How necessary are winches?

[Chard]

Hi, Did a search on winches and there are lots on cleaning, price and brands but nothing on necessity. I am between decisions about a winch on the front of my 100 cruiser. I have a winch bar but not the cradle and have been offered a good deal with TJM on a 12000lb OX.
So far I have in the "YES" corner,
Easy to recover, Can go out on my own with confidence, Can be removed when car is for sale and kept for next vehicle, Many more uses around the house and work, Offered price.
And in the "NO" corner,
More follow up recovery gear needed, Weight, Maintenance, Haven't needed one so far, Takes place of air tank and sand flag mount.
Thanks Moose.

 

[BILLBY]

great question

those who have them swear by them ,those who dont wait to be recovered

 

[Bruzer]

hey mate yeh i no a few blokes that have them and reckon that they have only used them 1 or 2 times but i reckon they must only drive on dirt roads im going to be getting one on me 80s when i can find some money but i think its a great idea, i have heard air lockers are the best way to go and dont get me wrong they are great but i see it as if your lockers cant get you out your stuffed and you still need a winch ay i reckon go with it mate you cant go wrong and if your getting a good deal HELL YEAH !!!!!!!!

 

[goldrush]

It all depends on the type of wheeling you do. I have one on my rig but hope not to use it. I think it is just a bit more "insurance." Even with a winch it is not a good idea to go out on your own. As for the air lockers, I think they are the most abused mod on a lot of rigs. If you don't have the skill required to use them properly they will just get you into a lot more trouble by getting you stuck so far off the track that no-one will be able or willing to recover you. The rule I use when risking my vehicle in a recovery is "How did you get stuck?" If it was through pure stupidity then you are on your own.

 

[croozza]

I have only ever used my winch twise, once it was in the garden pulling out trees at home, the other was winching the tree through the back gate into the back paddock.
However I do winch it fully out and back in once a week to keep everything lubed up and in good working order.

 

[teza h]

If you plan on doing any off roading on your own,it sure feels much better knowing that winch is up there with you,and you will finde that you will go places that you may not have with out the winch. The only other gear I'v packed for the winch is, Tree trunk protector, snatch block, bow shackles.The shackles go with your snatch strap any way,so not much extrer gear realy...I think it's worth it.

 

[OutBacker]

As someone else said it comes down to the type of driving that you do.

Electric winch is great where there are plenty of anchor points to use. If you wanted to save money and have more flexability you could get a hand winch. This could pull you from the front / back or the side. You also get a fitness workout too!

I only recently got a replacement electric winch. I did pretty well without one. Better tyres and lift stopped me getting stuck in the first place. So I'm an advocate of prevention is better than cure.

I got stuck on the sand in SA. My winch was useless to me because the winch just pulled my rescue vehicles closer. A snatch was a much better recovery option. Sometimes digging is your only way out.

Brad

 

[Jarh73]

I have only ever used my winch twise, once it was in the garden pulling out trees at home, the other was winching the tree through the back gate into the back paddock.
However I do winch it fully out and back in once a week to keep everything lubed up and in good working order.

I feel a bit better now as i used my winch on saturday to drag some large fallen tree limbs closer to the fire. Saved cutting them then carrying them

Winch came with the car and other than running out the cable, spraying lanotec on it and spooling it on i had not used it for any practical purpose.

Its a 12,000lb tigerz winch with the VERY handy cordless remote.

Clearly i don't get 4WDriving enough.

Cheers

Justin

 

[nothawhiteGQ]

I think it depends on your car and the sort of driving you want to do. If its fairly capable and you arn't going too extreme, i would'nt bother . But if its pretty stock and you want to go where the moded trucks are going i would get the winch and some bash plates. (and scull drag that thing anywhere you want to go)
I weighed up the pro's and con's when deciding myself and i bought a hand winch.
Pros v cons
Electric: ---Pro's---
: they Look nice
: Their quick to use
: Always ready to go (on the car)
: easy to use with 1 person

------con's-------
:extra wieght on the front
nly recover yourself forward
:dont work if batteries die
: dont work if the cars under water
: Spend more time helping others than helping yourself
: need a winch compatible front bar
ont like to be used for long periods of time

Hand/Turfer ----Pro's------
:They can be used any where
:They can pull from any direction (that's the big one)
:They can be used for more applications eg (if you roll it you can put yourself back over)
:you can put it in any car
:They last forever
ont need a special front bar

------Con's---------
:Their hard work (realy hard)
:Have to remember to take it
:slow slow slow
:Hard to use by yourself
:Take up room in the car (not much but some)
:dont look cool

I bought a winch so i can go anywhere on my own, if im stuck and i cant go forward an electric winch is useless.
Snatch strap and hand winch for me.

Feel free to add to the list of pro's and con's

P,s I hate it when someone with a winch insists on winching when a quik snatch will do the job

 

[croozza]

I feel a bit better now as i used my winch on saturday to drag some large fallen tree limbs closer to the fire. Saved cutting them then carrying them

Winch came with the car and other than running out the cable, spraying lanotec on it and spooling it on i had not used it for any practical purpose.

Its a 12,000lb tigerz winch with the VERY handy cordless remote.

Clearly i don't get 4WDriving enough.

Cheers

Justin

I have the same winch, but you need to keep the insides all lubed up too, so thats why I run the winch each week, it only takes a few minutes to do to.

 

[chris_stoffa]

One other thing to consider is the weight of a complete winch, up to around 45kg ( 100lb) and cradle is extra.
That's quite a bit to have hanging off the front of your vehicle and the equivalent of another smallish passenger all the time, not just on trips, so extra fuel, wear and tear.

Not saying don't get one if its justified for you.

Cheers

 

[phs]

I was makeing this decision my self 2 or so years ago....

And im very happy i didnt get one.
Mind you iv been out Countless time and been stuck over 50 or so times really bad some and others not so bad.

if i had one i would have used it maybe 2-3 times only, as the rest of the times i was pulling back not forward for the 2 resons below.
1. most of the time going forward when im stuck deep or bad, there will be worst to come ahead of where i am already, likly if i had a front mount it would pack up shop any how
2. there was nothing suitable in front of me to winch off.

i was given a hand winch and cable off a mate its a BIGHAUL one, never let me down i bought an ARB recovery pack and a few extra shackels, use it all the time, the first few times it was slow but the last few outtings iv used it, it was fine, in the otways on oregan trk. i had to use it 10 times in a few hours.
if only had a front mounted winch i would have been waiting for some one after i got stuck the first time.

not saying on my next rig i wouldnt like one if it comes with it, but i dont think id buy one for the cost and use factor does'nt wiegh up for me.

iv seen people useing the winch more times pulling other people out then them selves.
going out with 1 4x4 youd be fairly unprepared if you only had only a front mount winch.
you can be care full and think befor trying something "if i try this theres nothing to winch off forwards" and not have a go, but still you could get stuck in the stupid s spot and have dramas, As iv done befor

 

[4WDN]

I have only ever used my winch twise, once it was in the garden pulling out trees at home, the other was winching the tree through the back gate into the back paddock.
However I do winch it fully out and back in once a week to keep everything lubed up and in good working order.

Is that what Prados are for?

 

[4WDN]

I have used my winch in the bush a few times, comes in handy if your up a step climb, out in front and need a little extra pull, where the track may be wet or large rock ledges get you caught on.
Most places you can use a shovel or snatch strap. like everyone said it depends on how hard it is you get of road.
Come in handy on tracks for pulling trees out the way as well.

 

[4WDN]

I was Notified i won the winch on 4wdaction, comp. for pics of "Bogged" how good is that.
A winch for free, cant get much cheaper than that.
Enter the comps, you never know what could happen.
This months comp, is on scenic pics. Dont think they will let me win another Tigerz 11 winch

 

[Alien d2]

My Warn was on when we bought the beast.
Only used once for recovery when I had to skul drag through as couldn't move back 6"
Pulled trees of tracks 3 times and works well with a snatch block pulling them off the road.

When talking witha mate not long ago I said I'd go "turfer" next time,with a snatch block.

The one time I need it most...now power after being respooled 20min. eirlier
And when all else fails???? High lift
(Sorry guys and galls, you'll have to cliky the linky)
Australian Land Rover Owners
Doesn't my "little" boy look happy

 

[LowLux]

Can always look at the hand winch. May be more work to do but cheaper to purchase, lighter and can leave it home when not needed hence saving the weight on the front end. JMO though.

 

[cptmud]

i have used both, and the electric winch is soo much easier. havnt had to use all that much, but the times i have , i have been thankfull i had it

 

[Big Rig]

I guess the necessity of a winch really depends on whether you intend pushing your car to its limits.

 

[phs]

My Warn was on when we bought the beast.
Only used once for recovery when I had to skul drag through as couldn't move back 6"
Pulled trees of tracks 3 times and works well with a snatch block pulling them off the road.

When talking witha mate not long ago I said I'd go "turfer" next time,with a snatch block.

The one time I need it most...now power after being respooled 20min. eirlier
And when all else fails???? High lift
(Sorry guys and galls, you'll have to cliky the linky)
Australian Land Rover Owners
Doesn't my "little" boy look happy

Turfer are good winches....
as for the high lift, there SLo]w as slow gets.

Hand winchs are not that much hard work. people just think they are and whine about it
iv used myn that many times now iv got it down pat bearly hard work.
had many a harder times on the shovel in the garden.

most of the time you set it up and with in a few mins your free'ed out due to the useablilty of been able to choose the easyest angle to get out from.

just cant tell every one how hand they are...