winch - yeah or nah?

[jadmt]

Im solo most of the ti

Winches are like insurance policies. If you have it, you may never need it, but if you need it and don't have it, well you will likely really wish you did. If you are always wheeling in a group, its an easier decision to go without, but since he says he wheels solo, its probably safer to have it, than not..

I am solo most of the time. Common sense ******. I guess a person just needs to be honest with themselves on what they are going to do or is just the look they want?

 

[Roam.Wild]

"I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it"

We went without a winch for years and never got stuck. If something got sketchy, we turned around. Now that we are traveling so much solo in other countries, a winch is a must!

All depends on your type of touring. In the grand scheme of things, it's a small price.

 

[jadmt]

Wow you can’t say for the win without getting blocked lol. Regardless his goal is billy diamond which appears to be paved and maintained and the other looks like a graded gravel road both look like nice adventures for sure.

 

[WOODY2]

Winches are like insurance policies. If you have it, you may never need it, but if you need it and don't have it, well you will likely really wish you did. If you are always wheeling in a group, its an easier decision to go without, but since he says he wheels solo, its probably safer to have it, than not..

Not to mention one only goes as fast as the slowest member of a group.

 

[deserteagle56]

All good. ^^^^
But selectable lockers are better.
I have a Warn M8000 on my Rubicon. I've never needed it but the lockers I use often. And in the winter I carry chains.

No doubt lockers front and rear are better.

But, as mentioned, the 4Runner Pro has a selectable rear locker...plus, it has Atrac, Toyota's traction control system that for all intents and purposed works as a locker for the front end. There are several YouTube videos out there that illustrate just how well it works, even with one front tire hanging in the air.

 

[dht43221]

No doubt lockers front and rear are better.

But, as mentioned, the 4Runner Pro has a selectable rear locker...plus, it has Atrac, Toyota's traction control system that for all intents and purposed works as a locker for the front end. There are several YouTube videos out there that illustrate just how well it works, even with one front tire hanging in the air.

I took the Overland Experts course last weekend. We tested A-Trac on an obstacle course under controlled conditions and the capability was amazing. I just sort of sat back and let it take me through moguls and ditches full of mud and water. There was zero wheel spin and I never even came close to getting stuck.

 

[stevo_pct]

Just curious what folks think of the following, especially if you're thinking you probably will never need it, but just in case:

something like a portable (not mounted winch). Are there pros and cons, or would those not get the job done. I'm thinking the ones they have at Harbor Freight or something similar.

 

[jadmt]

Just curious what folks think of the following, especially if you're thinking you probably will never need it, but just in case:

something like a portable (not mounted winch). Are there pros and cons, or would those not get the job done. I'm thinking the ones they have at Harbor Freight or something similar.

one con is they take up cargo space and are pretty heavy with the cradle and all and in an suv better be secured properly if for some reason you decide to roll your rig. another con is that is a long stretch of cable to the battery if you are going to set it up on the rear hitch and not a lot of clean ways to set it up on a front hitch altho some people have done that.

 

[Smileyshaun]

Personally I think a winch and learning how to use it is the first upgrade anyone who travels off-road should do . It should be b4 lights , traction boards , tires , lift ect ect . Upgrades just lead to more stuck . Learn how to drive and wheel your rig stock and it will only increase your abilities when it’s modified .

 

[kdeleon]

I have two rigs both fully locked. I agree that being honest with yourself you can avoid needing a winch, and in fact if you are using both lockers then you should realize you are already pushing it to the point that you can get in a situation where a winch is your only way out (assuming solo). I can only count 2x i had to extract myself on my solo travel. One was getting hung on the diff by sob hill at canyonland needles. It would have been a long wait for someone to come drag us out.

I almost never use the winch when wheeling with a group.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[WOODY2]

OK. Here is the current plan.

• LFD Off Road hidden winch mount with a Warn Zeon 10S
• Toytec Aluma 2.0 coilover to keep things level (maybe modify the back eventually)
• Install by local Toyota 4X4 shop
• Recovery class in June to figure out the rest

Thanks for the feedback.

Couple of soft shackles, hard shackles, snatch bloc and a tree saver should round it out.

 

[bkg]

I have two rigs both fully locked. I agree that being honest with yourself you can avoid needing a winch, and in fact if you are using both lockers then you should realize you are already pushing it to the point that you can get in a situation where a winch is your only way out (assuming solo). I can only count 2x i had to extract myself on my solo travel. One was getting hung on the diff by sob hill at canyonland needles. It would have been a long wait for someone to come drag us out.

I almost never use the winch when wheeling with a group.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

And those two times are the reason to have one….

 

[g_m]

Have you considered a Tirfor or similar cable puller? No maintenance, light weight, works when your battery doesn't or your truck is on its side, etc. etc..

 

[Tudor Tanase]

Manual i.e. Tirfor and such are great till you need to pull 3 tons of Landcruiser out of mud in tropical heat, by hand, without being able to assist with the drivetrain (as you're on your own). You soon realise an electric winch is (apart from maybe in the desert) the most effective, comfortable, safe and cheap recovery tool. And soon after you realise that it's a great tool to have: felling and moving trees, pulling out smaller stumps, shifting trailers and containers, pulling vehicles on trailers, lifting stuff (with a pulley chained to a beam), even as a safety rope when working on the roof (car on the opposite side of the house, dyneema rope over the roof, attached to a proper harness). One of the best investments ever.

 

[Tudor Tanase]

Ah and also: yes lockers are great, but somewhat useless when sitting on the chassis rails! E.g. stuck in our mud here, where every time you try to get going you only move in one direction: DOWN!