In y'all's opinion, what's the best small winch that will mount on a 2" socket on the front of a Jeep? (That's winch...not wench.ba-dum-tshh.I'm here all week folks.)

Seriously, I'm not a rock climber, but I don't want a throw-a-way piece of trash either.

Thanks in advance for your help.

smittybilt 8k would be good.

Thanks for the response. I'll see how the Christmas expenses fair.

I got a nice Warn M-8000 on Amazon.

Here it is for about $650 with Free Shipping > Warn M-8000

2 or 4 door? at least 8000lb will get you out of most things, dont know your budget but harbor freight winch get good reviews, look at truck and winch web site they always have deals. one thing I can say is get a complete weather proof one if you play around lots of water.

Thanks donswin for the link. 'Had no idea Amazon sold winches. I guess they really do sell everything. Forthebirds - 2 door 2004 Rubicon, so I was looking at the little short drum M6000 kit, with receiver tube and all, which Amazon also has a few of. I've never been around a lot of mud (or water); mostly rock, so all I would need would be a little nudge to get me off some unforseen high-center or something similar.

Thanks again.

For some reason, it is recommended your winch be rated for twice your GVW.

You'd be surprised how many other uses you can come up with for a winch than just getting out of a mess.

You have the right idea getting a hitch mount. There are times you want the winch on the back end. I almost went that way but got a winch/bumper instead.

I've got a Warn M-8000 on the front of my TJ. It's all I'll ever need.

Personaly Im thinking that 8k winch is more than strong enough to lift two of your jeeps welded together straight off the ground without a block... If you not using it for serious offraoding or something like that I bet you can get by with much much less!

If you can afford an 8000lb, I would go for it..You can probably manage with less, but why risk it and why risk burning out a smaller winch?

Here is my thought on winches after having owned a few and wasted some money. I have 1 winch, 8,000lb Smittybilt on a receiver that I use for both he Jeep and the F150, and can go front or rear of both. I don't use it, and try to never have to use it so I don't need of mounted all the time; Im not a rock crawler or serious offroader so I don tneed to spend money on the newest supercooled winch; And with the right equipment an 8,000lb will pull anything you need. In my experience of being stuck, all that's "usually" needed is about 10 feet of pull and usually a lot less power then you would think. In my winch bag is 2 tree savers, 1 ten foot logging chain, 3 snatch blocks, a heavy blanket, and a good pair of leather gloves. And never side pull with a hitch mounted winch, which is why 2 or more snatch blocks are necessary. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps

I appreciate all the input guys.

Warn 8,000

does harbor freight sell complete weather proof winches?

I run a mile-marker 8000 lbs on my CJ. It's super slow speed but never get hot. The best thing you can have with you is a snatch block. I'm sure you can find one for $300.-$400. bucks online
Dwight

I have a Warn Xd9000i on my CJ-7. I've never use it, but once a year I pull some line out to make sure it pulls the line back in.