I need a winch, but why?

[Browning]

Its amazing the uses you will find for a winch. So far I've pulled two other people out, pulled a ton of shrubs up from the front of my house, and used it to put up a 20ft ladder stand!

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[Summitsearcher]

Its amazing the uses you will find for a winch. So far I've pulled two other people out, pulled a ton of shrubs up from the front of my house, and used it to put up a 20ft ladder stand!

That’s what I’m talking about!

 

[OffroadAlliance.com]

A winch is just like flood insurance, you may never need it but when you do...

I have had a winch on every offroad vehicle I've owned since my first '81 CJ7. Ranking the number of times I've used my winch over the years, I'd guess it looks something like this:
#1 - Pulling cars out of the snow (when I lived in Idaho)
#2 - Helping others that I've happened upon on trail that were stuck
#3 - Yard work
#4 - Getting myself unstuck (only twice...ever...in 40 years of offroading...same trail, same spot, 2 different vehicle)

On paper, it doesn't seem like a smart investment; but I've found it indispensable.

BTW...why would you buy a synthetic winch rope without the winch? Buy a snatch rope instead.

EDIT: my wife pointed out that I needed to detail the "Getting myself unstuck" part because it happened in the same spot on the same trail in both my JTR and JKUR. That obstacle just has my number; however, I have actually cleared it as many times as I've been high-centered on it as well.

This is a perfect depiction of why to get a winch. The applications are pretty vast and it'll pay for itself in 2-3 uses. I've also used mine to help others get unstuck when I've come across it. It's pretty awesome being able to help someone who didn't think they'd get unstuck. I've also had multiple trails that have had fallen trees that needed winching out of the way so that helps a lot. Sucks when you have to turn back because of one tree.

 

[Summitsearcher]

This is a perfect depiction of why to get a winch. The applications are pretty vast and it'll pay for itself in 2-3 uses. I've also used mine to help others get unstuck when I've come across it. It's pretty awesome being able to help someone who didn't think they'd get unstuck. I've also had multiple trails that have had fallen trees that needed winching out of the way so that helps a lot. Sucks when you have to turn back because of one tree.

All good points and reason I gave in and bought one. My point was about ole school methods used before winches were mainstream. I’m a farm critter and had many times tried to get out on my own without one. Thank God I was sucessful.

 

[BearFootSam]

This is a perfect depiction of why to get a winch. The applications are pretty vast and it'll pay for itself in 2-3 uses. I've also used mine to help others get unstuck when I've come across it. It's pretty awesome being able to help someone who didn't think they'd get unstuck. I've also had multiple trails that have had fallen trees that needed winching out of the way so that helps a lot. Sucks when you have to turn back because of one tree.

About a month after mounting my winch, which the wife questioned the need for, I used it to rescue two guys who got their truck stuck amidst a quickly rising PNW tide with their boat about to float off the trailer and the front axle already under water. I had to drive the JT down the boat ramp and across 200m of beach to the water's edge and was still 50' from their front bumper. My tow strap wasn't that long and they didn't have one. I was able to free them with the winch in under five minutes without getting my feet wet.

Considering this spot had no cell service and the tide would have been in the engine bay within 15-20 minutes, a tow truck would never have made it in time. Right after my wife acknowledged the winch was a good idea. So it didn't pay for itself for me (it sure did the other guys) but I was glad I was able to help and not helplessly watch a minor tragedy.

Definitely one of those things that you don't really know you need until you do, and when that time comes, you'll be damn glad you had it. We end up in the Olympic National Forest in mud and snow nearly every week and I think it's going to be inevitable I'll have to self-recover one day. It's also come in handy pulling logs out of the forest and moving a shipping container. I used a high lift to put the container on logs and then rolled it along with the winch. Lot's of possible uses on the homestead.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

About a month after mounting my winch, which the wife questioned the need for, I used it to rescue two guys who got their truck stuck amidst a quickly rising PNW tide with their boat about to float off the trailer and the front axle already under water. I had to drive the JT down the boat ramp and across 200m of beach to the water's edge and was still 50' from their front bumper. My tow strap wasn't that long and they didn't have one. I was able to free them with the winch in under five minutes without getting my feet wet.

Considering this spot had no cell service and the tide would have been in the engine bay within 15-20 minutes, a tow truck would never have made it in time. Right after my wife acknowledged the winch was a good idea. So it didn't pay for itself for me (it sure did the other guys) but I was glad I was able to help and not helplessly watch a minor tragedy.

Definitely one of those things that you don't really know you need until you do, and when that time comes, you'll be damn glad you had it. We end up in the Olympic National Forest in mud and snow nearly every week and I think it's going to be inevitable I'll have to self-recover one day. It's also come in handy pulling logs out of the forest and moving a shipping container. I used a high lift to put the container on logs and then rolled it along with the winch. Lot's of possible uses on the homestead.

My wife might ask why - but often says "ok, you know better than I would". And she was pretty happy (she was with me at the time) the first time I used it to help a poor fellow out of the snowy/icy median a couple of years ago. Our neighbor has been really good to us helping out with things, loaning tools, getting us connections to the county others couldn't get (he's a county retiree) so when I told my wife I helped him move his big whole house generator onto a slab from a trailer with my truck's winch, she was quite pleased with that.
She's one who likes to help others so any time I use what we have to help someone else, it's a big plus.
I've actually used it more for aiding others than for myself - but that's fine, I didn't figure on needing it much for me here in Iowa. But I've got it if I need it.
I hate driving nails with a pair of pliers.

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