You should get 8000 lb pull minimun. Virtually all the less expensive winches are made in China. The biggest differences between electric winches is the size and type of motor and gear reduction. The least expensive winches ($300 for 8000lb pull) use permanant magnet motors (PM) and the rest use series wound motors (SW) (electomagnetic). The SW motors have more power in a smaller motor unit and turn faster than PM motors. Permanant mag motors are also subject to loosing some power with age if they are run hot. For another $150-$200 more you can get a decent SW motor winch, Mile Marker comes to mind as a well known less expensive brand. Mile Markers are made in China. Warns entry level winches are also made in china I believe. The winches made in the USA are the expensive ones. there is very little difference in the way they are designed and built (excpt the Warn 8274, Big $$$$). If you're on a tight budget a PM winch will do fine. They are slower because they have more reduction but pull just as hard. Do a lot of research and shopping before buying one. Using the search button on this forum can turn up a lot of opinions and information posted in the past. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />