Warn Evo vs Zeon vs Zeon Platinum Feedback

[jclark]

First - thank you for all of the comments and sharing for a collection of questions I had while research winch solutions for a collection of needs I have - I've stalked and posted on a variety of previous threads.

For those just joining, I have a 4-door Badlands with the modular bumper and LUX package and I wanted a solution that minimally impacted my approach angle, didn't block the grille letters and ideally, allowed me to re-use a 20" light bar I have on the bumper. Bonus if I could add a bull bar that protected the winch and didn't block the grille letters.

EDIT to Add - I also do not want to impede the use of ACC and parking sensors that are part of the LUX package.

Here is what I'm leaning towards -

RC high winch Mount
M2M camera relocation
LOD horn reinforcement brackets
Turn bull bar (will wait to confirm clears installed wish on RC high winch mount)

With the RC high winch mount, to not block the grille, I will need to relocate the winch control box. All three of the Warn options I'm considering support that without an issue. But, when considering the use of each of these options, there are additional considerations and I'm hoping to get some feedback -

Evo and Zeon both come with wired remote, and are compatible with the WARN wireless options (either hub for bluetooth or their hand held wireless remove that use the receiver that plugs into where the wired control would plug in).

• Can the wireless receiver always stay plugged into the relocated control box? Or is that something that needs to be setup before off-roading?
• Should I be considering an option to add/relocate the controller "port" to someplace other the engine bay (assuming that is where the control box will be relocated to)? This assumes there is a way to do this with the Warns....

Zeon Platinum only supports the included wireless remote - which I've read does not hold a charge much longer than 2 weeks without recharging.

• Has anyone used an adapter with one of the 12v charging ports on the Bronco to keep this plugged in for continual charging (like using the one in the storage console)?
• Is a wireless only solution too much of a risk?

Any other considerations between the three Warn models?

As an alternate -
Ford Bronco winch kit. This gets me OEM frame horn reinforcement (bonus) and the Zeon 10-S winch (provided that was the winch I favored). If I give up re-using my 20" light bar and don't mind the impact to the approach angle - this is a solid option - and competitively priced with the Ford Performance sales. A compromise could be to use the RC high mount instead of the Ford bracket - making the value of the kit the OEM frame-horn reinforcement and the winch.

Too many options... lol.

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[HighVelocity]

It doesn't matter when appearance is more important than function.

 

[Tricky Mike]

I can't comment on the other 2, but my Evo has been fantastic, to the point where I bought another identical one for my 66.

 

[Razorbak86]

Why are you worried about blocking the Bronco grill letters, but seemingly ambivalent to blocking the LUX bumper proximity sensors?

 

[jclark]

Why are you worried about blocking the Bronco grill letters, but seemingly ambivalent to blocking the LUX bumper proximity sensors?

Not looking to block the ACC or parking sensors.

RC high mount includes relocation for the parking sensors and does NOT interfere with ACC.

If I gave the Ford OEM winch kit more serious considering to include their plate, I would need to DIY relocate the parking sensors - and there's some forum discussions that folks with ACC have not had issues with it blocking the OEM ACC plate location.

 

[RagnarKon]

• VR/VR Evo — Their entry-level model originally based on the old classic M8000. WARN released these after the market got flooded with cheap winches and their sales took a big hit as a result. Manufactured in China.
• Zeon — The design WARN is known for these days. Higher line speed, more corrosion resistance, better water seals, etc. Manufactured in the USA.
• Zeon Platinum — Basically a Zeon with all of the extra upgrade goodies like a wireless remote. Also manufactured in USA.

Personally went with the Ford Performance kit because it comes bundled with a Zeon winch and because it is one of the few (only?) kits that reinforces the frame horns for those winch pulls that may not be 100% parallel to the vehicle itself.

I also have the Mid package, so no worries about sensors and all of that nonsense.

 

[jclark]

• VR/VR Evo — Their entry-level model originally based on the old classic M8000. WARN released these after the market got flooded with cheap winches and their sales took a big hit as a result. Manufactured in China.
• Zeon — The design WARN is known for these days. Higher line speed, more corrosion resistance, better water seals, etc. Manufactured in the USA.
• Zeon Platinum — Basically a Zeon with all of the extra upgrade goodies like a wireless remote. Also manufactured in USA.

Personally went with the Ford Performance kit because it comes bundled with a Zeon winch and because it is one of the few (only?) kits that reinforces the frame horns for those winch pulls that may not be 100% parallel to the vehicle itself.

I also have the Mid package, so no worries about sensors and all of that nonsense.

Thanks @RagnarKon. I know I've ready some of your posts on your winch setup on other threads.

The Ford kit is really tempting. The OEM frame horn reinforcement is a huge attraction - and if it was a bit less in cost, would be a contender just for the winch and frame horn reinforcement parts.

I'm still leaning towards the RC high mount - primarily because it doesn't impact the approach angle. Bonus that I can re-use my 20" light bar. The LOD frame horn reinforcements are better than not reinforcing - but I know it's not on par with the OEM option that comes with the OEM kit.

The OEM kit can be DIY modified to add front parking sensors (like JCR does) - and I've read that many don't notice an issue with the ACC. It would not be an option to have Ford install, since at least when I checked with my dealer - it's an all or nothing install. They can't install it without changing the dealer only settings that kill the front sensors and put ACC to normal mode.

 

[RagnarKon]

Thanks @RagnarKon. I know I've ready some of your posts on your winch setup on other threads.

The Ford kit is really tempting. The OEM frame horn reinforcement is a huge attraction - and if it was a bit less in cost, would be a contender just for the winch and frame horn reinforcement parts.

I'm still leaning towards the RC high mount - primarily because it doesn't impact the approach angle. Bonus that I can re-use my 20" light bar. The LOD frame horn reinforcements are better than not reinforcing - but I know it's not on par with the OEM option that comes with the OEM kit.

The OEM kit can be DIY modified to add front parking sensors (like JCR does) - and I've read that many don't notice an issue with the ACC. It would not be an option to have Ford install, since at least when I checked with my dealer - it's an all or nothing install. They can't install it without changing the dealer only settings that kill the front sensors and put ACC to normal mode.

Adaptive Cruise Control and the Parking Sensors are both settings that can be altered in the Sync settings—doesn't require any special software... something you can do in your driveway.

The one thing that is unique to the dealer (or someone with FDRS) is the RCM programming—Restraint Control Module. That's the module responsible for your seatbelts, airbags, and other misc safety features. The dealer is essentially just asked to reconfigure the RCM so that the module is aware of the winch and acts appropriately during a crash. For some people, that's a huge benefit to have the safety features operate as they should, for others it's kind of a non-factor. Admittedly it wasn't something high on my priority list when choosing the Ford Performance setup, but it does provide some extra peace-of-mind given my Bronco is the family vacation vehicle.

Also the Ford kit dropped to $2,000 in case you weren't aware. Obviously the Rough Country setup is far cheaper, particularly if you were pairing it with a cheaper winch like the Harbor Freight Badlands Apex, WARN VR EVO, or Rough Country's own winch.. But if you were looking at the WARN Zeon, the price is actually in the same general ballpark nowadays—within a few hundred bucks.

 

[jclark]

Adaptive Cruise Control and the Parking Sensors are both settings that can be altered in the Sync settings—doesn't require any special software... something you can do in your driveway.

The one thing that is unique to the dealer (or someone with FDRS) is the RCM programming—Restraint Control Module. That's the module responsible for your seatbelts, airbags, and other misc safety features. The dealer is essentially just asked to reconfigure the RCM so that the module is aware of the winch and acts appropriately during a crash. For some people, that's a huge benefit to have the safety features operate as they should, for others it's kind of a non-factor. Admittedly it wasn't something high on my priority list when choosing the Ford Performance setup, but it does provide some extra peace-of-mind given my Bronco is the family vacation vehicle.

Also the Ford kit dropped to $2,000 in case you weren't aware. Obviously the Rough Country setup is far cheaper, particularly if you were pairing it with a cheaper winch like the Harbor Freight Badlands Apex, WARN VR EVO, or Rough Country's own winch.. But if you were looking at the WARN Zeon, the price is actually in the same general ballpark nowadays—within a few hundred bucks.

Good to know that I could undo the programming changes that I want to for the ACC and parking sensors if I went with a dealer install.

Actually, with the 4th of July promo code, that winch kit is $1750.... which is what had me looking at it pretty hard as an option, even if I end up using the RC mount instead of the Ford mount (so use the frame horn reinforcements and Zeon 10S winch from the kit, but with the RC bracket). With either, I need to relocate the camera and account for moving 2 of the parking sensors.

$288 for the dealer to install the OEM kit also sounds very appealing.... other than, they won't do the camera relocation or parking sensors relocations. And I'm guessing those should be done at the same time and not after the fact.

But then I got looking at the new Warn Zeon XD 10S.... and wondered if the XD over the non XD is a better consideration. I can't find a lot of detail on specific differences between the XD and non XD Zeon models - other than the XD is 7X faster when not under load, a tad smaller, and about 10 lbs lighter.

I'm sure the Zeon non XD would do anything I needed it to - but just knowing there is a newer version with apparently better features means I need to check it out....lol

The approach angle is probably my biggest con for the OEM kit. Maybe it will never be an issue - but if/when it is - it is. Like having a winch - you don't need it until you do.

 

[RagnarKon]

But then I got looking at the new Warn Zeon XD 10S.... and wondered if the XD over the non XD is a better consideration. I can't find a lot of detail on specific differences between the XD and non XD Zeon models - other than the XD is 7X faster when not under load, a tad smaller, and about 10 lbs lighter.

I'm sure the Zeon non XD would do anything I needed it to - but just knowing there is a newer version with apparently better features means I need to check it out....lol

The approach angle is probably my biggest con for the OEM kit. Maybe it will never be an issue - but if/when it is - it is. Like having a winch - you don't need it until you do.

Yeah the Zeon XD is brand new, released about a month ago.

I also don't know much about it. As far as I can tell it's basically the second generation Zeon winch, much in the same way that the VR EVO was the second generation VR winch. But they haven't really come out and say all of the changes they made over the 1st gen Zeon winch.

I suspect one of the reasons (if not the reason) why the Ford Performance kit dropped down to $2000 is because Warn is blowing out old stock of the first generation Zeon winches. I've also noticed that Warn themselves has been regularly putting the 1st gen Zeon on-sale via their website, which is something they rarely did outside of the holiday sales in the past.

 

[jclark]

Found this on another forum and through I'd put here

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