Is a winch really necessary?

[graham5david]

On a serious note, a winch is needed if you wheel hard. If you are a trail guy it's good piece of mind. It's also handy to have for various reasons when doing work etc...

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[Gvsukids]

Spacers and springs won't impact the feeling he's referring to as far as turning being more firm in tight spots when not rolling at speed.
Tires MAY if said tires have less friction - are less sticky, maybe a bit harder rubber, or are aired up a bit more, whatever.
Springs, can't matter on tire forces in a parking lot.

He's referring to the extra weight putting downward pressure on the tires which means more friction, plus if the pressure isn't adjusted up a bit, it means the tire flattens so there's more rubber on the road. All that leads to more resistance to turning in the parking lot - bigger contact due to the added weight, more weight forcing the rubber against the pavement more, adding resistance to turning.
No spring or spacer can take that friction away. Only bumping the pressure up just a bit to get the contact patch back to the size it was - and getting used to the added weight because nothing takes away the added force pushing the tires harder against the pavement.

In short - his tires have more grip, so turning will be a tiny bit harder for those of us who get really in tune with how much turning force is needed on different surfaces at different speeds.

It's the opposite of a trailer with a heavy tongue and the feeling that the steering is looser - less weight up front forcing the rubber against the pavement so less resistance to low speed turning.

I had that problem with the original Max Tow tires. Adding different tires in the front removed that feeling.

 

[Minty JL]

Very subjective topic.

It depends on the type of wheeling you'll do and with who. For me, I have never needed one in 27 years. I always carry the appropriate gear to self recover and I've been fine. I just can't really justify the cost and extra weight for something that will be used so little, if at all.

This is all my opinion. I was also a certified master driver in the Army..... everything from rock crawling, recovery, offensive and defensive driving operations. Training, practice, knowing your rigs capabilities and minimal recovery gear have never failed me.

 

[Liftr]

Do you need another opinion?

I live in Alaska. Even though I’m not a hardcore wheeler, almost every trail is outside of cellphone coverage. I don’t want to be at the mercy of the elements, waiting for someone else to come pull me out.

That said, I’ve only used the winch one time. To pull my Polaris Ranger out of the ditch, when I nosed in while plowing snow.

 

[DocMike]

Lots of off road equipment is expensive insurance. You buy it incase shit happens.

Necessary or necessity. It is necessary when you are stuck. I have never gotten stuck to need my winch. That said, it’s good insurance if you plan on going deep off road.

 

[PlayfulBird]

No!


Also overlanding and wheeling tracks is a different story. Also talking about getting into overlanding,

But for someone starting out and hoping to get into overlanding

get in a Prius and go places is better than building an expedition rocklander and never doing squat!

 

[Gvsukids]

Very subjective topic.

It depends on the type of wheeling you'll do and with who. For me, I have never needed one in 27 years. I always carry the appropriate gear to self recover and I've been fine. I just can't really justify the cost and extra weight for something that will be used so little, if at all.

This is all my opinion. I was also a certified master driver in the Army..... everything from rock crawling, recovery, offensive and defensive driving operations. Training, practice, knowing your rigs capabilities and minimal recovery gear have never failed me.

I'm sure that's why the desert rated Mojave isn't made for it as a Rubicon has a bumper for one.

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Lots of off road equipment is expensive insurance. You buy it incase shit happens.

Yup. That and with the land yacht wheelbase of the JT…if you wheel it…you’re going to get stuck sooner or later.

 

[Sarge502]

Initially I was never dead set on a winch. One, I don't offroad like I'd want to. I have hit every badge trail within a 4-hour radius of me (Windrock, Redbird SRA, Turkey Bay). But two, the added weight was always a concern. Not that I'm all about watching weight. But more so the effect weight has on height. I'm only sitting on Rubicon take off suspension and a front leveling kit. Which definitely gave me more height than my Overland came stock. But until I get a full out lift which is still in the works, I've wanted to keep every bit of height I can considering I ain't working with much to start.

However, after my recent trip to Windrock Park this July and getting stuck high centered in the middle of 3 feet of muddy water, that sold me on a winch. I waited over an hour in the heat with mosquitoes, trying to use Maxtrax boards and packing down extra large rocks under the raised wheels for traction to no avail especially since I'm also running ATs. Sucks even more when you're wheeling by yourself since my buddy flaked on me on the trip. Luckily some winch capable some side by sides came through and rescued me. I've since upgraded to the stock Rubicon 3-piece steel bumper with plans for an actual winch soon after my wheels and lift which are next on my list. I plan on going with the Warn Evo VR 10-S. Plenty for my usage.

 

[Tiny]

I've used mine 2x. Once for getting neighbors pulled out of snow drifts where I didn't feel safe yanking them out due to space on suburbunanite roads. Just drove around the neighborhood during a good snow looking for folks who couldnt get all the way home. Main roads were plowed, secondary roads were still a foot thick with ice below. Second was an epic tug of war against all the kids in my Cub Scout Pack. I won.

I don't have lockers. I got mine, as others have mentioned, for insurance. Also, i like to be in the position to help others who may need some assistance. We have some mud and swampy conditions at times...but plenty of hearty trees around.

 

[Vanishing Point]

Initially I was never dead set on a winch. One, I don't offroad like I'd want to. I have hit every badge trail within a 4-hour radius of me (Windrock, Redbird SRA, Turkey Bay). But two, the added weight was always a concern. Not that I'm all about watching weight. But more so the effect weight has on height. I'm only sitting on Rubicon take off suspension and a front leveling kit. Which definitely gave me more height than my Overland came stock. But until I get a full out lift which is still in the works, I've wanted to keep every bit of height I can considering I ain't working with much to start.

However, after my recent trip to Windrock Park this July and getting stuck high centered in the middle of 3 feet of muddy water, that sold me on a winch. I waited over an hour in the heat with mosquitoes, trying to use Maxtrax boards and packing down extra large rocks under the raised wheels for traction to no avail. Sucks even more when you're wheeling by yourself since my buddy flaked on me on the trip. Luckily some winch capable some side by sides came through and rescued me. I've since upgraded to the stock Rubicon 3-piece steel bumper with plans for an actual winch soon after my wheels and lift which are next on my list. I plan on going with the Warn Evo VR 10-S. Plenty for my usage.

Is that rock or mud you are hung up on? If it is mud you could have dug yourself out. About an hour and a half of digging in the heat and mosquitoes. Do that once and a winch seems like a great idea.

 

[Sarge502]

Is that rock or mud you are hung up on? If it is mud you could have dug yourself out. About an hour and a half of digging in the heat and mosquitoes. Do that once and a winch seems like a great idea.

So the first drop right behind the front wheels is a steep "rock" drop that immediately goes into that pool of thick mud and muddy water which I technically hadn't got into fully before becoming high-centered. What my problem was that I didnt account for prior to approach, was the smaller drop/hole that my back wheels dipped into as my front end approached. Once the rear wheels dropped and my front also cleared the rock ledge, that didn't allow my front to go down into the rut all the way. So basically all 4 wheels were off the ground. The fronts were just also just in the water but not touching. I know the mud pools depth cause I had fireman boots up to my knees on trecking in it and the water was going inside. lol. Notice my actual shoes on the ground to the right in the 2nd pic. haha. Up to that point I actually had been doing great in water/mud. Also this was a dry day. But even on dry days at Windrock, alot of places still hold water.

 

[DocMike]

Truth.

I use my GMRS radio, lift, regear, and 37s the most.
I have a winch, 4 gallons of gas, recovery gear, traction boards, pulaski, gloves, tree saw, tools....etc
all just in case.

I have used my winch twice and recovery gear once. All on overzealous wheeling partners.

Yup. That and with the land yacht wheelbase of the JT…if you wheel it…you’re going to get stuck sooner or later.

 

[Gvsukids]

Yup. That and with the land yacht wheelbase of the JT…if you wheel it…you’re going to get stuck sooner or later.

Yep, being high centered sucks.

I plan on going with the Warn Evo VR 10-S. Plenty for my usage.

Unless you add weight. Most go to the 12, but the 10 is the lowest.

 

['22JTRD]

I agree with the rest of your post but I disagree with the idea that wheeling without a winch makes you make better decisions.

Risk management and good decision making are skills any 4x4 driver should have.

For most, "Risk management and Good Decision Making Skills" are usually acquired as a direct result of taking risks and making poor decisions...

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