Replacing a Warn Winch with a Budget Winch - Openroad Panther Series2

[@maplegoose8907]

I purchased the 13000lbs Openroad Panther for my JK. I have never needed it for myself (yet) but have pulled some heavy rigs with it. It works amazingly for the cost, and I definitely do recommend this winch.

[@pauljordan756]

Fact based storyline on the Warn value prop! If it leaves you stranded when you need it and getting warranty resolved is a pain… it is not the best choice. Thanks for keeping it real-life Matt. 👍

[@jaredinark]

Interested to see how this winch does over time. Couldn't agree more that not everyone has a Warn budget!

[@grinch5x04]

Excited to see how this winch does.

[@RyansBeans]

Always look forward to your videos!

[@tomasher5444]

Honest video, love it. The number one reason winches go bad is because they are overworked. Do not expect a single line pull to always do the job. If the winch slows down to almost a crawl it's not going to last long. Keep up the videos!

[@rodneyhanbaum697]

Good to have options! thank you!

[@jamesreyna4252]

I watch you videos all the time I am in the process of looking and buying a winch and because of this video I will be trying this winch out on my Jeep. Thanks for all the videos !

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Awesome!!

[@maxmoore4315]

I am envious of your 3rd trip to MOAB but then I know we will get some great footage. We had a Great time in Ouray and Moab looking forward to it again next year! Maybe you should do a giveaway on the old Warn winch. Keep the videos coming. I aways anticipate your next video.

[@shaunadams3170]

Lol, before or after the shipping to warn?

[@AlphaSierra323]

Great video as always, Matt! Couldn’t agree more with your philosophy. Just this summer I ended up going with the HF Badland 1200 lbs. synthetic. Great price during the 4th of July holiday sale and couldn’t be more happy with it’s performance. Safe travels, brother!

[@h2overlanding35]

I ship everyday from Missouri to all over the nation. FEDEX would definitely be the cheapest to ship that and I would guess around $50. Well worth getting it fixed, and cheaper than a new winch. I'm sure Warn will pay the return on it.

[@woodwalker777]

Great video, I like that you show another of budget friendly options in you videos. On a side not your nuts working bare foot in the garage. Good luck with that one.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks! Been going barefoot all my life. So far so good. LOL

[@woodwalker777]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I hope you didn't take it as a dig. Your more tuff than me. I step on a grain of sand and it hurts my feet. I have wussy feet. HaHa Take care.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@@woodwalker777 No worries. Thanks!

[@ca7889]

Recently arrived your channel and have to say, that I went with a smittybilt-know a few warn owners that have had the same issue as you and well that warn cost a pretty penny and none of us do the KZbin thing we are quiet yet we come out here to get some ideas from those that do-so glad you explained and hope it works out for you.

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

Your Warn winch offers 2 wireless options to control. I have the wireless controller and the phone app control on mine. I keep the wired controller as a backup.

[@bsideadventures2180]

Can't wait to see the switch back to warn.

[@journeybeforedestinationov3553]

Having issues with my Warn as well. Having power issues with it. Not sure but same issue with warrantee. And I have the Zeon 10s, the top of the line. Hope they can resolve my issues as I don't want to buy another winch!

[@timjchick]

I have a 2005 LJ. My winch sits on top of my bumper. I used to envy the way the front bumpers on the newer jeeps allow the winches to be recessed down into the bumpers. I never really thought about submerging a winch under water may cause it to fail. I rarely go through water above my front bumper so I’m now liking my high-sitting winch location. Lol

[@chefmartyjoe58]

Nice to give a company a chance. They may be the next best thing.

[@Colorado4x4]

Great video! I enjoyed it

[@steveb8883]

Just ordered the 13k Panther 2 for my Bronco using your code. They were already running an $80 off deal for this model on their site because the Panther 2 PLUS is out. I added your code and I ended up with $160 off. It is always a good day when you save that much cash. I was going to get the 9500, but the 13k was a better price than the 9500.

[@baloghlcb]

I bought one of these budget winches to try out over a year ago, mainly because I knew I wouldn't be using it that much. It's literally almost the same as yours, just under a different name. I was honestly surprised at the pulling power it had for a budget winch. Last year I was winching a supercab F250 with flat tires onto my brother's equipment trailer that was hooked up to his crewcab F250. At one point the truck got stuck on the ramps and it started pulling all 3 trucks and trailer towards each other at the same time. Now I know with the snatch block I had hooked up, it doubles your load capacity and we weren't off road, but I was still surprised how easily it was pulling nearly 24,000lbs of trucks and trailer and didn't over heat and crap out on us. Figured I'll just rock it till it fails and then step up from there. The one thing I didn't care for was the hook, which I see you didn't use as well.

[@jmanbowman4163]

What was the brand of yours

[@baloghlcb]

@@jmanbowman4163 Mine was Xbull. Lot of the off brands are very silmilar

[@jmanbowman4163]

@@baloghlcb I was actually looking at that one. What weight rating ?

[@baloghlcb]

@@jmanbowman4163 It's 13,000lbs just like this one. Hoe accurate that is, I don't know lol. But it has worked very well so far. I've had it for over a year. My buckstop bumper on my F250 does keep it completely covered though unlike the Jeep bumpers. Eventually I'm gonna buy a higher rated one and move this to the rear.

[@jgtaylor2201]

I’m glad to see you’re testing a winch at a more budget-minded price point. It will be interesting to see how it holds up long term.

[@madcratebuilder]

It would help to mount the controller underhood. I like the Warn warranty, I'm 2 miles from there building. My Zeon 12-s was been prefect for 6 years.

[@bobvedder2451]

I installed the winch on my gladiator and used a long skinny dowel to feed the wires up through the engine compartment.

[@krasnaludek298]

The Jeep is looking good as always; glad the new winch is working-out. 👍🏻 Dude is wheeling a Lexus 🤣🤣🤣. I know it’s a Toyota platform, but that’s still hilarious; looks like a minivan with a lift. The same top-heavy model (GX) that’s notorious for rollovers & he has a pop-up on the roof. 🤪

[@alexfish4980]

This was a great “review video”. The air quotes are only because it will be, like you said, a long term test to see how it holds up. Actually about to buy a front bumper for my 4 runner and planned on buying a Warn! I do live in Tulsa so that’s a bonus. They are very proud of their winches though. Lots of points to consider. My buddy has a badlands brand winch and we have used it several times to recover me - once at SMORR haha

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I've heard good things about the Apex winches at HF.

[@mikesters3532]

I have the 9500 pound version on its way! Thanks for the savings code!

[@rogerbean6442]

Oh, now you've went against the grain 😜

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

😂😂

[@darksideemt]

I personally feel the Badlands just as good and I can buy 3 compared to 1 Warn. Nothing against this at all but I'm definitely ok with running a non-Warn winch for as little as I will probably use it.

[@shaunadams3170]

Been running the Smittybilt XRC 12000 for about 3 years and haven't been nice to it. Under water, caked in mud and the only problem that I've had has been how the cable is bolted to the side of the drum. The cable shears it off. My question is where and how is the rope attached to the drum? And yes I'm moving it to another rig and converting it to synthetic. And on my overlanding build I'm going to have front and rear winches. Was going to try a badland on one and now the open road on the other. I'm a volunteer firefighter and mechanic and in my area the gumbo is nasty. I've pulled out everything from tractors ànd small fire trucks to civics. And finding a winch right for our new old square box brush truck that fits the Budget of a very small town department is what we're looking for. Thanks for the heads up.

[@johnpate4982]

I love those special shoes!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Been wearing them for years! 😂

[@rsisente]

how much for the warn winch? :-D

[@blakejulian6878]

I have a TrailFX12k synthetic winch on my F350. I keep the wired remote under back seat and the wireless in the center console. I’ve used it thousands of times pipelining and love it but I’m going to try this Open Road on my Cherokee XJ

[@kloudfpv]

I've got the JT Sport, with the stock bumper, can i just add a winch plate and mount this to it? Not sure which one i would need if so. Eventually i'll swap the bumper out for a new one, but atm I'm in need of just mounting it to the stock bumper if possible.

[@todddunbar176]

I also had a WARN fail on my Comanche while on Holy Cross. It was a month old and had three pulls on it. One was to spool the line. It was a VR Series. The warranty policy with WARN is terrible. Was told I would have to remove the winch and take it to Colorado Springs where they would "evaluate" it to see if was coverable. COVERABLE?!!! It was a month old! A manager at 4WP took it back because it was only a month old and replaced it with another. I think he wrote it off honestly. He saved a customer that day. However-I am done with WARN. Never, ever again. PS-WARN, if you read this. I have had 7 Jeeps, one K5 Blazer and am now building a light off-road duty Land Rover. To quote Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. "BIG MISTAKE! HUGE!"

[@boomeribe]

Will be following winch updates. Hard to spend money on Warn right now, just because I know it won't get used much. The price is good and all the controller options is nice.

[@adamr8628]

WARN are NOT the #1 Winch. They are very good, but sometimes the don't even claim the #3 spot when tested against other winches. It's true that they have the most recognizable name in the U.S. Some people confuse "popular" with "the best.". And once again, they do make very good winches.

[@LuaiADV]

Warn IS the best winch you can buy with global support. No one comes close. This is a fact from inside the industry. Popular in the US and most popular out of all the other brands when looked at in a global market.

[@adamr8628]

@@LuaiADVWarn is popular. I agree with that. But surprising that they are built with plastic parts inside and even cheaper brands can be more solidly made. And bushings, when cheaper winches use bearings, etc.

[@LoneStarSwirl]

Do you have any updates on this winch? I am ready to hit the order button right now on this but am just looking for a bit more validation. Thanks man and love your channel. My wife and I will be in the Ozarks this summer checking out some of your trails!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It’s been great. Like it so much we got one for my wife’s new Jeep.

[@LoneStarSwirl]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Hit the order button yesterday. Ended up getting the 13000 series 2 with synthetic line for $356 after promo codes! WOW! Can't wait to install it on our Wrangler.

[@EigerSummitOffroad]

I'd rather buy 3 Harbor Freight winches for less money combined than 1 Warn winch, and get much better customer service to boot.

[@cyphro36]

You have sold me on the Gladiator, I've watched every video you got on Sulley. Went out and test drove one - now time to convince the wifey that we need one, not I want one. BIG DIFFERENCE!! HAHAHA

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Awesome!! Just don’t blame me if she gets mad at you. 😂😂

[@solosaga5091]

Seems to have a good value to price. I have an old Yota w/60amp alternator. If the alt upgrade cost ever makes sense, I'll give these guys a look. Until then I'm rolling with my Wyeth-Scott Power Puller. It better fits all of my current use case scenarios. Made in USA is a huge plus, breaking a sweat, and the lack of speed and convenience are not.

[@kevinmeaux9315]

What year is your gladdyater

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

21

[@kevinmeaux9315]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures very nice I am thinking of getting one I just was asking. I would like to see the in side of it

[@Carlosmanmanman]

I’m sold

[@woodystubb686]

Very interesting 👍

[@roberttoler3403]

Matt are You Gonna be at The Eureka Springs Jeep Jam in th Middle of Sept

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I will not. I will be in Michigan mid Sept.

[@gregedwards3063]

Have you ran this winch through the ringer yet comparable to where your warn winch failed? With black Friday deals going on and warn vr evo 10k winches being on sale for under $300 and cheaper than even this open road winch im curious on your thoughts. The warn now says it is IP68 rated so hopefully that is now better than before. If you were buying today with the prices they are now with a warn 10k for 269 after mail in rebate or an openroad 13k for 349 before tax what would you choose?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It’s definitely been through the ringer and has done very well.

[@rolenrodes1371]

I had the same problem and it totally rusted up and I had to throw it away and get a new one.

[@dfwoverland]

Matt. Gonna pull the trigger on the open road. Do you have a link or referral?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Link and code are in the description. Good choice!

[@norcaljeeping434]

It's been a year, are you still running this winch? How is it holding up?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Yep it's still doing great!

[@seangartner9435]

After 2years how do you like the off-road winch? I am looking at buying it wondering what your thoughts are?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It’s been great!!!

[@ozarkoverlandandtorque]

Did you use some sort of a mounting plate for that winch? I’m trying to install one and all of the install videos have a mounting plate. I have the factory “winch capable steel front bumper” but I guess I need a plate now? If so, any recommendations on which one I should buy for this bumper/winch combo? I literally have the same bumper and winch as you do in this video.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

the factory steel bumper requires a winch plate. I used the Warn winch plate.

[@ozarkoverlandandtorque]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures thank you!

[@off-roadingexplained8417]

I tell you the most frustrating thing right now about having a Cherokee Trailhawk is the lack of industry support. It's not the vehicles capability - the vehicle is very capable. It's the fact that there's only one winch I can use and the custom bumper for it and the winch is like 2,000 bucks. My best option honestly for a strong winch is just to get a winch cradle and hook it in my trailer hitch... It gets better... There's also no solution for a front trailer hitch... So I can't even cradle mount a winch in the front on a trailer hitch... It's just crazy.... The only winch I can use from what I've read is a warn 8000s. The installation is super difficult... I would pay somebody to do it... You have to remove the dang whole front end of the vehicle to install it... It's absolutely insane... Your winch install is a thousand times easier.

[@charlesboetel1324]

Vr 10s is their budget offshore winch, I have a warn 10k waterproof american made winch on my jk. I had to winch up yellow hill back in the 90s, and my mile marker hydralic 8k failed due to the power steering pump. Yellow hill is long and steep. A buddys 9k warn dragged me all the way up it!

[@charlesboetel1324]

Mine is a zeon 10s

[@charlesboetel1324]

Dunk that buget winch for 10 min. Water is my main concern about budget winches. We did not worry so much back in AZ, Now in IL ALL THE NEARBY WHEELING AREAS CAN BE WET AND MUDDY!

[@jeep6242]

That's a bummer as that is the VR I have in my Taco. Annoyingly I unknowingly bought it 2 weeks before the redesigned ones hit the market. If I had known I would have waited. I too would have liked a fully waterproof winch but I had 20 things to spend money on before a mainstream high end waterproof winch. A budget waterproof winch is an interesting concept.

[@andrewbellamy764]

Def don’t have a warn budget and the smittybilt I do have they won’t honor warranty on due to not being the original owner so it just looks pretty.

[@528Circle]

Does anyone know if he’s made a follow up video to this? I’m riding the fence really hard on whether this is the right one for me. I don’t do anything crazy and I’m definitely on a budget.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I’ve been making videos with this winch for 2 years now. It’s doing great.

[@528Circle]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures hey man thanks for the super quick response! I just found your channel searching for answers about this winch. Looks like some cool content. I will be checking out more of your stuff, especially looking for times when you’re winching. Thanks again!

[@mikesters3532]

How the hell did you get that Warn out without removing the bumper? I installed the Open Road 9500 and the front bumper covers up the forward most bolts. The rear bonus are exposed when the skid plate is removed, but the fronts are covered.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

With the skid plate removed it was super easy.

[@JohnDoe-gm5ux]

I have 2 warn winches and neither will work. Same here, ship to the other side of the country for warranty work. Warn don’t care. Will never buy another.

[@rockyp544]

I live next to warn, and hell, I can’t afford it..🤑

[@pmurphy12667]

How is the winch doing now that you have it for awhile? Definitely am considering this winch

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It’s been excellent!

[@Crespobuilt]

After 2 years how's this winch holding up

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Excellent!!!

[@Crespobuilt]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures good to hear! I'm considering buying one and narrowed down between this and a badland apex

[@xjchad2171]

I just ordered this winch from Openroad last night, they are on sale for $399 plus they sent me a coupon code for another 10% off, I ended up paying $360 for it…… You won’t find a cheaper priced 13k winch with good reviews.

[@bradh74]

I can't remember what the name of the winch manufacturer that was the top of the line before Warn got bigger one was Ramsey I can't remember the other. They not only build the little winches for pickups/jeeps they make industrial winches for heavy equipment like tow trucks, cranes and bull dozers. Hope your new winch works for you. Some of that Chinese stuff is just as good as the name brand stuff. I think poor quality control gives them a bad rap.

[@SidebandSamurai]

what about the warranty? what happens if it fails under warranty?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Same lifetime mechanical warranty as the Warn. 3 year on the electrical. Warn has 7 years on the electrical.

[@jdawg2474]

How has this winch held up?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It’s been great!’ No complains and getting another one for my wife’s new Jeep.

[@v26224]

i don't think you are the only person with warn winch issues. they advertise as a top of the range product, design it so that it isn't as durable as most brands, and then make the user think it is their fault when it fails.

[@r3volut1on]

It usually is!

[@ninja63639]

In my opinion if a winch cant be used in or underwater it's useless. It's impossible to know when or where you'll need it so that's something all winch manufacturers, especially the biggest (and most expensive) company of all should take into consideration. I mean if a $400 winch can be ip67 or 68 rated why can't Warn at twice or 3x the price?

[@pabloescobar7802]

I’ve seen 3 winches fail in the field all 3 were warn

[@mackies9151]

38 seconds in I was gonna say that's dumb you suck...then I kept watching. Bummer the warn let you down. Hopefully warn will send you a Zeon 12-s platinum for review.😎

[@Sa-aa11-jke]

A Warn VR is already the budget winch. Lol

[@expert244]

Warn ZEON winches are IP68 rated.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I didn't have a Xeon

[@TruckMelanoma]

I love my Badland Apex 12000 synthetic. It’s been an amazing piece of equipment. Warn is very over priced. I consider them like Harley Davidson; they get bought because of the name, not because they’re the actual best option. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@saintarmstrong8790]

So you think submerging your new offbrand winch will go better? Hot news chief, being submerged in water is bad for everything

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

You don't understand IP ratings, do you?

[@saintarmstrong8790]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures i do actually. You think you're going to leave the new one submerged a bunch and it's going to be good as new? Sometimes you need to do maintenance when you submerge equipment in muddy ass water over and over again. If your Warn didn't hold up some harbor freight won't either at the same hard usage.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

@@saintarmstrong8790 I don't plan on just leaving my Jeep submerged. That would be stupid. This winch is more water tight than the Warn I had therefore should survive better if I do happen to find myself stuck in a deep mud hole again. And yes, I know how to take a winch apart, clean it, re-grease it and put it back together. I did that with my Warn. Thanks for your concern and snarky comments. Sheesh!

[@petermccuskey1832]

Swore off Warn years ago.

[@spencermorrow2899]

Should have purchased a warn zeon from the beginning

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Why? They are stupid expensive and this winch has served me well for 2 years now.

[@aaronanthony1363]

Can I have your Synthetic Line? lol

[@chir0pter]

Realizing I have the non water resistant zeon winch…well crap.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I really thought the Zeons were ok for water.

[@billw8198]

So you're willing to buy another winch but paying to ship the warn back for warranty work was ridiculous? Comical.....

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

You obviously failed to listen to two key things in the video - 1) they gave this to me to test. 2) I have a trip to Moab coming up in less than 2 weeks and can’t be without a working winch for that trip.

[@jailbreakoverlander]

Want to have regrets, ya know marriage, bad hair "coloring" or pop in a cheap winch what could possibly go wrong. Ill stick with my red winch homie.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

😂😂😂

[@jeep6242]

Big talk from a conspiracy theory nutbag who likes to role play as a sane Overlander. Look out for the 5g Ritchie it will get ya lol.

[@adamr8628]

WARN makes some decent winches. Popular and well-known brand. They don't always come out on top though. Sometimes warn comes in third to fourth place or so. That doesn't mean they're bad winches. But they're not always the best

[@jeffrypresutti3139]

First good content.

[@OperationalOrigin]

Always good content

[@kchris5326]

Warn is NOT a top brand if you are talking quality. They are now made in China, as are most winches.

[@420happybat]

Warn suck now