I'm happy that your winch is working for you. There's no doubt that Warn can charge more for its reputation. Let's face it: Saying you have anything from Harbor Freight Tools leaves a bad taste in the mouth; not so with Warn. However, your comparison of a $350 winch to the PowerPlant is not particularly useful--the feature differences are too great. It might be better if you were to compare it to one of the cheaper Warn winches. Just a quick look and I've found one for $540. Now, how much is that reputation for reliability worth? And how much is it worth to know that if/when the winch breaks, Warn will be there to back you up with troubleshooting help and parts? Only each of us, as individual buyers, can decide that.

 

Not trying to sell, but had a stand alone winch before and was quite thrilled with it. Now I have the powerplant and like it a lot more. My friends that have cheap stand alone compressors are always glad to see me because it is easier to fill up with me there. I guess the answer is really how often do you use the air. For some it would make better sense to have air mounted in the front and a winch riding around in the back because the air is used more often.

 

i abused the 9500xd a great deal. it doesn't look as cool as the other winches in Warn's lineup but it's the workhorse. if the solenoids go they're easy to replace since the box is external.

My concern with the powerplant is with the air pump failing and being a PITA to have repaired, either under warranty or at my own expense. It's kind of like those old TV's that had the VCR's built into them. Once the VCR died people wanted to junk the TV, too. Or they'd have to live with it sitting next to another VCR.

cheers,
-ike

 

I debated about the powerplant...as I love the air compressor feature...however, weight and a incredible deal & sale on the warn XD9000i swayed me from getting the powerplant. Also, after thinking about the powerplant I really needed a seperate compressor to switch from the Jeep to my CTD ram truck when I am hauling the trailer. Like you I am still looking for a good air compressor for a decent price.

 

You bring up a valid point. If you use the air compressor on a regular basis--say to power air tools at a job site--the PowerPlant is probably not the best answer. But, if you're like most of us who use the air compressor maybe dozen or two times a year, then the PowerPlant should be sufficiently reliable.

 

My power plant is two years old, Everytime i have had an issue. Warn has sent the parts within two days.



What bumper do you have? My purejeep like the shrockworks, drops the winch between the frame rails. So the size doenst matter.

I now have hanson bumper and it sits a little higher up. With the electric fanson the JK I dont see having any issues.

 

its only a few more pounds than the TI, not enough to make a difference IMO. I like my powerplant alot, If I had a second JK, it would the the Ti

If your planning on ARB's, you might as well keep the ti and buy a seperate compressor.

 

seriously? thats like comparing a cuba cigar with a cigerette

 

Just bought a Warn M8000.
Look on some websites and you can find it for $539USD. Why would you go with anything else? A winch is something you DON'T cheap out on. This is my first, and last, winch purcahse.
Go prepared.

 

huh?

Im comparing 2 things that do the same thing. bottom line is how it pulls and how many times without failure. Ok the power plant has a comprassor on it. thats my bad I didnt relise that. Im just looking at it form a practical point of view. spend the extra $1000 on something useful like bumpers or a lift or even a On Board Air with a York, Im sure it wont cost you 1k.

btw, HF just replaces the winch altogether, paid $70 for 3 year warrenty.. Dont get me wrong warns an exellent company, but for me.. there warn left me hanging in the hammers, when I called Warn they told me to take a hyke because i bought my winch like 3 years before (which i idnt use all that much).

EDIT
time and time again Ive seen these HF winches on big super duties around were I live. and not once have I heard any of them fail. Read some of the reviews for this thing on the web. THis is all my opinion, Im just stating my experiance with both winches, Im not arguing with any of the posters here...


Your $$$ ,do what you want.