Chicago Electric 10k winch

[94GC52]

Yep, you read it correctly a Chicago Electric 10k winch puchased from Harbor Freight.

Installation was a breeze, if you don't know how to spin a wrench you might want to learn that part before getting so far stuck you need a winch.

Lets get to it though. $ 399.99 on sale this past weekend. So the price was right for an enlisted guy with 3 mouths to feed, 2 vehicles, and a Jeep addiction. But my burning question was how good can something be that only costs 400 bucks?

Well as a comparison lets looks and see.

Smittybilt
XRC 10 Winch

http://www.winchdepot.com/images/logos/SB.gif

Click image for larger view
http://www.winchdepot.com/aux_incl/images.ashx?i=XRC10winch.jpg&partNo=S%2fB&w=200&h=200 (http://www.winchdepot.com/PDT304213.aspx#) http://www.winchdepot.com/images/loading.gif







Part Number: S/B97210

XRC 10 Winch
Line Pull: 10000 lbs.
Voltage: 12V
Motor: 5.5 hp
Remote Control: 12 Ft. Lead
Gear Ratio: 218:1
Size: 21.15 in. x 6.3 in. x 8.6 in.
Weight: 84 lbs.
Wire rope: 94 Ft. of 23/64 (9.2mm)
Fairlead Roller
Type of Winch: Electric




The Chicago Electric 10k:
Line speed (in feet per minute): 6.56 FPM @ 2000 lbs., 6.23 FPM @ 4000 lbs., 4.92 FPM @ 6000 lbs., 4.26 FPM @ 8000 lbs., 3.28 FPM @ 10,000 lbs. 12 volt, 4.8 HP, Drum diameter: 2.64'', Gear ratio: 294 :1, Cable size: 3/8'' x 100 ft.; Bolt pattern: 10'' x 4.5'', Overall dimensions: 21.9'' L x 6'' W x 6.8'' H;
Weight: 84 lbs.

Now obviously the CE winch is slower, but my outlook on winching is this. I'm already stuck so speed is not an issue, I don't have a sponsor nor am I part of the WEROCK circuit. Basically I'm a guy that likes to wheel and gets stuck on occasion.

So for me it was a good bargain, and replacement parts for winches are pretty universal so i can always tweak and toy with it later on down the line.

But who does it pull you say? Well this past weekend 16-17 AUG I rolled on down to GWNF and got stuck on Salt Shed at the mud bath in a pretty nice hole. I really wanted to test this new purchase out so instead of getting a tug from the rear end which would have pulled me right out of the rut, I unspooled my cable to a tree about 75' away. My bumper and front axle were both pushing muck and mud like a bull dozer as this winch easily chugged right along and free'd me from the hole.

All in all I'm really satisfied with this winch. It performed it's task just liek i expected.

Pics to follow.

[usnavymitchells]

So if I were to use mid-night auto where exactly do you park? No really sounds like you put this to a good test. I will look into this my self. Not that I ever go anywhere....LOL All you guys wheel too far away for my. GWNF is a 5 hr ride for me.....:(

[94GC52]

GWNF is about a 3hr drive for me, so i feel your pain. But I'm willing to travel to enjoy my hobby even if it is only once a month that i manage to go.

[usnavymitchells]

GWNF is about a 3hr drive for me, so i feel your pain. But I'm willing to travel to enjoy my hobby even if it is only once a month that i manage to go.

I don't mind the drive to get there, but I can never get my seat cover (COMNAVHOMEFRONT) to get her butt out of bed early enough to get a reasonable start. She sets her alarm, wakes the dogs, the dogs wake me, I get up she doesn't.....LOL :beer:

[USMCHarleyJeepGuy]

I don't mind the drive to get there, but I can never get my seat cover (COMNAVHOMEFRONT) to get her butt out of bed early enough to get a reasonable start. She sets her alarm, wakes the dogs, the dogs wake me, I get up she doesn't.....LOL :beer:

Dave...make it an overnighter and get a room in Harrisonburg for Saturday night. Wheel Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

[94GC52]

Or you can just save the money on the hotel and bring a tent and sleeping bags.

[usnavymitchells]

Tent Sleeping and Sleeping bag....Now that's the way to go. I was actually trying to work in going to Green Ridge National Forest next weekend just to check it out. Was going to hit the road early get there and check it out for a few hours then hit the back roads home. Again it will depend on Comnavhomefront actaully getting up. I will send out an invite for all by mid week if I can pull it off....LOL:D

[brown-man]

now those are the type of pics I like to see!!!!!!
And I more than agree with the old fart (lol) sleeping bags are the way to go!
V8 right? locked???

[Ghost00TJ]

looks/ sounds good have to check them out $400 vs $900.

[94GC52]

now those are the type of pics I like to see!!!!!!
And I more than agree with the old fart (lol) sleeping bags are the way to go!
V8 right? locked???

Yes V8, nope not locked, I currently see no reason in locking a Dana 30/35 combo. My 94 was the last year the V8 came with a crappy rearend. Add to the fact that im turning 33's the only thing locking will do is make important things break.


looks/ sounds good have to check them out $400 vs $900.

For a guy that uses a winch once in a blue moon I couldnt see the reason in spending a grand on a winch. Granted the Warn/Ramsey/Tmax name brands are obviously faster. But I honestly set my self up to get stuck here and used nothing but winch to pull me free.

[brown-man]

a lunchbox lockrite will serve you well in the 30, it pulled me for a while, I was in the same boat as you were with the 30 / 35 super combo. Now I'm running a spooled 44 rear, (cheaper) and I got a 44 front (not so cheap) in the garage just waiting on some more parts before it gets slapped in.

[Tollas3]

I am also running the CE 10K and it has pulled me out of some really nasty holes and drug some of my friends around here out of the tank trails mud traps. I feel the same about the hole speed thing well i'm already stuck and Im not going anywhere fast so slow and strong is ok. I did pull jeff out this weekend with it.

[Devildog]

Now obviously the CE winch is slower, but my outlook on winching is this. I'm already stuck so speed is not an issue, I don't have a sponsor nor am I part of the WEROCK circuit. Basically I'm a guy that likes to wheel and gets stuck on occasion.

Man, aint nothing wrong with that. People use to laugh and my smittybilt 8k till it pulled them out. Just ask Chris how many times hes used his. I also havent heard any complaints about the CE's the only complaint on with my smittybilt 8k was cable connections being loose which I had to recrimp, Some of us dont have huge bank account and have to get the best bang for there buck to have fun in this hobby :D:beer: there is a review some where on where the cheaper winch wasnt the worst.

[l3it3r]

The CE10k looks to be a good performer for sure. Will have to keep it in mind when I move forward with my build.

[healerdoc1]

Like you mentioned, your stuck, not going anywhere, so,,, heck with the speed. Glad it's doing ok. We only have a 5000 lb Superwinch on the front of our Wrangler. Here in the flatlands of Illinois, it's pulled us out of many deep mud holes, no problem. Last winter it pulled out 2 different vehicles that went sliding off the highway with no problem. This last time the wife and sister got the TJ stuck, they were in a deep mud pit. I had to climb from the pit sides, ease onto jeep and reach into the mud and water to flip the latch on the winch for free spool so we could take line off to hook up for pulling them out. It pulled them right out, no problem.

[irish1371]

only thing I see as a problem with the "cheaper" winches is that they usually run a perm magnet motor. Works fine just don't do alot of long or quick munti pulls- heat kills em. For what your doing tho it sounds perfect. Nice addition to that beast it seems