[CairnsZook]

I'm trying to get hold of a Warn 6000lb winch in Tassie. I've called around, and it seems none are available, even in Melbourne. They won't have any more in for about a week.

Scott from King Trailers in Hobart has been most helpful, with prices and different models. Unfortunately he doesn't have any 6000 pounders either, but he did recommend a couple of others.

He has in stock a Warn 9000lb 4.6hp for $1690 and a Magnum 9000lb 4.2hp for $1350. He tells me Magnum are made by Warn, they have the same internal parts, just a slightly smaller motor.
I asked him about difference in speeds between the two and he wasn't sure.

Has anyone heard much about Magnum winches? Are they worth considering? Or should I just wait a couple of weeks for the Warn 6000lb?

[joeblow]

go the magnum. don't waste time with 6000's as the 9's will generaly last longer. Don't be too fussed about speed. I don't care what the speed is, as long as it has a high stall load, such as the magnum does. but if you want a 'you beaut' winch, see if anyone down there does a PREMIER.

[CairnsZook]

Thanks Joe, I'll look into the Premier winches too.

You've done a few trips down to Tassie; What would you recommend? Considering the amount of mud and water we get down here?

I've seen a lot of the cheaper winches crap themselves in Tassie due to water ingress. I would rather pay a bit more and have a winch that will last longer.

[dank]

I"ve got a magnum winch on my zook. Its basically a xd9000 with slower gearing and smaller powered motor.

I upgraded the motor to a 4.6hp. with 216:1 gearing in mine this effecitvely raises the load pulling ability to higher than an xd9000 with 156:1 gearing.

Keep in mind that the magnum/Tabor 9k has now gone to 156:1 gearing according to warn's website so you can bolt on up to a 6hp/ superduty 7.8hp motor if you want a winch that pulls nearly as fast as a highmount.

With any winch it requires maintenance. I pull mine apart once a year to clean and regrease. The shitty little clutch handle on the magnum can be a pain in really cold wet muddy conditions but you can swap in a xd9000 clutch handle which goes for about $125 bucks from a warn dealer.

[joeblow]

CairnsZook wrote:

Thanks Joe, I'll look into the Premier winches too.

You've done a few trips down to Tassie; What would you recommend? Considering the amount of mud and water we get down here?

I've seen a lot of the cheaper winches crap themselves in Tassie due to water ingress. I would rather pay a bit more and have a winch that will last longer.

one thing we have learnt on our trips to tassie.......salt f@#ks evrything! all our fleet have either the warn, tabor or magnum, and we all have great reliabilaty. BUT, we do pull our winches down about once a year for a general service, trust me, that makes all the difference.

[CairnsZook]

That sounds pretty good Dank. The ability to upgrade motors is a plus.
Shitty clutch handle ay? You don't actually expect me to get out and get my feet muddy do you? That's what the passenger's for!

Thanks Joe. If you're getting reliability in these conditions with regular servicing, then that's about all I need to hear.

[CairnsZook]

My bar is finished and the winch is in

I ended up getting the Magnum 9000lb.
It's all wired in and working well. The control box is under the bonnet, so Obviously I'll need to pop the bonnet and connect the hand control when I want to use it.

I was thinking about putting a switch on the dash too. Maybe one of those"missile" switches with the red cover so it cant accidentally be activated. The switch will be spring loaded too, so it cant be left on.

Is there any problem with hard wiring in a switch like this, in series with the original hand control? I think I would normally use the switch inside, and only connect the hand control if I need to control it from outside the vehicle.
And should I wire in an isolation switch for the winch? Or just leave it as is?