Do you have a winch? How often do you use it?

[AdventurePig]

If you have a winch - In a normal year, how often do you use it?

Daily?
Weekly?
Monthly?

Currently have a Warn 9500ti, and i’m thinking about downsizing to something smalller/cheaper like a Warn M8000-s, or potentially running without one and adding back a set of MaxTrax instead for desert work.

I’ve had a winch on the past handful of 4x4’s we own and i have to say, i’ve never used one off-road even with lots of trail time in Pismo, Moab, Anza-borrego, and several 7-8+/10 socal trails under our belt.

On our last rig the biggest use was to do work around our place, moving trees/logs, etc. a couple years ago after a big storm.

Can of worms topic like running a spare tire vs. carrying tire/wheel stem patch kits, i know, but i’m interested in what works for you in your area?

I would say our rig is very well built/capable(TJR, longarm’d, armored, etc) and our intent is to stick to 5/10 or less trails, BUT we usually DO run solo or with one other mildly built rig, so trying determine our actual needs.

 

[Rickyd]

I've only used my winch a few times in as many years. But when I did,it saved me at least 5 miles of walking every time. Better to have one than not in my opinion

 

[Apparition]

When on a trip it seems like daily.

Rarely used for myself but one time wheeling alone it paid for itself in one pull.

 

[JEEPSTEVENANAIMO]

i use it all the time. usually to move trees n such but sometimes to get myself out of a pinch.

 

[JustDandee]

Yeah can o worms. Some have way more challenging adventures then others, some are over built for what they do which limits frequency. For me I have pulled line 3 times in 6 months. One of those was doing house hold chores…. What do you gain by not keeping the one you have unless you are shooting for making a lighter build. I would keep what you got it’s already there and paid for …or go without. No middle ground in my minds eye to justify getting a smaller one.

 

[AdventurePig]

Yeah can o worms. Some have way more challenging adventures then others, some are over built for what they do which limits frequency. For me I have pulled line 3 times in 6 months. One of those was doing house hold chores…. What do you gain by not keeping the one you have unless you are shooting for making a lighter build. I would keep what you got it’s already there and paid for …or go without. No middle ground in my minds eye to justify getting a smaller one.

Yeah, thanks for the logic, i appreciate it. i’ve definitely got weight savings on the brain - it’s probably 75-85lbs of equipment that we’ve never used except to do a function check.

 

[AdventurePig]

Thx for the forum move, admins! My bad,

 

[Harold&Cat]

I suppose it all depends on your wheeling and needs around the house . We installed the winch a little over a year ago after wheeling this Jeep for 10 years without needing recovery . Honestly I use it around the house more than for recovery . We have a winch on a receiver hitch mount that we use for numerous tasks around the house and loading trailers . That being said , we intend on exploring trails where recovery may be necessary which is why I decided to get one . It's a good insurance policy since we wheel alone regularly . We also carry a chainsaw , fire extinguisher , first aid , plenty of drinking water and food for us and the pups .

 

[gasiorv]

Rarely used for myself

Now who's bragging!


I use my winch about every outing, which is hopefully at least once a month. I have a 9K lb winch on a fairly lightweight TJ and I am actually thinking about upgrading. Last time out, even with the cable doubled, it was struggling to pull with both the front and rear diffs dug into the mud on a steep hill. No other way out, had to go up and every way up was steep and rutted. I would never downgrade a winch or piece of recovery/safety equipment.

 

[Apparition]

Now who's bragging!


I use my winch about every outing, which is hopefully at least once a month. I have a 9K lb winch on a fairly lightweight TJ and I am actually thinking about upgrading. Last time out, even with the cable doubled, it was struggling to pull with both the front and rear diffs dug into the mud on a steep hill. No other way out, had to go up and every way up was steep and rutted. I would never downgrade a winch or piece of recovery/safety equipment.

I’ve had a good run the last couple of years.

What will you upgrade to?

 

[JMT]

I use mine about 3-5 times/year.

You should at least run it every month to keep it in good service

I do not think that an M8000 is really up to the task of our rigs. Usually you want a winch rating that is twice the weight of the rig. I am pretty confident that most modified rigs on the forum are over 4,000lbs.

 

[John Cooper]

I have one TJ and 2 warn winches.

Well will have the second one in a week or so, just have to go pick it up.

I don't have one mounted yet, but that's next on my list.

I am passing the 8274 to a good friend and will only have a HS9.5.

Edit forgot to add.

I haven't used one in several years, but had to get winched out of this mess...

 

[jjvw]

The frequency of usage isn't all that helpful of a comparison. Variances in build capability and trail difficulty all play a role on the necessity of a winch.

On the same trail of some amount of difficulty with two otherwise similar Jeeps, lockers will keep one moving effortlessly while the other with open diffs will need a pull.

Some trails require winching no matter what.

When you need a winch, you need it. Many will never need one.

 

[gasiorv]

I’ve had a good run the last couple of years.

What will you upgrade to?

Not sure yet. Haven't started doing any research yet.

 

[bbaldwin237]

What would be your reason for downsizing? Weight savings alone? An M8000 is only 15lbs lighter. However, you already own the 9500 and an M8000 is not going to be had for cheap. You could lose that weight by switching to synthetic line and sticking with the winch that you already have and save money.

 

[AdventurePig]

What would be your reason for downsizing? Weight savings alone? And M8000 is only 15lbs heavier. However, you already own the 9500 and an M8000 is not going to be had for cheap. You could lose that weight by switching to synthetic line and sticking with the winch that you already have and save money.

Yeah, just thinking about options to lose weight. Good to know about the small weight difference. (We already run synthetic line - thanks for mentioning it, tho.)

In that case, probably be a choice between winch/no winch overall.

 

[lBasket]

It's like insurance... Just cos you didn't get hit this year, doesn't make it a waste next year

 

[squirrelmaster]

On average, I use my winch once or twice a year, as I typically don't seek out situations where I go in expecting to use it. Most of the trails near me are relatively easy, so I have to venture pretty far from humanity to really challenge my vehicles - which is where I end up on unknown trails and get in trouble requiring the winch to get back out. It isn't a lightweight object, to be sure, but in my mind I can think of few things more worth the weight penalty. I also carry traction boards most of the time, but in my experience they generally struggle to replace a winch when you are in mud or rocks.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Yeah, just thinking about options to lose weight. Good to know about the small weight difference. (We already run synthetic line - thanks for mentioning it, tho.)

In that case, probably be a choice between winch/no winch overall.

Got it, yea I wouldn't let 15lbs make that decision for me (that's based on steel cable weights for each model). And since that makes your choice between keeping it or getting rid of it, I'm in the camp of better to have it and not need it.

 

[gasiorv]

This reminds me of something that was said on our last trip as we we were winching me up through the ruts.

"We wouldn't have done this trail if there wasn't a possibility that we would be winching"

Easy doesn't make good stories