Kings Domin8r Winch Review (X & Xtreme Models)

Budget winches have become more and more popular over the recent years. Mostly because these cheaper winches have caught up with the quality and technology of their premium counterparts.

Kings Domin8r winch is one of those budget options that has risen in popularity in Australia. But is it a good winch or a complete rip-off?

This Kings Domin8r winch review aims to answer your questions regarding both the Domin8r X and Xtreme models as well as offer you some recommendations on whether you should buy them or not.

Pros & Cons

Design

The Kings Domin8r X and Xtreme are very similar in terms of design. Both weigh around 27kg and have roughly the same dimensions. 525mm long, 160mm wide, and 190mm tall.

Both are equipped with a synthetic rope designed to be easy to use and safer than their steel counterpart. However, it does need to be maintained as regularly.

In saying this, the synthetic rope does not do well with abrasion, so if you’re in a position where the rope is rubbing the ground while you’re winching it in, it might get damaged.

With regards to their controller, the Domin8r X is controlled by a 3.7m hand controller while the Domin8r Xtreme benefits from a wireless controller.

Having a wireless controller makes it a lot easier to use the winch, especially if you’re alone in a remote location.

Looking at them side by side, both winches are made with high-quality materials and look very tough.

Power Specs

The Domin8r X and Xtreme are both powered by a 7.2 HP motor with a gear ratio of 218:1. This is the equivalent of the pulling power of a V8.

It’s rated to 12,000 lbs and is perfect for heavy 4WDs.

Both are pretty similar in terms of pulling power but the main difference between the Domin8r X and the Domin8r Xtreme is the braking system.

The Domin8r Xtreme is equipped with a larger, better brake setup that is designed to prevent the winch drum from excessively heating up under heavy use.

When you’re winching in, sometimes your vehicle slips and suddenly falls back, therefore, relying on the winch’s braking system to prevent it from rolling backward.

The braking system of the Domin8r Xtreme is larger, therefore, better at performing under shock load conditions.

The 3-planetary gear setup and powerful motor should lessen the noise, however, one user we’ve seen in the reviews complained that it was a bit noisier than other winches.

Known Issues & Warranty

Known Issues

In general, most owners of these winches have been reasonably happy with their performance.

However, there are a number of customers that have complained about the quality of the product.

Firstly, according to many, the grease used in the gearbox is low quality and you can hear metal-to-metal contact.

It’s suggested to regrease the gearbox before installing it to your vehicle to avoid future damage.

Secondly, a customer complained that his Domin8r X winch stopped working right when he needed it most. He added that he’s used it only three times within 8 months.

Kings have made improvements in their winches to a better, more powerful motor and a larger braking system. His case was referring to the old Domin8r X before the upgrades.

Thirdly, another customer pointed out that the wireless controller of his Domin8r Xtreme stopped working after the first use.

This could be an isolated case since hundreds of these winches are being sold each month and there are not many complaints about the controller.

Warranty

The Domin8r X gets a 1-year warranty while the Domin8r Xtreme gets an extended 2-year warranty.

If you’ve ever had to deal with the Kings warranty claim department before, you’ll know that this can be a tedious experience. Expect to wait weeks to months before getting a repair or replacement on any gear.

Price

The Domin8r winches are considered a budget option and are priced at around half the price of a premium winch.

I would say that for its price, the Domin8r winches perform pretty well.

With the powerful motors, new braking system, and warranty period, I’d consider these are decent value.

Kings Domin8r Winches - FAQ

How do you use the Kings Domin8r winch?

Using the Domin8r winch is just like any other winch. Set the clutch into free spool mode, then wrap the tree hook to the base of the tree (use a tree protector if you have one).

Then, hook your winch and start winching in.

How do you grease a Domin8r winch?

First, unscrew the bolts and remove the gearbox cover. Individually remove its components and lay them out in sequential order based on how you removed them on the table.

Then, wipe the old grease off using a clean towel.

Apply a generous amount of high-quality, marine-grade grease to all the gear components.

Then, pop the components back on and put back the cover.

How do you wire a Kings winch?

First, fit the wires to their respective colour-coded terminals on the winch. There are 3 coloured wires: red, yellow, and black.

Make sure to tighten up the knots to prevent the wirings from getting detached.

Then, take the long, separate black wire and connect it to the ground terminal.

Run the long red and black wire into your vehicle’s battery. Connect the positive (red) wire first, then connect the negative (black) to their respective terminals on the battery.

Once that’s done, continue with the rest of the installation process and your winch should now be working perfectly.

Final Thoughts - Kings Domin8r Winch Review

The King’s Domin8r winch has a powerful motor that can get you out of most tricky situations that require a winch.

There were several complaints regarding its quality, however, Kings has made upgrades since those customer reviews were published.

For those who own heavy 4x4s, I recommend going for the Xtreme over the regular Kings Domin8r.

They have a better braking setup which helps protect the winch under heavy use.

Nevertheless, both options are great for off-roaders or remote travellers looking for a good quality winch on a tight budget.