[ALASHA]

Actually Smittybilt is an American company started in 1956. The affordable Warn winches are also made and some of the expensive ones are made in China as well. Some of the more expensive ones are assembled in the US with parts sourced from China. There is NO winch out there that is 100% made in the US. LKQ Corp owns Warn.


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Im almost positive Smittybilt doesnt produce a single product in the U.S. Its all made in China so it really doesnt matter to me where the company is incorporated. Their business model is pretty clear.

You are right about Warn. Unfortunately we as a country have handicapped ourselves by outsourcing just about everything these days so its virtually impossible to manufacture the way we did as a country post WWII, especially when you factor in Society's affinity for the cheapest possible products but Ill still take an assembled in US product with Chinese parts vs. a completely built in China part.

Winches are an insurance policy. You can buy the cheapest one you can find and hope its there when you need it or you can spend more and have a bit more piece of mind that it will be there when you need it.

Im going to reiterate this one more time. I didnt say choose Warn vs Smittybilt. I didnt say dont get a Smittybilt. I run a Bulldog winch for example. I am just pointing out dont fall for promos from TV personalities. There is always a hidden agenda and in this case, even some additional physics that isnt being pointed out...

 

[snout]

Im almost positive Smittybilt doesnt produce a single product in the U.S. Its all made in China so it really doesnt matter to me where the company is incorporated. Their business model is pretty clear.

You are right about Warn. Unfortunately we as a country have handicapped ourselves by outsourcing just about everything these days so its virtually impossible to manufacture the way we did as a country post WWII, especially when you factor in Society's affinity for the cheapest possible products but Ill still take an assembled in US product with Chinese parts vs. a completely built in China part.

Winches are an insurance policy. You can buy the cheapest one you can find and hope its there when you need it or you can spend more and have a bit more piece of mind that it will be there when you need it.

Im going to reiterate this one more time. I didnt say choose Warn vs Smittybilt. I didnt say dont get a Smittybilt. I run a Bulldog winch for example. I am just pointing out dont fall for promos from TV personalities. There is always a hidden agenda and in this case, even some additional physics that isnt being pointed out...

All of this.


How many tow trucks, professional drivers or people serious about the hobby / lifestyle strap a smitty to the front of their vehicle? I never see one.

When have the "Diesel Bros" ever done anything with their all-hat / no-cattle pretty boy pickups besides hoot and hollar while spinning wheels? They align themselves with Chinesium crap. Remember Patriot Tires? They sell an image of 'Merica while pushing Chinese mail order crap to pay the bills. Most Jeep builders do, too, so smitty is perfect for these shops' bottom line.

When has smitty ever pushed forward an original product that's not a nearly-direct knock-off? I've never seen them innovate anything, just copy enough to keep the lawyers at bay. If price is the issue here, Harbor Freight sells winch-shaped objects, too. Smitty uses other companies R&D to build a competent product, then they rip it off and sell it as their own. Personally, I would never want to support that or have it hanging off my Jeep. Most Jeep owners want instant and cheap gratification, so they don't care about stuff like that.

Go buy the Smitty, then when it takes a smokey, corn-filled diarrhea dump on you in the middle of something critical, you can order up the Warn and brag about owning both

 

[jtphoto JK]

Unfortunately up north here the Smittybilts stand up better to the elements, that’s fact. Customer service to Warn from Canada downright sucks. All service requires us to ship the winch to the US to be repaired on our dime. For the cost of shipping back and forth I can buy another winch. So, I hope you guys have better customer service.

Does Warn warranty the finish on a Zeon.? Pretty sad to see a 2 year old Zeon with all the black powder coat flaked off.


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