Video showing unboxing, and operation of the Harbor Freight Badlands 2500 lbs winch. www.harborfrei... www.amazon.com... www.amazon.com... www.amazon.com... www.amazon.com...
It should be noted, today they currently have 2 models of the 2500. This one, and the badlands 2500 ZXR. It's probably worth getting the ZXR (and oddly often the same price). The ZXR has a robust knob for free pulling (the original was cheap), comes with 2 remotes (manual and wireless), and the winch hook is removeable and comes with a removeable shackle too so you can easily swap out the hook or shackle, and don't need to take apart the bracket like the original. After getting the ZXR, some things I wasn't aware until reading the manual. The lbs it can safely handle varies on how many layers of wire are on the spool. That's to say, if you pull the entire wire completely out you can winch 2500 lbs for the first 6 feet. Then when you start to get 2 layers of wire you can tow 2045 lbs for 13.3', 3 layers 1731lbs for 21.9', 4 layers 1500 lbs for 31.8', 5 layers 1324 lbs for 43.1' and 6 layers 1184 lbs for 50'. So if you want to tow something all the way the winch can only handle 1184 lbs for the last 7 feet. Also, under full load you can only run it for 45 seconds then needs over a 14 minute wait to cool off. Again that's under full load. One last thing I wasn't aware, you can winch things up to 45 degree angles left and right, but only 15 degrees up or down so the winch should be pretty close to the same level as what you're winching, but what you're winching can be pretty far off to the sides.
So far this little guy has not let me down, pulled down that shed, hoisted an engine, pulled my tool box on a trailer which is the 2nd from largest Harbor Freight makes. Winched a motor cycle onto the trailer also. Both would make a great choice but if ZXR is the same price I would jump on it as well. Thanks for the heads up.
Great video you saved me a lot of work I was going to mount my winch in the back of my truck once I saw that bracket I knew it was the way to go the best part is you just take it off and stored in the bed of the truck in the toolbox, the only thing I did notice was the part about removing the pins out of the guide to fit your hook through I didn't have the proper tool to take off the c clips so I just took off the hook and threaded the cable through and then put the hook back on. Anyway thanks for the video you saved alot of time and money
I got the ZXR on an open box markdown, plus Parking Lot sale discount. It came with both remotes etc but the wiring doesn't have the disconnect - which I already ordered for a inverter install. "Unboxing" means first time opening, not a day later when modifications are already done. Moot point, I'm covered, and it's a good option to keep all the wiring from tangling up in storage. Yes, all winches have a "variable" rate of pull power, with the max exerted on the first wrap of the drum. For the most part once something is moving the worst part of the friction sticking it in place is overcome. If dragging logs etc across open ground, tho, you could find a crossover point where it's not doing as well. Still, it beats snapping a drag strap and losing the back window of your Jeep.
Thank you for such a detailed video and for providing the links. I'm still not convinced how you made the 10ft extension cord with alligator clips. I have no auto mechanic skills whatsoever
Dude great idea for pulling trailers up to your hitch. Man I been looking for a solution for a while. I park my boat on the side yard but I can only get my truck back so far before I have to detach and roll the boat by hand. Now it’s a 21 foot skeeter bass boat with a 300 on it so it ain’t light. Specially for being on a Rock pad
Excellent video, thanks for posting. Appreciate all the links to the parts used, but I didn’t see a link for the quick release clip that you attached to the end of the battery connection cables... could you please post that link as well? Thanks again
I was very impressed with the setup. Do you have a link that I can find the setup minus the Harbor freight winch. I'm very familiar with harbor freight already. TY in advance. Great job.
It connects to the mounting plate sold to install it. The winch attaches to the mounting plate, the plate attaches to either a hitch tube or trailer, frame etc.
@@user-xx8eo3ni8p I was putting it on my tractor and it already had a mounting plate but this winch wouldn't line up with the holes. Found one that did and fairlead was built in
Thanks for the video... Does this winch have an auto stop? In other words does it stop automatically when you wind the cable in fully so as not to over retract and damage your equipment? My best, Ray
How to make it a wired remote? The Wireless relay stopped working and there is no replacement part. The winch cost $60 after tax and I do not want to waste more than half the money on repairing it.
@@fxzzurita4220 I found a remote wired that's universal. Make sure there are 2 positive and 2 negative wires to attach to the battery and winch. No need for a solenoid relay. It cost me $35 for 3 days of Prime shipping. Apparently, something is wrong with the starter brush itself maybe not making contact. I decided to just buy another winch rather than attempt repairs because repairing cost nearly half of what I paid for it.
Only issue is that 7pin plug doesn’t have large enough wires to send big current that the winch will be using. The 7 pin power is used for charging batterys
@@FishFind3000 One and only one wire on the 7 pin provides 12VDC for electric brakes etc and it's usually too small a gauge to handle the amps this winch will pull. While it comes with 10 ga many replace it with 6 ga.
Do you have to have your motor on. I have a mini kota trolling motor. It works great. No motor just a battery. My question is. If I have a marine deep cell battery hooked to this winch without a vehicle near by, will it work at all.
@@fxzzurita4220 If your marine battery is charged up it will work. A lot of trailer installations do exactly that, battery in a box and then when parked either a trickle charger or solar charger.
I don't think you can still use it. You may need to by a new one, or maybe contact the manufacture and see what they can do for you. There is no manual operation that I see on this thing.
The ZXR model comes with a wired remote as well. It does cost a little more but the extra remote and shackle kind of evens out the cost in the long run. I just picked up the ZXR model the other day cause they had it on sell as well. My plan is to install mine on a tow dolly. Bought a wiring kit for a amp that had 4 gauge battery wire. Going to run the wire back to a fused distribution block. Then the wire will tucked through the panels to hide the connector like you have here. Only enough wire exposed out the back to cover the lenght to connect it to the tow dolly. Sounds like a over kill but I was going to install a aftermarket amp in my expedition anyway. Great video, keep up the great work.
