Wasted $300 on a cheap winch from a discount truck parts site last spring

I figured I'd save some cash and got this unbranded 12,000 lb winch for my F-150. First time I actually needed it, out on some trails near Broken Bow, it just fried its motor after three pulls on a muddy slope. The solenoid box melted and I had to get towed out by a buddy with a Warn. Took me two months to get a refund and they made me pay return shipping. Shoulda just saved up for a decent one from the start. Anyone else get burned by one of those no-name winch brands from sketchy websites?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin69225d agoTop Commenter

My buddy Mike bought one of those from a Facebook ad for his Jeep last fall. First time he hit a steep incline the gearbox just cracked open and dumped all the fluid on the ground. He ended up borrowing my Warn and that cheap thing sat in his garage for six months before he threw it away.

stella_lane25d ago

Ngl hearing that made me wince. A whole gearbox just cracking open like a soda can on the first real test? That's terrifying honestly. Makes you wonder what kind of pot metal they use for those things, probably recycled shopping carts or something. Your buddy's lucky he wasn't stuck in something worse when it let go.

wendyk5625d ago

Yeah @gavin692 your buddy's story sounds way too familiar. I used to think "a winch is a winch" but after mine melted down like a cheap candle I totally get it now. Never again touching those no-name brands.