To winch or not to winch that is the ?

[jonzer12]

The idea of a dedicated trail rig with no winch is kind of an oxymoron to me.
My heep is just a DD/weekend warrior and its tough to think of a single trail day where it hasn't been needed. If you are worried about front approach angles rebuild the front crossmember and tuck the winch close to the crank pulley.
There is quite a bit of room there.

 

[drgnhrt1979]

I have a habit of traveling alone when I go off road, so the decision was easy for me, to winch. Here is my XJ with my winch and bumper setup...

The bumper is an OR-FAB front winch bumper with a Tuff Stuff 12.5K lb winch

Picture was taken on my trip to Centralia, PA Oct 2010

 

[PMA4x4]

Will say this. I have had my winch for 3.5 yrs now kept it all well oiled up and wound straight. Then 3 weeks ago I finally used it for the first time and it paid itself off by keeping people alive.

Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Will say this. I have had my winch for 3.5 yrs now kept it all well oiled up and wound straight. Then 3 weeks ago I finally used it for the first time and it paid itself off by keeping people alive.

Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Agreed.

Now that I have my bull bar all fabbed up, I'm going to save up for a few necessities like sliders, a snorkel and a winch.

All things that are not used 98% of the year, but for that 2% that I do need them, nothing else will suffice.

(plus, today some dude hit my jeeps door with his new grand cherokee. If I had sliders, It woulda just given him a nice reminder to be more careful..haha!)