now, that's freaking cool! Just too bad it is for an Xterra... But it is her vehicle!
http://lh4.google.com/flyingwil/RtPLWMhwf7I/AAAAAAAABEk/fxPUlL_SCts/s400/IMG_2332.JPG

[Good Times]

cool deal. those amsteel lines are the best :) as for the xterra comment. hey at least she's using it right? :) it's not a toyota but those nissan's are pretty durable on the trail. their suspension is something else but overall it's not bad for the price point.

[wifesaysimadumbass]

wait hold up your wife is asking you for parts for her off road rig.......???? long pause......... you have yourself a winner

[slosurfer]

When does she get her own RTT?

[Good Times]

any updates on the testing? I heard that 4wheel parts is gonna price adjust by the end of the month to $500 so if it's really all that then I'm going to pick one up. Since my m8000 cracked in half from my mishaps this cheap alternative is something I'm considering.

[FlyingWil]

We finally got the winch in.

Installation was pretty straight froward.
1.) Remove Bumper
2.) Install Winch via mounting holes
3.) Wire in winch
4.) Re-Mount bumper

Bumper removed:
http://lh3.google.com/flyingwil/RuhxiBr6qzI/AAAAAAAABJI/s46ADexf0pY/s800/IMG_2473.JPG

Frame horns got some POR to address the rust issues:
http://lh4.google.com/flyingwil/RuhxjRr6q0I/AAAAAAAABJQ/agT_Ju7llD4/s800/IMG_2474.JPG

Prior to installation we wanted to take a good look at the internals of the winch:
http://lh6.google.com/flyingwil/Ruhxlxr6q2I/AAAAAAAABJg/nEH5PWWZN1c/s800/IMG_2476.JPG

http://lh4.google.com/flyingwil/RuhxnRr6q3I/AAAAAAAABJo/yTJGh3Lhp0U/s800/IMG_2477.JPG

I am glad we decided to look inside. Look what we found.
http://lh6.google.com/flyingwil/Ruhxsxr6q6I/AAAAAAAABKA/Nn5Cfa5nGms/s800/IMG_2480.JPG

Unfortunately this was not the only spot we found Styrofoam packed into the grease! We re packed the winch with grease and in total found 9 balls of Styrofoam (the size of a BB). You can 4 other "chunks" in the picture above (wiped on the cardboard).


With the Shrockworks front bumper the winch mounts with the bottom of the winch facing the front (so to speak on its side). With this configuration the winch had to be clocked so that the clutch handle could be easily reached. Clocking required removing the 10 screws on the clutch housing as in the picture below:
http://lh6.google.com/flyingwil/Ruhx1xr6rCI/AAAAAAAABLE/L4M6s-LzSbM/s800/IMG_2488.JPG

The solenoid (control box) is not water tight and is overly large for what was in it. With the bumper it would not allow enough room in to mount the unit using the bracket included with the XRC-8. We drilled out the rivets that held the plastic cover on and the solenoid to the base plate. The bracket that held it to the base plate fit perfectly on a cross member on the front of the Xterra.

http://lh4.google.com/flyingwil/Ruhx3Rr6rDI/AAAAAAAABLM/rSUvpMk3ZEA/s800/IMG_2489.JPG

Since the Shrockworks bumper has a location for a winch plug in, we relocate the controller plug there. I wonder who makes the SmittyBilt winch?

http://lh6.google.com/flyingwil/Ruhx7xr6rII/AAAAAAAABL0/uBGSssVIpcE/s800/IMG_2494.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/flyingwil/RuhyJBr6rWI/AAAAAAAABNk/AvH00VGYkPk/s800/IMG_2508.JPG
So once all the wires were installed and connected the bumper went back on...

http://lh6.google.com/flyingwil/Ruhx_xr6rMI/AAAAAAAABMU/cCHrQOr9CUA/s800/IMG_2498.JPG

http://lh6.google.com/flyingwil/RuhyBxr6rOI/AAAAAAAABMk/CcpNOdCp5O0/s800/IMG_2500.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/flyingwil/RuhyEBr6rQI/AAAAAAAABM0/yzXDIsvuMV4/s800/IMG_2502.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/flyingwil/RuhyFBr6rRI/AAAAAAAABM8/oU8pdjBcbzU/s800/IMG_2503.JPG

http://lh3.google.com/flyingwil/RuhyKBr6rXI/AAAAAAAABNs/1StqwM1ZtuA/s800/IMG_2509.JPG

http://lh4.google.com/flyingwil/RuhySRr6rhI/AAAAAAAABPA/g6L_cynQw6c/s800/IMG_2519.JPG


Looks good all and all. Now to just go out and test it!

Seemed comparable to the Mile Marker's in sound from what I have used. As shown in the picture above, Mile Marker Labels were found on the wire markings after cutting through shrink wrap and a protective cover... so it might just be a re-badged Mile Marker.

Things in Common With the Mile Marker PE8000:

Roller Fairlead
Control Box Mounting bracket
Winch Control
Weight
Drum Size
Motor
Overall Dimensions (LxWxH)


Haven't used it off the pavement yet (it's our grocery getter, but on the pavement line speeds seem comprable to the MM PE8000, not too slow, not too fast.

[Good Times]

man still tempting... I've been reading the pirate thread for some time now and man I really want to get it but I'm still hesitant... ugh... thanks for the update :)

[FlyingWil]

man still tempting... I've been reading the pirate thread for some time now and man I really want to get it but I'm still hesitant... ugh... thanks for the update :)


I would wait... and see how it goes with them... the price around $300 should be good through the end of October. (Our company can get them at that price through then at least). Due to the Styrofoam in the grease, we will not be stocking them nor advertising them, as they are not up to our spec's. If indeed this is a 100% MM made product, we will be dropping the MM brand all together. What factory would just allow that to slide? That is totaly unacceptable in my book. No customer should hever have to take a brand new product apart and look to see if the product is contaminated.

[Good Times]

good point. I'll definitely take that into consideration and hold off for the time being. Keep us posted on your ongoing research on this product.

thanks!

[ecchamberlin]

I will start by admitting that I know very little about winches.

I understand that from a venders point of view the styrofoam in the grease is an issue but...and this is a serious question... would those small pieces really effect the operation of the unit in a considerable way?

[slosurfer]

Eric, good question. I was wondering the same thing.

[Robinhood4x4]

would those small pieces really effect the operation of the unit in a considerable way?


I doubt it. The winch wouldn't even know they're there. I'd be more concerned if there were no grease or if there was dirt in there.

[ecchamberlin]

And I was sort of thinking that also.

Anybody have a different take on this?

[slosurfer]

I'm guessing, the problem isn't the foam, but if those get in, what else will get in or what else are they not catching that is finding its way in there. If the QC at the factory isn't catching this, what are they catching? Or, if it found its way in during shipping, God knows what will work its way in there during days of offroading. I'm guessing that is what is running through the mind of someone who may offer to sell these and wants to maintain the high standards of products that they are known for selling. Is this sounding about right, flyingwil?

I'm still very interested in how these turn out with all the real live tests.

[ecchamberlin]

Good point Chris. I have not seen anyone here or on Adv4X4 who have pushed one of these things hard yet. THat is of coarse the real test.

Again as a vendor I respect that his standards are so high. I wish all the vendors had these excellent standards. But as a consumer....

I think considering how the pieces are in the grease it is pretty certain that it happened during assembly. Yes?

[slosurfer]

I think considering how the pieces are in the grease it is pretty certain that it happened during assembly. Yes?


I hear ya, about the "as a consumer" Especially as consumers like you and me who do a lot of research before buying and usually know what we are getting into and the pros and cons of what we are getting.

I don't know which is worse, foreign object entering during assembly or it just working its way in during shipping. I'm also wondering what the percentage would be of finding similar stuff in other top of the line winches, if taken apart right out of the box. :headscratch:

I really want to see some hard testing done on these before they jack the prices up. Although I will probably find something else I "need" before then anyways, lol.

[FlyingWil]

I think considering how the pieces are in the grease it is pretty certain that it happened during assembly. Yes?


I agree they got there during installation in the factory.

My thought is that the pieces are plastic, although minute enough not to be a concern. Winches heat up when working under load. All you need is for it to melt and then harden once cool creating an effect like superglue. Gluing gears together is not good, especially in the clutch assembly. A bind in the location they were found might create an issue engaging or disengaging, and that is my concern.

My other thought is if it were to harden into a small ball, using cooling from the grease, it could create enough of a bind/jam in making the winch useless when you need to engage it to recover due to the blockage from the hardened ball.

[fordman49450]

Ok, I purchased one of these about a month ago. I tore it down to re-clock the engagement lever. Anyways there was no styrofoam in mine. As far as testing, I installed it on my 94 Ranger ext cab 4x4. you can see at www.dskellogg.com/ranger.html .. I also have one for my toyota, but I havnt fabricated a bumper yet. Anyways, we had a bad snow storm a week ago. I was headed to the U.P and I was going on a seasonal road and I had a guy wave me down. He had a 3/4 ton GMC with a pop up camper, he slid down a ravine. The sides were about 65 degree's on this ravine and he was burried. I told him I dont think I can help him, but he insisted. So, I tied my rear bumper via chain to a big oak tree, free-spooled my line down to him, added my extra cable through a snatch block and back up to the truck. I started winding the cable and the guy had broken a front axle shaft, so he only had 2wd. I pulled the truck and the camper all the way up the enbakement with no problem, no overheating or anything. a few days later, I helped get a Semi with trailer (unloaded) out of a ditch with it. It works great, I will order another for a spare. Also, I had a intermittent problem with my remote, and Smittybilt sent me another one, no questions asked, all I had to do was fax a copy of my receipt.

[Marc P]

Good to hear....mine is currently sitting on my garage floor waiting to be installed.

[97kurt]

Finally, some good feedback. I'm gonna put an order in so I can get started on my front bumper.

[Marc P]

Finally got mine installed. Everything looks and works good so far. I added a small bracket to the control box so I wouldnt need to cut the grill. I like it better at an angle, and I still have plenty of room to plug the remote in.

Here is a cell phone pic......

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/1222071249.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/1222071412.jpg

[FlyingWil]

You can take the Solenoid out of the box, it is only 1/4 the size of the control box, and mount it remotely.


On a side note, line speed pull is a bit on slow side when compared to the Warn M8000. I personally am fighting the Warn/T-Max issue right now.

[97kurt]

Well, looks like there is a new version of this winch and of course I got the older one.

Mine:
http://www.kurtandnichole.com/gallery2/d/8378-2/IMG_4535.JPG


New one:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h109/soilantgreen/SoB/DSCN1841.jpg



Also here is a pic of the solenoid outside of the box.
http://www.kurtandnichole.com/gallery2/d/8337-2/IMG_4505.JPG