To winch or not to winch....

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bz on August 30, 2009 at 8:59am

good choice on the bumper an 8000lbs winch would be good insurance

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Permalink Reply by Josh Earl on August 30, 2009 at 11:38am

does that even fit in the winch bumper they make? I can't seem to find info except that it only allows room for a "light weight" winch

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Permalink Reply by opg4759 on August 30, 2009 at 12:07pm

It really comes down to do you put yourself into situations that would require you to winch yourself out? or is it a status thing to have on your rig? We have a lot of rigs in the group that have winched so there is no shortage of having the tool available but in the grand scheme of life how many times have any of us used them? I don't think I've been on one run yet that we had to winch somebody out of something. I think the only time I've used a winch in the last 2 years was when we did the training day in Hollister.

If you feel the need I agree with Bz a 8000lbs winch minimum, like a Warn M8000 or even stepping up to a 9000XD(which is what I have) or the Superwinch EP9.0, are good choices. Look on craigslist you often find an decent used one and then do a basic rebuild for a 3rd of the cost of a new winch. Also look to go with synthetic line rather then steel, for weight savings. Masterpull and Amsteel Blue(which I have) are great synthetic choices.

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Permalink Reply by ray gates on August 30, 2009 at 1:45pm

Hey my winch has come very handy on a bunch of trails I have done. Hey maybe I am trying to hard... Yeah used five or six times on the Rubicon this year mainly when high centered... Did use it to go up a very steep hill with no traction... I think they are very useful.

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Permalink Reply by Estysalinas on August 31, 2009 at 10:30am

I think I end up using my winch much more then I had orginally expected. Most of the times I have had to use it have been at folsom lake watching AWD buicks think they can swim through mud. Generally I just sit there and watch them squirm for a while, but i generally give in before they pay 200$ for a tow truck.

It has come in useful in the deep snow though, earlier this year I went up to watson lake (alone, prety easy trail), but there was so much snow on the ground, I thought I could make it through some of the larger snow drifts left but I just ended up getting about half way through (snow was to warm imo, but w/e). Hi-Lift wasn't really safe to use, nobody to pull me out, winch was pretty much the only option (other than waiting for the snow to melt!).

I don't regret having it one bit. Always nice to be prepared, especially when traveling alone.

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Permalink Reply by opg4759 on August 31, 2009 at 11:58am

Don't get me wrong I"m not saying not to get one. Just where is it on the priority list?

I would consider armor and suspension more important then a winch when setting up a new rig.

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Permalink Reply by Estysalinas on August 31, 2009 at 7:48pm

definitly agree with the above statement, there are other things i would spend money on before a winch.

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