I have recently aquired an 88 Samurai running 31's. I was thinking of adding a winch to it. What is a good size winch for this little vehicle?

8k pound

Next winch I look at will be a Warn 9.0RC or some other lowmount modified to the same size as I have come to the conclusion that I never need to winch far so I don't need much rope on the drum and I can always carry a plasma rope extension if needed. This will help keep the weight down and the performance up.

Warn 9.0RC or some other lowmount modified to the same size

Whats a lowmount modified winch?

I went with a 6000# winch off Ebay. It has worked fine the couple of times I used it. It's not the fastest but it only cost like $240 shipped. I got a snafchblock and 100' synthetic rope along with the 80' wicnh cable. I thought about the 8000# winch but the weight was just about double and I don't use it that often to carry that hanging on my front bumper. 43 lbs. vs 94 lbs.

I was looking at a 5,000lb winch off of harbor freight. No more than this thing weighs I think 8k may be a little overkill. I figured that winch with a snatchblock will double the pull.

Quote from: cj on June 25, 2010, 09:35:44 PM

Warn 9.0RC or some other lowmount modified to the same size

Whats a lowmount modified winch?

We call the 8724, highmounts and most other winch styles are lowmounts.  The mod I am talking about is to the drum. You can shorten, lengthen or change the diameter if you can weld.

A bigger winch has a much faster line speed, and still will
pull the truck single line, yes over kill, but more reliable under
fire, when you need it.

I have an 8500 pound winch on mine.

XRC8

I have the xrc8 also 

More is always better.  I have the 8k Harbor Freight on my Samurai.  It's now on sale for $299.00.  I haven't had a chance to use it yet but I hope it proves sueful at the Melt next weekend.

I have a cheap chinese 12k winch. Changed to synth rope to save some weight. works great, even done a couple of challenge type events.


I would not go below 8k, zuks are light, but it's nice to have the capacity to help other heavier (jeeps) vehicles. I even pulled a heavy Grand Cherokee that was really stuck last outing.

More is always better.  I have the 8k Harbor Freight on my Samurai.  It's now on sale for $299.00.  I haven't had a chance to use it yet but I hope it proves sueful at the Melt next weekend.

Hey Ack do you have a wiring diagram for your winch? I have the same thing but no remote. Harbour Freight doesn't sell just the remote so I want to get one from Ebay but would like to get my hands on any OEM paperworwork that would have come with the winch 1st.

More is always better.  I have the 8k Harbor Freight on my Samurai.  It's now on sale for $299.00.  I haven't had a chance to use it yet but I hope it proves sueful at the Melt next weekend.

I have the same winch and have been very happy with it.  I would not want to run anything smaller because it has not been overkill helping pull out others!  I have straight pulled a nearly completely sunken, unrunning Samurai out of the creek with it and I tested it pulling out this Tahoe!  Used it a few times for myself too!

I have the same thing but no remote. Harbour Freight doesn't sell just the remote so I want to get one from Ebay but would like to get my hands on any OEM paperworwork that would have come with the winch 1st.

I can see if I still have mine.  I too got a cheap remote for it off ebay.  Much better with the remote.