Harbor Freight 9,000 Pound
Motor: 4.5hp 12-volt DC Permanent magnet
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:7.3 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds:4.3 fpm
Cable Length: 100 feet
Brake: Automatic load-holding brake
Gear Train:Three-stage planetary
Clutch:Ring
Weight:82 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH):21.45x6.00x6.38 in
Country Assembled:China
Information:Harbor Freight, 800.444.3353, www.harborfreight.com
Mile Marker E9000
Motor: 4.5hp 12-volt DC Permanent magnet
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:7.3 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds:4.3 fpm
Cable Length: 100 feet
Brake: Automatic load-holding brake
Gear Train:Three-stage planetary
Clutch:Ring
Weight:82 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH):21.45x6.00x6.38 in
Country Assembled:China
Information:MileMarker, 800.886.8647, www.milemarker.com
Pierce 12K Worm Drive
Motor: 1.5hp 12-volt DC
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:5.4 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds:2.5 fpm
Cable Length: 125 feet
Brake: Worm gear
Gear Train:Worm gear
Clutch:Dog
Weight:95 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH):22.5x7.5x7.5
Country Assembled:China
Information:Pierce Sales, 940.538.5643, www.piercesales.com
Ramsey Patriot Profile 9000
Motor: 4.4hp 12-volt DC series wound
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:11 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds: 7 fpm
Cable Length: 105 feet
Brake: Automatic load-holding
Gear Train:Three-stage planetary
Clutch:Cam-action
Weight:92 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH): 22.6x6.62x6.1
Country Assembled:USA
Information:Ramsey, 918.438.2760, www.ramsey.com
Superwinch Epi-9.0
Motor: 4.6hp 12-volt DC series wound
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:11 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds:6.4 fpm
Cable Length: 125 feet
Brake: Automatic load-holding
Gear Train:Full metal three-stage planetary
Clutch:Freespooling
Weight:114 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH):22.3x6.26x7.1
Country Assembled: China
Information:Superwinch, 860.963.0811, www.superwinch.com
T-Max EW-9000
Motor: 6.6hp 12-volt DC series wound
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:13.1 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds:7.2 fpm
Cable Length: 94 feet
Brake: Automatic in-the-drum
Gear Train:Three-stage planetary
Clutch:Shift-pin ring gear
Weight:80.5 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH):22x6.3x8.1
Country Assembled:Australia
Information:T-Max, 877.862.8629, www.t-maxwinches.com
WARN XD9000i
Motor: 4.6hp 12-volt DC series wound
Rated Line Pull:9,000-pound single-line
Line Speed @ 4,000 pounds:11 fpm
Line Speed @ 9,000 pounds:6.38 fpm
Cable Length:125 feet
Brake: Automatic direct-drive cone
Gear Train:Three-stage planetary
Clutch:Sliding ring gear
Weight:85 pounds
Dimensions (LxWxH):21.8x6.3x9.94
Country Assembled:USA
Information:Warn, 800.910.1122, www.warn.com
Size Matters
Comparing winches is a lot like comparing oranges. Yes, they are all orange, but there's a difference in size and taste as well as seed count and pulp density. It's the same with the plethora of winches on the market. They all pull cable, but that's where the similarity ends. We've provided you the main specifications here to compare some winches, and the phone numbers and Web addresses to further your research. When shopping for a winch, the first question you should ask is what will you be using it for. And most importantly, always pick a winch that can pull at least 1 1/2 times your vehicle Weight for adequate performance. If your 4x4 weighs 5,500 pounds (with full trail gear, people, and equipment), then a 9,000-pound rated winch should do fine. Winches are rated on the first wrap of cable on the drum, and lose about 10 percent pulling power for each successive wrap. And if you're stuck in the mud, your 5,500-pound vehicle is dragging the earth with it, and acts more like a 10,000-pound immovable object. And finally, like most any product, you do get what you pay for.