Is a winch really necessary?

[just_another_guy]

Getting a synthetic rope will help with the added weight, and some bumpers are lighter than others. I have a winch because my family likes going to remote places and sometimes there's no substitute for what a winch can do.

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[Divided_Wood]

Getting a synthetic rope will help with the added weight, and some bumpers are lighter than others. I have a winch because my family likes going to remote places and sometimes there's no substitute for what a winch can do.

Agree. I have synthetic rope and installed my winch on a stock plastic bumper. Added probably 50 lbs total between the winch and the material cut out of the OEM bumper. Much better than other options.

 

[Vanishing Point]

Hard to say. I think without a winch you will have to make better decisions. If you adventure alone I think a winch is more important than if you have another truck along.

If you don't have a winch a snatch strap, traction boards and a shovel are needed. Pay heed to the shovel part. If you have to dig for 30 minutes you will hate not having gotten a winch. Digging is miserable hard work. A winch is as little as $300. I'd gladly pay $300 not to dig. Or $500. Or $1000.

Also snow. It very scary being stuck in snow on a cold day with evening approaching. I've winched out of snow more than anything else. Once you are high centered in snow you are stuck pretty good. As the shadows grow long and the temperature drops you'll cuss at yourself for not having a winch when it becomes a serious situation. If you don't 4 wheel in places with snow I think you have more leeway. You can sleep in your truck when the weather is nice. Or walk out to get help. But snow and cold doesn't give you that luxury. I don't know how traction boards work in snow but they might be an alternative. Shoveling snow sucks. Really sucks.

 

[Divided_Wood]

Hard to say. I think without a winch you will have to make better decisions. If you adventure alone I think a winch is more important than if you have another truck along.

If you don't have a winch a snatch strap, traction boards and a shovel are needed. Pay heed to the shovel part. If you have to dig for 30 minutes you will hate not having gotten a winch. Digging is miserable hard work. A winch is as little as $300. I'd gladly pay $300 not to dig. Or $500. Or $1000.

Also snow. It very scary being stuck in snow on a cold day with evening approaching. I've winched out of snow more than anything else. Once you are high centered in snow you are stuck pretty good. As the shadows grow long and the temperature drops you'll cuss at yourself for not having a winch when it becomes a serious situation. If you don't 4 wheel in places with snow I think you have more leeway. You can sleep in your truck when the weather is nice. Or walk out to get help. But snow and cold doesn't give you that luxury. I don't know how traction boards work in snow but they might be an alternative. Shoveling snow sucks. Really sucks.

I agree with the rest of your post but I disagree with the idea that wheeling without a winch makes you make better decisions. Why consciously choose to go out without something that could benefit you? Camping without a pocket knife might make me behave differently but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Risk management and good decision making are skills any 4x4 driver should have. I like to think I have both but I still choose to go out as prepared as possible.

 

[Rusty PW]

If you off road. A winch is like insurance. You hope you never have to use it. But if you do. You are happy that you have one.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Do you ever wheel alone? If so, get one. Usually you can get by with reverse or a strap but if you’re leading a group, there are times it’s sure nice to have. I don’t “need” mine often but it’s saved my skin a few times. Most recently out in Moab by myself. There are certain situations it’s super helpful and I personally wouldn’t wheel without one.

Off-roading without a winch (excluding tame forest roads) is like driving without car insurance. Would you usually get away with it? Sure. But when you need it, it’s paid for in seconds. It’s a bit different in a group, but not completely. I’ve used mine many times to help others. And one time for myself. I was in a group. The person behind me had a winch. The person in front of me tried to pull me with a strap. The angles were wrong and there wasn’t a way out (without body damage) without using my winch. It was easy, and over in 5 minutes. It wasn’t even stressful. Without it, there weren’t any great options.

 

[WILDHOBO]

If you off road. A winch is like insurance. You hope you never have to use it. But if you do. You are happy that you have one.

I didn’t see this post until I wrote mine. Clearly I agree.

 

[Bear Hunter]

I have had my winch one year and have used it twice. Both times were to help someone else who was stuck to get out. I like being able to help people, besides it is comforting to know I can always winch myself out if I get stuck.

 

[rr11]

I have a winch on my JT, I have never used it off road. I had a winch on my 2003 never managed to stick it where I had something to winch to. But it makes me feel better. I agree its like insurance.

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

I have one solely for the reason that it’s one of those things where I don’t ever want to say “I wish I had one”.

 

[Vanishing Point]

Stock bumper weighs about 40 pounds?

Aluminum Full width Quadratec Brute Strength bumper set up for a winch weighs 71 pounds.

Sherpa 9500 pound capacity winch with synthetic rope weighs 42 pounds.

So you're adding about 75 pounds to the front. Given the weight of the truck I don't see that as being prohibitive. Go to the gym and lift a 75 pound dumbell. It's not that heavy. I have the bigger Sherpa winch which weighs 50 pounds. I noticed no difference with it on the front of the truck. My personal opinion is that I wouldn't worry about the weight of a winch on the truck. At least not as the main reason to not get a winch.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Adding a winch requires a different bumper and weight on the front of your vehicle, which changes your ride.

The weight will settle the front of the truck, but I noted almost no difference in ride. It did feel more planted, almost better, but the ride was good as ever.


Mine is mainly for "just in case" in winter, or for other chores. I've moved a generator with it, and pulled another guy out of a ditch after an ice storm (and others were driving by him)
It's there, it's a tool I hope I don't need for myself, but if I do, it's there.
If all I ever do is help others in a bad winter, or use it for simple chores moving things, so be it.

With the added weight of winch and bumper, my Overland dropped about 3/4".
I put Synergy springs under the front to bring it back up to about where it was, maybe a tad more.
(I also have a front receiver which is added weight as well)

 

[Lunentucker]

I think a lot of it has to do with where you live and where you wheel as well.
Where I am it's pretty impossible to get so stranded that you can't get out in short order with a cell call. Even if you have to walk part of the trail to get signal you're still only out there for a few hours. Nothing life threatening.

 

[PJZ]

I go with the insurance thinking and vote yes if you can afford it. Had one on my JK and now on the JT. Have pulled a number of people out and it sure beats hours of digging and other self recovery work. Try not to get in over my head and occasionally go solo.

Only additional advice is to take a class on how to use it. Took one after 20 years of off roading and learned a lot! Time well spent.

2nd trip out with the new JT and pulled out a high centered Taco. Entire group all had winches and high lifts. No one seemed comfortable or knowledgable about the equipment they had. They blocked the trail for 45 mins trying to use traction boards and stack rocks. Winched him off the rocks in less than 5 mins. Even if you dont need it might make your trip better by helping others get out of the way

 

[graham5david]

Yes a winch is necessary. You can't look cool without a winch.

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