Aldi winch experiment

[chester Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester]

Well im thinking of trying an experiment aldi have a 9500lb winch going for $499, and before you all start yes i know it is an inferior product and yes i know it will not last as long as say Warn. The purpose of the experiment is to see how long it lasts for and does the cheap price offset the shorter life span in terms of economic sense for your average weekend warrior that may only use the thing 5 or so times a year.

First question however before i buy the thing is will it fit the soverign bar if anyone can help me with this one it would be appreciated and then i will look at going from there and keep you posted

[glipschitz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close glipschitz]

Remember you don't get a plastic bag at Aldi to put it in!

Might be good to use as a washing line? :P Be the quickest retractable washing line in the land!

You'd have to check the dimensions with both ARB and the manufacturer of the Aldi brand one.

They usually brand other products as their own so that only way would be to check the product. I think they have a pretty good refund policy too from memory.

G

PS> Don't forget to get your free bag of bananas with every purchase so you too can look like a monkey! :P

[Guest Close Guest]

I think there was a write up recently (6 months) in one of the 4x4 thingos where they got a whole heap of different manufacture winches etc and tested them till breaking (or surviving!).

Was a very interesting read.

Cant think for the life of me where it was, but from memory Mt lofty rangers 4x4 club (SA) or Whyalla 4x4 club?

[bunsen Member Find all posts View Profile Close bunsen]

This article has been posted around the forums.

[Guest Close Guest]

Thats the one.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

I still have a cheap ebay chinese winch, so far so good. (bout 2 years now) same bolt pattern as the warn, I have the ARB deluxe winch bar but chippy and others put winches in the toyota bar. You'll need a winch cradle.

From memory mine was $499. Plus they had spare prices. Complete gearbox for $250, etc

But using it and seeing others used, The warn seems to have a freewheel that is still braked a bit. So when you pull out line by hand it doesnt spin up the spool and birds nest like mine does. I have to be careful it comes out neat as when you start to winch in, my wire will slip in to the lower layers and make the wire kink. Or maybe its the cheap wire??? i dont know, but I noticed the difference.
And for that price your looking at, you'll go through a few before you hit the price of the warn. Sad but true fact.

Jeff

[Guest Close Guest]

I applaude your effort to put this to the test and see how long it lasts but be careful you aren't in the wrong possie when she does go, unless you have a backup.

I suppose one of the reasons people do buy Warn etc is the fact that you can count on them to be there when you need them. The risk with an unknown quantity is that it might fail when you least want it to.

By all means give it a go but be mindful if the possition you put yourself in during the 'testing'.

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Never seen the Aldi winch and it is CHEAP...

However, from a high-level view... A winch is a recovery tool, which implies you're in the sh1t when you actually use one. Do you really want to take a chance on one for the sake of an extra $500-odd bucks? I bet you'd kick yourself if it were to let you down at a bad moment.

My 1/4 cent's worth.

[Burf Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Burf]

I heard about this on Friday as well and checked out the specs vs the Ironman winch and everything ticks off the same so could be interesting.

I mate from work also told me his brother bought one from Aldi about 6 months ago and hasn't had any problems with it at all.

That said, I think I will continue to save up and buy my Warn winch!!

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Do you really want to take a chance on one for the sake of an extra $500-odd bucks? I bet you'd kick yourself if it were to let you down at a bad moment.

My 1/4 cent's worth.

like when you have your $55g car dangling off the end of it, half way up a big hill and it goes 'twang' and breaks.. :shock: :shock: :shock:

my 2 cents,

Yes, we have said it before, cheap tyres, why?? cheap accessories, no, not worth damaging a $55k car fo $500 bucks. I am with Matt.

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

I heard about this on Friday as well and checked out the specs vs the Ironman winch and everything ticks off the same so could be interesting.

I mate from work also told me his brother bought one from Aldi about 6 months ago and hasn't had any problems with it at all.

That said, I think I will continue to save up and buy my Warn winch!!

I've heard other folk comment on it being the same as Ironman. This in itself doesn't make it a 'bargain', but more to the point makes Ironman a rip-off. Plus I thinkg their logo still sucks, but I digress...

Specs on paper is one thing, but won't count for much after a few river crossings and miles of bulldust. Might be good when it works, but how long will it work for?

I had an ARB deluxe bar fitted today and am busting to put a winch on it, but I'd rather travel easy until I can afford something (a WARN, I guess...) that I can depend on when the chips are down.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

some people might knock the cheap stuff, but i say dont knock it until ya try it yaself, i dont have the ducks guts suspension but i know a few people who have said that the kit i have handles the rough stuff better than the ducks guts, as for winches i will let ya know in the future. thats my 2cents

[Bear Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bear]

Hey Chester, thanks for bringing Aldi to our attention. Its a pity I don't get far off-road, it looks like a great toy.

When you give your report; if its bad ... well we told you so, you only get what you pay for. If you get a good run ... there might be a fair bit jealousy and silent wincing at the missed opportunity. In my experience, the cheap stuff is worth a try - especially with places like Aldi that a reputation for being good with their warranties.

[boof7 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close boof7]

Re:

Hey Chester, thanks for bringing Aldi to our attention. Its a pity I don't get far off-road, it looks like a great toy.

When you give your report; if its bad ... well we told you so, you only get what you pay for. If you get a good run ... there might be a fair bit jealousy and silent wincing at the missed opportunity. In my experience, the cheap stuff is worth a try - especially with places like Aldi that a reputation for being good with their warranties.

Hi
Just dropped into my favorite tight-arze store and picked up a brochure. Yep Aldi have the winch on special from 21 may 2009. Any first hand reports from last years specials?

They also have some other stuff (inverter & air compressor).

cheers
boof7

[PradoBoy72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoBoy72]

Re: Aldi winch experiment

There seems to be lots of discussion http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/show ... hp?t=54387 as to who makes them, who owns and has operated them etc. Makes for some interesting conjecture and comment about quality and who may be actually the manufacturer of the product.

I guess buy one, call the support number and see who is prodviding support