Winch, front or rear?

[warwgn]

So driving to work this morning I saw a new style FJ and it was all decked out with Hi-Lift jack and custom bumpers and I noticed it had a built in rear winch and no front winch.

I started thinking about this and it seems to make better sence, you already drove to where you got stuck so you should always be able to go backwards in the tracks you just made. But obviously you cant keep going forward with out help, so it makes real good sence to put a winch in the rear to get you out of a jam.

Now on the other hand it can be very difficult to back around a corner or some obstacles or inclines so the better choice is to go forward, and most of the hard core stuff you just need a hand to go a few feet forward and you back in action again.


I know the best choice is to have the winch mounted on a reciever so it can be quickly moved front to back, but where do you put yours and why?

Me, I was gonna make a bumper for the front and put the winch in it, but now I think I am gonna make a custom mount so I can put it in the front or rear via a reciever hitch and keep the winch stored inside the cargo area of my burban out of the elements until it is needed. I think I can come up with a pretty trick mount and run 1 AWG cable to the rear and front with quick connects near the reciever to facilitate easy hook up and use.

 

[bfdiesel]

Reciever mounted winch sits in the front most the time.


I also carry a battery so the winch can be anchored to something other than in the reciever holes.

I used O welding cable to booster plugs for the power. All my connections are soldered and not crimped as well.

 

[toymaster]

Your first clue was he is driving an FJ.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/86643-Hitch-Mounted-Winch-Front-and-REAR

 

[I Leak Oil]

Quitters put them on the back. If you got stuck going forward you obviously want to go from point A to point B. You'll hear the argument about winching backwards and finding an alternative route around. Well why not just do that in the first place then.

None of the hard core, winch wielding trucks I know have a winch only on the back. Front or both, usually only the front.

Let the endless debate continue.....

 

[warwgn]

Your first clue was he is driving an FJ.

HA hA hA, that is actually the first thing I thought of!!

 

[1stDeuce]

I don't get the clue thing?? Dang it.

FWIW, I only run front winches on my current vehicles. On the Jeep, I figure if I head in, I want to get through, period. I don't dive into the middle of a hole, or take the tough line to prove something, so getting there is what I want and the winch on the front helps me do that. On my GMC, the winch isn't really there to get me out of trouble... I REALLY don't want that truck IN trouble!! It's there to pull trees out of the way, winch stuff around the yard, make a sweet zip line, and winch other people out of the ditch.

On my old Super-Sonoma, I had a multi-mount that was always in the rear hitch when I was exploring. That truck was my dd, so if it wasn't capable of driving through something, then I didn't care to drag it, and I was happy to winch out backwards and go somewhere else. :smiley_drive:

Finally, I have never really done a lot of wheeling by myself, so there is always someone else to help out with a winch from the direction that I can't do. If we wanted through, then the first truck had a winch on the front. If we weren't sure we could winch through, then the truck behind the first truck had a winch on the front.

Honestly, it is amazing how much I don't use the winches that I have, now that I have them. So much faster and easier to get a tug from a buddy. But I'm not hard core either, I'm just exploring. :safari-rig:
Chris

 

[toymaster]

I don't get the clue thing??......

Honestly, it is amazing how much I don't use the winches that I have, now that I have them. So much faster and easier to get a tug from a buddy.
Chris

The clue thing is that he is more of a poser than a person using his gear for its intended purpose. Inside joke I guess, there are other better tools to choose than an fj or hummers. I believe in buying something you like and want to drive, if an fj suits you I say go for it.

A winch is a self-recovery tool if you have another Vic along then one is not needed as much. Personally I'm always alone. Part of the whole going prepared thing. Form follows function as you eluded to in your post. It was evident the fj owner knew the lack of capability of his rig and knew he would bite off more than he can chew, the other part of the intended humor.

 

[warwgn]

Buncha good feedback, and after mor8ie thought it would be a pain to try and lug around a 12,000 lb winch plus the fact of side load would be terrible if I had to do that. Truth be told prolly wont solo much and as stated I want to get there so winch in the front may make the most sence for me. Time to start designing the bumper again.

 

[FellowTraveler]

Actually, most winches are in the front and the wench is in the back, however some like their wench in the front so they don't miss. :wings:

 

[redthies]

Cheebus!!! :elkgrin:

 

[rube bonet]

You do not need a winch to wheel or overland!

If you go with additional vehicles a recovery strap is much faster to use. If you are solo most of the time, then then the winch is very desirable.

I run the winch I use in the front. You can route it to the rear if the occasion were to happen. If you do not count the training classes I do, I only use the winch a couple of times a year if that (generally when I come across a person stuck). For a person doing serious 4-wheeling a winch would not be in the top 10 must haves. For the overlander I would not have a winch in the top 50 must haves. The reason is the weight (winch and mounting) at least 100# plus is there all of the time for a little use. This is from my experience of 41 years of 4-wheeling, 17 years of leading expeditions and 26 years teaching 4-wheeling (now retired).

Frenchie

Hmmm, I completely disagree. It is one of those things that, when you need it, you need it. At that moment in time, it is priceless.

I actually agree with all your statements, but the order of importance. Your points are valid, it is not used often, and a strap is usually much simpler. I look at it like a roll cage. You really don't need it to wheel, or overland, and it is expensive. Use it once when it saves your ***, all of a sudden it seems like a logical decision. I often travel alone, and I have a little bit warped view of what normal wheeling is, and I can't imagine having a vehicle used seriously offroad without one.

That is from my 35 years of experience hardcore wheeling all through the US, leading "expeditions", crawling and rockracing competitively since 1998, finding long abandoned roads, navigating roadless areas, etc, blah blah blah.
My point is it didn't even make your top 50 list? Seriously? The moment your truck is tetering on the edge of rollover hanging off the edge of a shelf road, or buried on the beach deep in Baja with the tide rolling in, I can't imagine 50 other things I would want at that moment.

If all I did was drive dirt roads in good weather, I certainly wouldn't feel the desire to own a winch. If I want to take the road less traveled...I like a little Warn insurance.

My .02:sombrero:


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[toymaster]

You do not need a winch to wheel or overland!


Frenchie

Yep, and you do not 'need' a vehicle to overland either. You have two legs that will take you any were a vic will and, in fact, a whole lot more places thanks to the tree huggers... just not as fast.

If all I did was drive dirt roads in good weather, I certainly wouldn't feel the desire to own a winch. If I want to take the road less traveled...I like a little Warn insurance.

My .02:sombrero:

Nailed it!!! I think his "40" years have been doing just that. You know the old saying "those who can do, those who can't......"

 

[I Leak Oil]

Actually, most winches are in the front and the wench is in the back, however some like their wench in the front so they don't miss. :wings:

Reminds me of the Harley guys shirts. I'll take liberty with it. "If you can read this shirt the wench fell off"

 

[Clutch]

Both, I would put one front and rear....rear winch is nice for draggin' heavy things with no wheels up on a trailer...as we have a habit of buying such things.

Having a couple come-a-longs on board is great too...I have had a couple few instances where we used them to keep a vehicle from flipping into a ravine, as I have a knack for getting bored, and when I get bored, I tend to get into to trouble...

If you can only afford one winch, put it on the front...or on a receiver mount...yeah, sure they are heavy, but it is nice to have the flexibility.

 

[Scott Brady]

Best practice is to install the winch on the front. Far more scenarios dictate the need to complete a climb, pull the vehicle off a rock, finish an exit from a water crossing, etc. I have used a winch 90% of the time for clearing obstacles in the road (downed trees, etc.).

I have used multi-mount winches with some success which allows fitment to the front or rear and can also be easily removed and stored in a garage during the work week. The mounting system needs to be robust and pulls are restricted to just a few degrees off-center.