Is a winch really necessary?

[thetruth1983]

After reading that story a couple weeks back about that freak accident with the tow hitch, I want to make sure I know everything about winches/recovery before I start using them.

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[WILDHOBO]

After reading that story a couple weeks back about that freak accident with the tow hitch, I want to make sure I know everything about winches/recovery before I start using them.

Just never use a ball to pull with. That story was horrible, but everything was done wrong. It was like a 12” drop, so a huge lever to break off. No problem winch line dampener, the list goes on. Stick to closed recovery points, always use a weighted dampener, don’t hook onto the ball. Most ball hitches aren’t designed for 10k+ pulling, especially ones with huge drops. Before someone chimes in with trailer weights exceeding 10k, those trailers have wheels, and aren’t stuck. Recovery is different. The forces are much greater than towing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Most ball hitches aren’t designed for 10k+ pulling, especially ones with huge drops. Before someone chimes in with trailer weights exceeding 10k, those trailers have wheels, and aren’t stuck. Recovery is different. The forces are much greater than towing.

The ball mounts are made more for tongue weight. Pulling a 10,000 pound trailer will still only have a fraction of that as far as resisting pull. It's on wheels, tires, with bearings - you aren't lifting 10,000 pounds.
And watch those front receivers - they are only made for a 9,000 pounds STRAIGHT pull. So don't think you can stick a 12,000 pound capable winch on it and pull with any sort of angle near winch capacity.

Usually I start with a shovel, hi-lift jack and various straps. Before I get too far into the back country or any serious offroading I add a winch.

I still smile when I see talk of "hi-lift jacks" - like they are a Jeep thing or even new.
They've been a farmer's or rancher's tool for many decades. They were used for fencing and many even came with cams that would grip fence wire, like barbed wire, to stretch the wire to the next post. I think mine is probably 80 years old. They were "handyman jacks" before they were hi-lift jacks. Mine has the fencing cam. They can even be used as a come-along.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I still smile when I see talk of "hi-lift jacks" - like they are a Jeep thing or even new.
They've been a farmer's or rancher's tool for many decades. They were used for fencing and many even came with cams that would grip fence wire, like barbed wire, to stretch the wire to the next post. I think mine is probably 80 years old. They were "handyman jacks" before they were hi-lift jacks. Mine has the fencing cam. They can even be used as a come-along.

All true, mine is an actual Hi-Lift brand jack, and yes it can do fencing. I've pulled fence post, but I've never used it to stretch fencing. Although I've helped my Uncle use his to stretch barbed wire. I have used mine as a come along, pretty slow. Used it to jack one end of the vehicle up and push it sideways out of ruts, then the same at the other end. Or jack up and put fir bows under the tires for traction. Heck, I've even changed a flat tire with it. Or there was the time we used it to jack a tree up so we could drive under it, a chainsaw would of been a better option there.
Pretty handy, as long as you take your time and be careful. Mine was a gift from my dad, way back in 90 or so.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Just never use a ball to pull with. That story was horrible, but everything was done wrong. It was like a 12” drop, so a huge lever to break off. No problem winch line dampener, the list goes on. Stick to closed recovery points, always use a weighted dampener, don’t hook onto the ball. Most ball hitches aren’t designed for 10k+ pulling, especially ones with huge drops. Before someone chimes in with trailer weights exceeding 10k, those trailers have wheels, and aren’t stuck. Recovery is different. The forces are much greater than towing.

Sad fact is that way too many people do way to many things wrong to dismiss it. Some of them actually think they are doing it right... or safe....

Same goes for a hi lift jack, they also can be dangerous as heck. Great tool though.

 

[Gvsukids]

And watch those front receivers - they are only made for a 9,000 pounds STRAIGHT pull. So don't think you can stick a 12,000 pound capable winch on it and pull with any sort of angle near winch capacity.

As in adding a front hitch receiver? Or are you talking about the front bumper isn't rated for 12k lb?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Sad fact is that way too many people do way to many things wrong to dismiss it. Some of them actually think they are doing it right... or safe....

Same goes for a hi lift jack, they also ca be dangerous as heck. Great tool though.

Agreed. I have a hi lift, mounted under the rear seat, but it truly is the tool I hope I won’t need. I use the winch several times per season, and change tires using a jack under the axle with a base, when possible. It’s there if I need the hi lift, but I like having every tool that could help.

 

[Minty JL]

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

From Hold my beer, watch this lol

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As in adding a front hitch receiver? Or are you talking about the front bumper isn't rated for 12k lb?

Now you have ME confused.
I said front receiver.
Bumpers have nothing to do with it either for a winch or a receiver.
(yes, there are a few bumpers out there that have a built-in receiver, and yes, there are some that you mount the winch TO the bumper, but that's not the norm)_

You can run a winch and/or front receiver with NO bumper. And frankly, I think it can look sort of cool with no bumper and just the meat of the thing showing.

Anywho - my comment was because:
Some people figure they'll get a receiver winch mount and run a winch from a front receiver.
Don't waste your money on the biggest winch since the receiver isn't rated for a massive pull during a recovery. You should only ever do a straight pull with a receiver, not at an angle (good luck with that)
The receiver is where the rating is - not a bumper. Bumper rating doesn't matter (unless the receiver is made into the bumper - not common)

A - Bulldog winch plate. I could put the bolts in the front and winch the rating of the winch without any bumper at all if I had a bracket on the plate to hold the rope guide.
B - Curt receiver - never use for heavy winching or angles over a few degrees
C - snow plow mount - marked that so people know it's not part of the hitch/receiver or winch.


Winch plate is where the strength is - winching doesn't pull on the bumper unless you have one of the few bumpers that is made to hold the winch directly. Not my cup of tea but some love 'em and that's cool. Sure makes it EASY.

 

[Levi.Butler]

Is a condom really necessary? Nope... but when you catch the clap or you end up with some chicken-necking-hood-rat baby mama... you're damn sure going to wish you had worn one! HAHAHA!

Better safe than sorry man... and it's nice being able to help another human when they need it.

 

[misterturbo]

I don't have a great anecdotal story for or against a winch. I just put one on the Jeep this past weekend. I don't know if I'll ever go off-road deep enough to really need one. My use case is more peace of mind as I live in the middle of nowhere in the woods. Trees fall all the time, sometimes it snows batsh*t crazy, and we get really poor cell phone reception. I figure if I get stuck somewhere out here in the boondocks or need to clear a tree from the road... the only one going to help me is myself.

And it looks cool, so there's that. A mall crawler with a very specific purpose hahah

 

[PlayfulBird]

My question is, if you have a winch, did you also buy the armor needed as to not destroy your vehicle pulling it out of a bad place?

 

[AZCooWhip]

Without reading all, have we done “Better to have and not need than not have and need”?

Depending on what you are doing and of course budget, a winch was not the first thing that came to my mind. Mind you, other simpler recovery gear was high on my initial get list.

 

[PlayfulBird]

“Better to have and not need than not have and need”?

Yes, it has been done to death...?

 

[Gvsukids]

My question is, if you have a winch, did you also buy the armor needed as to not destroy your vehicle pulling it out of a bad place?

We've all got the same underbelly skid plates, which do very well.

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