Do you have a winch? How often do you use it?
- Thread starter AdventurePig
- Start date
I have one now! As of about 4 days ago. Haven't even got it tensioned yet but it is wired in and working since this picture. Superwinch SX10SR.
I'd say I'm in the camp of having it and not needing it after dropping a tire into an old box culvert (google it if you don't know what that is) and thankfully had a friend with me in his own rig to pull me out otherwise it would have been a very long walk.
I definitely feel a bit safer and more capable having a winch, but wheeling with a second rig in my own opinion feels much more reassuring than wheeling solo with a winch. Plus there's many non-wheeling benefits to winches as well, like pulling a skid steer track that jumped off the idler wheel or moving some boulders or concrete blocks to access certain areas
This also happened before lockers were purchased and was a fantastic reminder of how terrible open diffs can be on wet mossy roads....
I definitely feel a bit safer and more capable having a winch, but wheeling with a second rig in my own opinion feels much more reassuring than wheeling solo with a winch. Plus there's many non-wheeling benefits to winches as well, like pulling a skid steer track that jumped off the idler wheel or moving some boulders or concrete blocks to access certain areas
This also happened before lockers were purchased and was a fantastic reminder of how terrible open diffs can be on wet mossy roads....
Used it twice on Fordyce Creek " Sierra Trek " a couple weeks ago. Hard to see but the passenger front tire is wedged against the rock and the driver side is not making contact. I had to back up a bit but the trail dropped off the edge to a creek below. I kept the winch line connected to keep from going to far backwards and then meeting my maker. So to answer the OP question you never know when
When you need it, you need it... when you don't, you don't. If you don't have it, you cannot use it. Just my two cents. It was a godsend this spring out in the Red River Gorge area - but, I think an investment in synthetic line is smart (and one that I need to do). Lighter and safer.
Wouldn’t it be faster to just tie a chain to the log and drag it where you want it? I don’t want to minimize the value of a winch, but before I had a front end loader on a tractor, I drug a lot of logs with a chain and truck or tractor and it seems like it was faster than doing it with a winch. I always had a winch on the front of one of my trucks, but for moving timber it seemed to be quick with a chain, especially if you had two people working together.
The more I drive up and down the hill the more plants I kill and the worse erosion gets
Great point! My timber moving was usually along fence rows around the edge of the pasture and meadows which when rutted in that area was not an issue.
Faster yes. If I was skidding with a tracked vehicle with no suspension...very predictable. Tractor too to some extent. I've had to recover at least four tractors neighbors have rolled over the years.
Jeep...out on a remote trail...limited communication or access to resources like additional assistance or first aid...slow and controlled and predictable with a winch is the way to go.
I will use a chain or choker as a lead on the log to avoid abrasion on my synthetic rope. Or a nylon strap...I have a few cheapies I don't mind sacrificing.
-Mac
A winch is like a Trojan. The odds are high you'll never need it, but when you do you'll need it immediately, not after you go to the store to get one.
I've been slacking on wheeling for the last couple years. When I was wheeling more regularly, probably used it legitimately 3 - 4 times per year.
'legitimately' - If you could've use a recovery strap instead, it's not a legit use IMO. Legit is when you're stuck to the point where it's the correct tool to use. Many use it instead of a strap just because it's convenient. Most of the time a strap would suffice.
'legitimately' - If you could've use a recovery strap instead, it's not a legit use IMO. Legit is when you're stuck to the point where it's the correct tool to use. Many use it instead of a strap just because it's convenient. Most of the time a strap would suffice.
33s and a 3" lift I was winching 1-2 times per year. Always when I was solo, because I would rather pull rope than break stuff.
This year since going to 4" of lift and 35s I have not had to winch yet. And Im running harder trails along with the usual ones I had to winch on.
I went up in lift and tire size so I wouldnt wear out the bottom and it seems to be paying off
Id be super pissed if I spent 10k and was still crashing all over
This year since going to 4" of lift and 35s I have not had to winch yet. And Im running harder trails along with the usual ones I had to winch on.
I went up in lift and tire size so I wouldnt wear out the bottom and it seems to be paying off
Id be super pissed if I spent 10k and was still crashing all over
Hey, just wanted to post up and say i’ve really benefited from all the input y’all have provided. Thx for all the posts.
So then you should just wheel at the times when a strap will do, and not wheel when it won’t. Great, so any tips on how to identify the times when the strap it is not enough so you can know when to stay home?
alittleoff
TJ Addict
Ah yes, the middle rock garden of 3N93. I've spent many hours working and dirt cruising that trail.
How is the 'corduroy' fix hold up?
Yep that's Holcomb Creek Middle rock garden.
Is that question a typo, I'm not following?
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