Is a winch really necessary?

[Narpet]

In the last year I've winched three trucks, one car, and one Wrangler out of a rough spot. I've never used the winch for myself (but I have used my recovery boards a couple times).

So for me, a winch is a yes.

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[TroutFishingInAmerica]

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.

Weight is subjective depending on what you are doing. Yes 75# is not much extra weight, unless you are outfitting for several months of travel and living based out of your vehicle, then it's a monumental amount of weight. The OP wants to go overlanding. It's a hard decision but sacrifices have to be made somewhere. I forget my exact payload it's around 1,100#. The GFC camper is 250#, I can carry up to 12.5 gal of water if needed, that's another 100 lbs, so 1/3 of the payload is pissed away on 2 items and I haven't even started to load up anything. It all depends on what you're doing, what you decide is priority. Want or need soul searching for your application.

 

[AverageOverlander]

I try to avoid getting stuck at all costs going out with the family.
There’s been a couple times where I’ve turned around because of mud holes. I’m still in the process of setting my truck up, but with a winch, I would have cautiously proceeded in a few different scenarios.

I’ve been in situations where you know you’re going to winch, so you actually pick your line based on getting a nice straight/easy winch pull once you’re stuck.

Coming from sxs’ing, I was hoping to not need a winch on my truck, just take things a bit easier, unfortunately for our trails, you’re a bit unprepared without one.

If you don’t find yourself constantly saying, “I should really have a winch out here.”… You can probably get by just fine without one. But as everyones mentioned, being over-prepared is never a bad idea.

 

[dos0711]

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it

 

[Jeep-A-Kneez]

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.

This has been experience as well, only had mine for about 3 days. I also have noticed some added resistance in the steering while working my way through parking lots and tight spots on pavement at slow speed. Plan on bumping up the air pressure in the front tires a bit to see if issue goes away.

Good luck with your decision, regardless of how you use your truck.

 

[Stratus109]

I know everyone has an opinion and comfort level with this subject. But for someone starting out and hoping to get into overlanding, is a winch one of the first mods I should make? How often have you all used your winch?

If you are out alone frequently yes self recovery is paramount. If yr just a instagram fanboy larping then no its not needed. If you have a second vehicle on rail with you , you can get away with merely kinetic rope or straps.

 

[Gladiator832]

A winch is only necessary to one that is willing to purchase it. Main reason I have one is to have the peace of mind that if I'm not with the wife and she needs to get out of something before I can get to her the option is there.

 

[Kindafearless]

Easy answer. If you plan on doing stuff near the limits of your trucks capabilities, or your capabilities as an off-road driver, then yes.

You can go months at a time without using your winch, then there is that afternoon (or whatever) where it will save your butt... continuously.

Funny story, I recently did a trail called Gondola because most people ride up the trail on a winch line. It was true :P Best name ever.

I <3 my winch.

 

[Kindafearless]

Also, if you get one. Find someone to teach you how to use it. I've learned a lot over the last couple years from my Jeep club, off-road events, a really good tow truck driver (fun story), and some paid classes on how to use my winch.

There are some amazing things you can do it one if you know what you are doing.

 

[Mboy605]

A winch was one of the first modifications that came with the new bumper set. It’s been a game changer for me. I must use the disclaimer that I enjoy going to Moab, UT, and there have been instances where it’s important. Things happen, and it’s better to be safe as

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This has been experience as well, only had mine for about 3 days. I also have noticed some added resistance in the steering while working my way through parking lots and tight spots on pavement at slow speed. Plan on bumping up the air pressure in the front tires a bit to see if issue goes away.

Good luck with your decision, regardless of how you use your truck.

Yes to tire pressure.
More weight means it takes more pressure to support said weight with the same tire footprint.
Science. PSI working against an area to support a given weight.
It's an equation - more weight to the left of the = sign means you need more pressure to keep the same footprint on the ground and not squish the tires more.
When I asked the engineer at General about the pressure in my General tires, he wanted to know my truck's weight, etc. before he could answer.

The tire pressure sticker on my SX4 has more psi in the front tires because of the extra weight of the front differential and transfer case in that car compared to the exact same thing but 2 wheel drive (the Spirit).


Again, I have a really really very nasty habit of helping others and it gets me into a ton of trouble over-spending my time and resources, so for me, a winch is as much for helping others as it is for me. My winch already paid me back and then some when I saw the smile on the face of the guy who's car I pulled out of the snowy ditch. His brother had arrived to pick him up and take him home. They were resigned to leaving the car in the ditch. The looks on their faces - as Mastercard used to say - priceless.
The guy asked me as I offered to pull his car out - "you would do that????" Yeah, I would. And that made me wonder what his experiences had been but I won't go there.
You can't beat it. No money matches that.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Also, if you get one. Find someone to teach you how to use it. I've learned a lot over the last couple years from my Jeep club, off-road events, a really good tow truck driver (fun story), and some paid classes on how to use my winch.

There are some amazing things you can do it one if you know what you are doing.

Years ago I worked in a shop that did 24/7 towing. The boss/owner ran two wreckers with big winches. He towed for the state and the city where the shop was.
I learned a lot of tricks from that man. He had driven a Model A to Alaska and back with his new wife before there was a highway, He worked during the hard times hauling gravel and knew the tricks of that work as well. The man could pick a car up off the ground and when the IHP called and said a Camaro had been left dead on RR tracks just outside of town, he had to literally lift it up off the tracks it was high-centered on the tracks off the road.
I learned some tricks for winter driving from him - and a dairy delivery driver as well.

You can pull yourself out of a ditch SIDEWAYS or even backwards if there are any trees or anchor points in the right places.

Anyway, your point - get with some old-timers, tow truck drivers, true experts, and learn what can be done.
I saw a guy using a tractor and winch (and VERY VERY long ropes) gracefully lower a windmill tower to the ground.

 

[Gvsukids]

This has been experience as well, only had mine for about 3 days. I also have noticed some added resistance in the steering while working my way through parking lots and tight spots on pavement at slow speed. Plan on bumping up the air pressure in the front tires a bit to see if issue goes away.

Good luck with your decision, regardless of how you use your truck.

Some add spacers, but I added different springs and tires and that took away that feeling up front.

 

[WetWilly]

Also, if you get one. Find someone to teach you how to use it. I've learned a lot over the last couple years from my Jeep club, off-road events, a really good tow truck driver (fun story), and some paid classes on how to use my winch.

There are some amazing things you can do it one if you know what you are doing.

Ginger Billy says

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Some add spacers, but I added different springs and tires and that took away that feeling up front.

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.

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