WARN Epic Gear Line

Warns Epic Line

About 2 years ago, I first saw Warn's epic shackles and was very impressed by the nontraditional styling. Upon handling I saw the weight rating of 9 ton and with a standard shackle of the same size rated typically for 4 ¾ ton I knew why they chose the word Epic for this product. With the increased weight rating I wanted to get a set of them right away and about 1 year later I was finally able to get myself a set.  Since the Warn Epic Line shackles arrived I have been using them and the rest of the Epic line on a regular basis.  So how did the Warn Epic Line do in the hands of Off Road Consulting? Below is our review on what we experienced and our thoughts of each product pertaining to the Warn Epic Line including the Shackle, Tree trunk protector, Snatch Block and Winch Hook.  Included is Warn’s information to show specifications.

Epic Line Shackle
Right away we noticed that there is a longer neck to these shackles which allows for a slightly larger bow for straps to fit in.  Sizes come in ¾” and ½”.  Off Road Consulting tested with the ¾”.
 We had heard that these shackles were prone to peeling coating and rusting. To determine if there was any truth to this we left our Warn Epic on the front of our Off Road Training vehicle to be used and abused daily on and off road.
Despite being dipped in mud on a regular basis, pulled and hooked to regularly, covered in bug debris from highway driving and the constant banging off the bumper, there is not a single chip.
Factor in being dropped regularly during winch hook ups, recoveries, and other demonstrations the coating, but more importantly the product holds up flawlessly.
Needles to say these are awesome shackles!
Not only are they stylish and nontraditional shape, they have a strong weight capacity, and as with other  WARN products, they are durable, reliable and dependable. With the weight ratings on these you have exactly what you need in a steel shackle.

Warn offers the following information:
     This forged steel clevis shackle provides a means for connecting the looped ends of cables, straps, and snatch blocks. The shackle's pin is threaded to allow easy removal. For maximum protection against wear and abrasion, the premium shackle uses Cerakote coating.

PN 92092 Epic Shackle - For 5,000 lb. (2268 kg) capacity winches and under. 1/2" (12.7mm) shackle with 5/8" (15.9mm) pin diameter.

PN 92093 Epic Shackle 3/4" - For 18,000 lb. (8165 kg) capacity winches and under. 3/4" (20mm) shackle with 7/8" (22mm) pin diameter

Warn Epic Tree Trunk Protector
Tree trunk protectors, they are not very complex but they serve a huge purpose.
Right away we could tell the Warn Epic Tree Trunk Protector is unique and with our 4”x 8’ tree trunk protector we took it to the woods.
We were a little skeptical with the steel rings as opposed to the loop ends in a normal tree protector.
The steel rings add a little weight but they actually help make hook up a lot smoother and the rings allow for an easy seat in winch hook, steel shackle, or soft shackle.
  Again the product is tough and has been abused to the rated weights and keeps asking for more all while doing its job.
  The red warning marker is always a wonderful add on for safety and shows you when the product needs replaced.

Warn offers the following information:
The WARN Epic Tree Trunk Protector is designed to help protect a live tree from damage during winching operations and self recovery situations. The strap is constructed of premium quality nylon with an encased red warning marker to indicate damaged webbing. Plus, end loops are reinforced with durable forged steel ring connectors and E-coated for premium protection against wear and abrasion.

PN 92096 4" x 8' (10cm x 2.4m) Rated to 30,000 lbs. (13607 kg)

PN 92095 2" x 8' (5cm x 2.4m) Rated to 14,400 lbs. (6531 kg)

PN 92094 1" x 8' (2.5cm x 2.4m) Rated to 7,200 lbs. (3265 kg)


Warn Epic Snatch Block
Our next product to test was the Warn Epic Snatch Block and with the 18,000lbs snatch block in hand we went to work. You won't hear the word beautiful often when it comes to recovery gear but this snatch block is constructed well and has beautiful styling but better than that, it works flawlessly.  This isn’t the light weight, light duty models of before, these are heavy duty and built tough.  With all these factors the outcome is easy and safer winching. The built in grease fitting help keeps the pulley spinning freely.  When you have these types of forces happening in a recovery you want a product that can take it and the Warn Epic Line is that product.

Used properly, the multi-purpose WARN Epic Snatch Block can double the pulling power of any winch or change your pulling direction without damaging the wire or synthetic rope. It also helps to reduce heat buildup and amp draw during recovery. Finished with E-coat and able to accept both wire and synthetic rope, the forged steel Epic Snatch Block is reliable, durable and ready for action.

PN 92097: Rated to 5,000 lbs. (2268 kg) winch capacity and under

PN 92188 Rated to 12,000 lbs. (5443 kg) winch capacity and under

PN 93195: Rated to 18,000 lbs. (8165 kg) winch capacity and under

Warn Epic Winch Hook
We tested the 18,000 lb. winch hook on our Toyota Tundra tow rig as it is a heavy vehicle and we wanted to have strength where needed.  The size of the throat of the hook is adequate for bigger tree savers and straps, something not found very commonly with winch hooks.  The auto closing clasp is a lot stronger than the winch hooks of old.  Common hooks have a very cheesy clasp to close the throat.  The epic winch hook has a beefy clasp that locks everything in securely.  We put the Warn Epic Winch Hook through its paces winching some serious loads and didn’t have a single issue.

Warn offers the following information:

     Made from ultra-strong forged steel, the WARN Epic Winch Hook with E-coat finish provides maximum protection and reliability against wear and abrasion.

PN 92090 (3/8") For 12,000 lb. (4536 kg) capacity winches and under. Note: will fit Spydura Ropes (PN: 87915 and 88468) and Spydura Pro (PN: 93120 and 96040)

PN 92091 (1/2") For 18,000 lb. (8165 kg) capacity winches and under. Note: Will only fit wire rope products, not Spydura or Spydura Pro.  We found it fit all of our synthetic rope and steel cables.

  
From real world recoveries to company winch training's and safety demonstrations, Off Road Consulting has put the Warn Epic Line through some real tests and the products have always come out on top. When you are out in the field and the trails call for a recovery, you want safe and reliable hook ups. With the Warn Epic Line you can be confident that when used properly no job is too tough for WARN.

Off Road Only U-Turn Steering

ORO Steering

Off Road Consulting has been a fan and using Off Road Only products for awhile.  We recently attended an event and had the opportunity to meet the folks at Off Road Only or ORO. Off Road Only was created to fulfill the unmet needs and safety issues that are encountered by off road enthusiasts out in the field. After discussing with ORO about the steering issues we have been having with our 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (LJ), lifted with 35" BFG A/T KO2s and stock drive train, they recommended we try their ORO U-Turn Steering. 

We had been searching for a steering set up for our LJ that could keep up with Off Road Consulting, which exposes its Jeep and all its components to the trails 4-5 days a week for 6 plus hours at a time. With a larger tire such as a 35, you are adding more weight and in return it takes a lot of force to get these tires to move.  Factor in a real world off road driving scenarios when you are in a situation of having larger tires against an obstacle. This punishes the factory steering and with a vehicle that is off road more than on the road.  On various trails there is a large amount of stress on the Jeep.

 The factory steering quickly revealed to us how it was not up to the tasks that I had asked of it. This began our search for a steering set up that could meet our needs.

When we began our search for the upgraded steering, like everyone else, we wanted a big, beefy, set up but within budget.

Over the years I have learned that if something breaks or wears out, you can be without your vehicle several days waiting on parts to arrive at your doorstep. When you rely on your vehicle as much as we do we can't be down for an extended period of time. 

Looking into steering one feature I looked for is having tie rod ends that are easily purchased from a regular auto parts store.  Why is this important? When you are in need of your vehicle whether work related or have a planned off road driving excursion, the last thing you want to do is wait for parts to arrive in the mail.  This also helps when away from home you can still hit the local parts store up for what you need.   If they are a regular sku at your local auto parts store, you can get yourself back up and on the trails in a more timely fashion instead of waiting on the mail or paying for overnight rates.

The first upgraded steering kit I purchased was a ream the knuckle one ton style.  This kit was tough and well built however for some reason it went through tie rod ends.  Compared to the factory setup it was an improvement but was not very tight when driving at speed and it felt like we always had to counter steer to stay between the lines while on the road.  Another noticeable issue was feeling the steering flop or steering dead spots when the steering goes from right to left.

I continued my search for steering that fit my needs.....Then I was shown the Off Road Only U-Turn Steering.  It had the features I wanted, heavy tie rod, auto part store tie rod ends, and a system that claimed to provide additional strength and improve responsiveness. 

The U-Turn™ features a Solid 1.25" heat treated chromoly steel drag link, includes Moog Problem Solver tie rod ends for the drag link and tie rod which allow for a wide range of alignment, easily adjust toe-in by spinning tie rod, black E-coated to prevent rust and a simple bolt-on installation for TJ Dana 30/44 front axles with or without ABS.

 Needless to say I could not wait to bolt this on!

 From the old steering that my jeep had, the knuckles and pitman arm were reamed out which needed to be addressed.
 I put a new pitman arm on and used a larger bolt than supplied in the kit to use on the knuckles.
 The kit has you bolt a bracket to the knuckle and the tie rod and drag link attach to that.
Now I am not the best with steering geometry but this seemed to be completely different than what every other company runs.  How will this work?  I was anxious to test it.
This is a 100% bolt-on kit was relatively easy to install and it can be easily removed to return the vehicle back to stock if needed.

After getting everything bolted it was time for test drive number one- on the road.
Remember the counter steering I had to do with the old system? Not anymore. The jeep handled like it was stock and if I had to I could drive with one hand on the wheel. From having to focus and brace for any bumps on the road, to being able to drive and not having to worry about the road conditions was a huge. No more steering dead spot or flopping feeling as it completely eliminated this issue that is common with a lifted jeep.
This was all fine and good but the real question was how would it work on the trails? Time for test drive number two!
To the trails we went and while our LJ is lifted with 35s it rode and responded like a stock vehicle again. The tie rod proved how tough it is with tackling various off road terrains including those pesky stumps that like to bend tie rods. Not with the ORO steering as it bounced right back into place with no damage. Off Road Only claims that the U-Turn provide additional strength and improves responsiveness and it goes above and beyond this claim and with a vehicle that has more trail time than road time, we need all the strength we can get.

What about those tie rod ends that kept wearing out? With the Moog components of U-Turn it provides a more durable and extended life on the tie rod ends but yet if there is a wear out, I can simply visit my local auto parts store for a quick fix.

How about maintenance? With other steering setups we have had, because there was so much movement with the components it forced the grease out prematurely which in return left us greasing weekly with up to 3 pumps of grease. What can you expect with the ORO U-Turn?  The greaseable socket design allows new lubricant to flush contaminants from the assembly, reducing corrosion and wear.   The Moog ends have tighter tolerances and better grease flow.  We went from weekly steering maintenance to once a month and only using about half a pump of grease.

The ORO U-Turn steering has been a huge upgrade to the Off Road Consulting off road training vehicle. After seeing just what this steering set up is capable of doing, we would recommend this product to everyone. To the lifted daily driver that off roads a handful of times throughout the year to those who see the trails 4-5 days a week as we do at Off Road Consulting. The on and off road performance of the ORO U-Turn Steering stands above the other steering systems we have used in the past and has met Off Road Consulting's steering needs. Off Road Only did just what they said and fulfilled our unmet needs and provided the U-Turn , bringing Off Road Consulting's steering search needs to an end.

Warn's Wireless Remote Control System

Cutting the Cord with Warn's Wireless Remote Control System

 

By: Kyle Buchter

Photography By: 

File Photo

August 15, 2016

We have heard many people give their opinion on using wireless winch remotes, some good and some bad. How will Warn's Wireless Remote system stack up?
First off, here is the part’s description from Warn Industries:
The Warn Wireless Remote Control System lets you remotely control your WARN truck/SUV winch from up to 50' away. The new system is plug-and-play: It simply plugs in where you'd normally attach your corded remote-- no wiring, no hassle. Will work with any five-wire WARN truck/SUV winch. Weatherproof transmitter has two large buttons making it easy to operate, even while wearing gloves. Two-color LED provides clear operator feedback. Easy plug-and-play installation. Sealed for protection against the elements. Activation sequence guards against accidental power-ups.
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Over the years, we have talked with many people who have mixed emotions about using wireless remotes. The things we’ve heard are that they are unsafe and do not allow you to be as ‘in tune’ with the winch as needed when in use. However, safety with these is all in the competence of the user, just like the winch it is attached to. You have to be aware of what you are doing and treat it like a regular remote.
For ourselves, we used an off-brand style wireless remote 10+ years ago that turned out to be a horrible design. But seeing this Warn Wireless Remote Control System gave us the itch to try a 'wire-free' system again.
There are quite a few reasons why the Warn Wireless System works well. When doing demonstrations, this product makes it easy to control the winch from a distance. I prefer to be near the attachment points when people are doing the rigging. Then, to put tension on the line, the wireless remote works perfect because I can put tension on from that spot. I am not winching a huge length of line so it works out well.
Even still, you have to be aware of your surroundings and a nice feature in this situation is the Warn Wireless Remote shuts off after two minutes of non-use. When you have a wired remote hanging back at the winch, you are not near your attachments and you either need a helper to work the remote, or you have to yell to those watching – both of which could be somewhat distracting. Plus, the wired remote is always 'live' which presents the chance for it to be accidentally picked up or activated by someone inadvertently stepping on the remote.
The next part of set up, if you are winching, is you should be in the drivers seat. Correct? What if you have a vehicle with a winch bumper and a large hood? The wired remote probably is just not long enough to reach into the cab to use. Sure you can buy a longer remote but then you have to find places to wrap the wire around so it doesn’t get caught in the tires, winch, etc. Warn’s Wireless System works well because you can have the flexibility to use without any fear of getting the wire caught.
One question we hear a lot - Does the wireless create more run on? Not with testing on our ti9.5, 8000lb, or a few others we tried. The amount of run on was the same. Now, this isn’t the Zeon Platinum Edition but it still works great with any five-wire Warn winch set up.
So the pros and cons of Warn's Wireless Remote Control System:
Pros:
Great for being near the rigging during winch set up. You do not have to walk back and forth as much.
Shuts off after 2 minutes. Wired remote is always live and can be picked up while you are away from winch or stepped on.
User can be in any position and control. Not leashed to the winch.
Cons:
Tends to lead user away from controlled view of the winch while in use (all relative to the competence of the user).
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This Warn Wireless Control System is a good asset to your winching tool bag, but only when used properly. Make sure you can always keep an eye on the winch when possible and always control the situation. Watch how your cable or rope is spooled and keep everything in good working order. Do not winch unless you can see the situation and make sure that everything is clear. Overall, this is a great product that definitely can help with making nearly every winching situation easier.