Badland ZXR 9000 Lb. Winch Review (Wire Rope)
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There’s no denying it, off-roading is boatloads of fun, but it also comes with some risks, including getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with no help. Installing a good winch on your vehicle can help mitigate the risk, but you’ve got to identify it first. There’s been a lot of talk of the Badland ZXR 9000 Lb, and you are wondering if anything you’ve heard about it is true.
Well, here’s everything you need to know about the Badland ZXR 9000 Lb to help you make an informed choice.
Disclaimer
But before we dive into the review, we’d like to differentiate the Badland ZXR 9000 Lb from the Badland 9000 Lb. Electric Winch with Automatic Load-Holding Brake. The ZXR has a short and handle-like freespool handle while the Badland 9000 Lb. Electric Winch with Automatic Load-Holding Brake has a smooth and tapered design. The logo designs are also different; the ZXR is clearly labeled ZXR and the Badland 9000 Lb. Electric Winch with Automatic Load-Holding Brake isn’t.
Unboxing
The Badland 90000 Lb ZXR winch comes with quality packaging to ensure it survives delivery. The pictures on the packaging and key features tell you what to expect with this 9k winch. Once you open it up, you’ll find:
- Hook and a red hook strap
- Badland ZXR instruction manual
- Cables
- Controller unit with a three-wire connection
- Remote control
- Roller fairlead
- Main winch body
- Circuit breaker
- Nuts and bolts
The winch parts are snugly surrounded with styrofoam for protection and to avoid movement. When fully assembled, the winch measures 20.9 x 6.4 x 8.3 inches and weighs 75 Lb.
Power
With a 9000 pounds pulling power capacity, this Badland 9000 pound winch can pull midsized pickups out of sticky situations. I know it’s marketed for full-size trucks and SUVs, and it could handle the weight. However, we recommend being on the safer side and going with the Badland ZXR 12000 Lb. if you are going to do so. This applies to any other 9 000 lb winch as well. A hydraulic winch might be an even better solution if this will be the main task. Learn more about hydraulic winches (Article not completed yet).
Aside from its 9k lb full load capacity, other features that make it a powerful winch include:
- It packs a series wound motor that generates a strong starting torque. Despite this, the electric motor manages to stay cool during prolonged winching. But on the flip side, the speed of the series wound motor varies between full load and no-load (more on this later).
- 5.4 HP, which helps to deliver a powerful yet smooth performance. The 3-stage planetary gear system helps with strong and smooth operation as well. The combination of these two features generates power transfer efficiency at 65 percent.
- An inline circuit breaker that acts as overload protection. There have been cases of winch fires, so a circuit breaker is always a nice feature to have. With that said, if you stick to the winch’s load capacity and don’t overwork it, you might never trip the breaker.
- An automatic load-holding brake that controls the speed when winching the vehicle and holds the load (positive load control) when the electric motor isn’t running.
- Remote control
- Several mounting options
The Badland ZXR 9000 Lb has a 12-foot wired remote control that makes it easy to use the winch even when you are alone. Unfortunately, in some situations, the 12-foot cable length can prove to be a little too short and put you in harm’s way. You can opt for a wireless remote control that will allow you to winch your vehicle at a good distance. However, be prepared to experience some delays.
Cable
The Badland ZXR 9000 Lb Electric winch features an aircraft-grade steel cable that’s 65 ft. long. Unlike some winches, Badland ZXR 900 Lb comes with the cable already wound. This saves you a lot of time during installation. This aircraft-grade steel cable is durable and strong enough to winch heavy loads.
Unlike synthetic cables, steel cables can withstand harsh conditions, abrasions, and fraying.
When winching with a steel cable, you should exercise caution. Always have a weight along the line to prevent a whip back if it snaps.
Most winches feature fairleads with two rollers (bottom and top), but Badland decided to go with four rollers. The rollers don’t spin fast, and the pins are difficult to bend. The fact that they are on all sides prevents the cable from getting twists and kinks. Unfortunately, the cable tends to collect on one side, so you’ll have to reset it constantly to avoid jamming.
Waterproof
The Badland ZXR 9000 Lb has an IP66 rating. What does this mean?
Well, the IP rating system was designed to rate enclosures on their level of protection against environmental elements. The technology used offers water and dust protection. If you’d want a winch that’s corrosion-resistant, look out for the NEMA rating.
IP ratings have two digits:
- The first refers to the protection against dust and foreign matter blown by the wind. These include pollen, dirt, dust, and other particles.
- The second digit represents protection against water, including submersion, precipitation, and water jets.
With an IP66 rating, this Badland winch offers high-level dust protection and the third-highest water protection level. While it can withstand some water jets, snow, and rain, it shouldn’t be submerged.
Winches that can withstand temporary submersion need at least an IP67 rating.
Winch Line Speed
The winch is fast. However, because of the series wound motor and the 3-stage planetary gear system used, the speed varies depending on the load. On the first layer, the speed is about 18.4 ft. per minute without a load and 5.5 ft. per minute when pulling the maximum load.
- Strong steel cable
- High Capacity
- Easy to install
- Free spooling
- It is compatible with wireless remote controls
- A little expensive
- With a wireless remote, there’s some delay
Should You Buy the Badland ZXR 9000 Lb, Electric Winch?
Though you can tow heavy SUVs and trucks, you should stick to midsized trucks and SUVs or as used as a trailer hitch winch (car trailer winch) to avoid overloading the winch. If you insist on using it on heavy trucks and SUVs, remember to take frequent breaks to keep it from overheating and overloading. This goes for most electric winches.
Hi, my name is Joe, and I’m the Founder and Editor behind Rugged Driving.
I made this site to share what I have learned as an off-road enthusiast. I hope my personal experience will help you enjoy this exciting activity even more!