I've had a Warn MX6500 on a channel mount on my CJ-7 since 1986. The channel mount is cheap, simple, and there is no better winch than a Warn. I can't remember how many times I've used it, nver a problem. Only had to rescue myself a couple times, the zillion other times have been unstucking others, usually foreign sport utes!

Brad
ORC Land Use Section Editor
http://www.off-road.com/land

 

i will say this.. if you plan on using this winch.. and possibly doing some hard core wheeling in the next 10 years.. get a warn... and get one with an internal soleniod pac.. i have a XD8000i and its been a life saver.. many times over.. your winch's rating should be twice your vehicle weight.. and as for mounting.. i would go right from the start with the multi mount.. might be one of the cheapest ways.. you can get the mount for 25-32 bucks.. and then all you do is put a reciever on the front/back of your jeep.. run some cables.. and some hook up points for power.. and whalla... trust me on this..
i had it mounted hard to the front.. worked well.. i just put a reciever hitch on the rear bumper.. for $13, and putting one on the front for $21, will have all of this on my website in a week or so..

survival is instinct, but living takes guts

http://www.jeepgod.net

 

Warn gets the most votes, I prefer the model 8274 which is an 8,000 lb. It has the fastest retrieval speed under no load. The newer versions are pretty pricey and I have seen and experienced good things with the new 9500 which is suppose to be as fast as the 8274. Why is this important?.....usually the actual stuck part is only a few feet but the line you have to pay out could be most of your total line. You spend most of the time just getting the line back on the drum. 8274 can hold between 125-150 feet.... most other model only hold 100. draw back on the 8274 is the radiator blockage factor compared to the newer low profile models.
Mine is the portable 8,0000 warn. had it 7 yrs only used it twice off the rear, but left it at home twice in the rush to get on the trail...oops! It just burned up the motor this year, now has newer twice as strong replacement motor from warn.
-Will

.

 

I have a ramsey pro9000 and a old warn 8274 with the the channel mounts. The warn is nice but the ramsey is a low profile which helps in the cooling department. ken

 

I have a Warn 9500i on a Warn mount and a Durango winch bumper. No complaints at all!

'86 CJ-7, 258, T-176, Dana 44 w/TrueTrac, 4:11s, Weber, HEI, Borla header, Warn HS9500i

 

Ramsey 9000 with Warn mount and roller fairlead. This has worked well for me through out the years, I prefer Ramsey as others prefer Warn, or Milemarker. They are all equaly good, just pick the one that you think you will suit your needs the best.
GP'n

 

The multi mount sounds like a great idea but won't it increase the theft factor and the already mentioned oops-forgot-the-winch factor. I'm trying to decide how to mount the 8000lb Warn sitting in my garage. Wanted to fab a bumper mount combo and put the solenoids under the hood. I've seen this done and really like the set up. My question with the multi mount is this: Does the good outweigh the bad? I know this is personal preference but I'd like to hear any other pros and cons I haven't thought of.

Can you fix it?
I got a welder and a grinder. Heck yeah I can fix it./wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif

 

After much reading and discussion on the forum, I recently purchased a Warn HS9500i and the Warn mount for my CJ. The Warn equipment is extremely well made. There are lower cost winches out there, and there are cheaper winches out there. There are certainly other brands of winches that work fine and are quality units. Buyer beware! I have been stuck out in the middle of nowhere before, and I didn't want to worry about my winch being able to handle a problem when I need it most, so I bought Warn.

Good luck with your decision.

George

"Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name."

 

One con to the multi mount is the load rating factor. People are putting winches which are rated at 8000 or 9000 pounds on a receiver hitch which is a)rated for 5000 pounds if it is a class 3 or b)not rated at all which is the case with so many of the aftermarket bumper/hitch combinations. I just don't trust that 5/8" pin of the receiver which is designed for a straight pull to accept the same amount of load that a good channel mount tied into the frame will. Especially if you are pulling to one side or the other.

'75 CJ5,258,T18a,4.27's,33's,On-board air

 

A concern about multi-mounts is the strength of the the mount. On the CJ, the aftermarket mounts are only rated at about 3500#'s. The possible side loads from a winch could create havoc. If you use a multi-mount take precautions and reinforce the mounting points.

Enjoying Montana's Big Sky (& rocks & rivers & mountians etc, You get the picture.)

 

I got a Warn XD9000i and mounted it to a Tomken winch plate. The winch plate is very quality stuff, plus it has a mini brush guard to protect the winch and grill. Nice looking and thick. Did go and get grade 8 mounting bolts though, Tomken sent grade 5.

Jason

 

for theft.. when my winch was hard mounted to the front.. just tack weld the nuts.. its enough to keep a thief with a wrench from taking it.. but you can still get them off.. with a hammer and small chisel.. course a good thief could also.. but most wont bother with it then..

survival is instinct, but living takes guts

http://www.jeepgod.net

 

I mounted mine on a custom bumper nice and low to keep it out of the radiator's air supply.
I was worried about overheating, but so far the worries have been unfounded. So-far so-good.

Jason '87YJ
(350/NP435/D300twinstick/SOA/GM14-FF-Detroit/D44-Lock-Right/M8274/35"MT-R's)

 

Snowtow,
you have to remember that a class III hitch is rated at 5000-6000 moving at 60 mph. That is a hell of a lot more force than a winch can put out.

dan
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity" (Anonymous)

 

if you do to warns website, it explains why a classIII hitch is PLENTY for a winch.. i have been using a multi-mount I made and I love it..
as for forgetting the winch... WHAT??? thats not something i might forget!!!
as for theft prevention... i lock it in my truck or in my shed... how will they steal it then???

~~Elusive~~
tj-7 thingy../wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif..see it at http://www.jeepgod.net