syreeves
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Steven
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2020
- Threads
- 25
- Messages
- 777
- Reaction score
- 834
- Location
- Minnesota (aka Hoth)
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 JTR 6MT, 2013 Volvo XC90, 2003 LR Disco
- Occupation
- Liquor Attorney. So not all bad...
I have never had to use my winch to get myself unstuck. I don't do any serious crawling - mostly logging trails, mud etc. But I have used my winch dozens of times to pull others out of a ditch on snowy days, getting buddies out of deeply rutted trails etc. I also used it to hoist a deer up a tree so I could swing it onto the roof of my old landrover. Wish I had video because I was by myself and I'm pretty sure I looked very stupid in a virally entertaining kind of way.Hear me out here..... I've had a winch on my FJC for ~10 years now, and wheeled a lot. I've been stuck a lot. I've never used the winch once. Digging out, getting pulled out, moving rocks, whatever it was, I've always been able to get free.
You know what we used to get un-stuck with when I was young? An antique Wyeth-Scott Power Puller, with a shredded, rusty, muddy cable, and a logging chain... and Dad got us stuck a LOT while getting firewood in the Ozarks.
It takes a little more time, a lot more elbow grease, but you just keep it under the seat for a true emergency. Your battery goes dead, cables get cut or chewed by critters, solenoids freeze, etc etc,
Wyeth Scott More Power Puller 3-35-A-SLT 3-Ton AmSteel-Blue Synthetic Rope Industrial Hand Ratchet Puller/Hoist, 35' - - Amazon.com
A more sensible, modern version will also work just fine.
Neiko 02256A Heavy Duty 5 Ton Come-a-Long Power Puller, 3 Hooks and 2 Gears - Come A Long Winch Neiko - Amazon.com
Anyway - my suggestion for a lightweight setup is a stubby ARB bondi, Smittybilt X20 with synthetic line, soft shackles and a couple of aluminum recovery pulleys. If you want something hanging from the rear I'd to a hitch mounted 4,500 ATV winch. Probably a lot more capability than you want but that is what I am working on. Powerpuller (one of the suggestions above) is also a good portable idea if you don't want any winches. Just make sure you have the afore mentioned soft shackles, some extra synthetic line (put loops on both ends) and definitely have a kinetic recovery strap. For what they weigh they are a great, simple and effective choice that limits the risk of too much damage.
Just my $0.02. But I drive a Rubicon - different philosophy from Mojaves...
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