Anyone regret a winch?

So we agree overlanders are in the 95%

watch some youtube videos from the other 5%

 

Oh right. I forgot Tacoma world is the 5%. My bad.

 

I agree. People who like to push themselves and their trucks will regularly find themselves winching. At least for me that’s how I learn what me and my truck can and can not do, and what I need to do differently next time.

Like in this pic, next time I need to just not high center haha

 

First thing I did after being stuck with no help for miles, I’ve had to use it once when I was stuck in a creek bottom and it paid for itself then. Sub $400 when it was on sale at 4WP.

 

Maybe time to fit 37”s

 

During hurricane Harvey, my FJ got me to places that were inaccessible to other vehicles, the winch got stuff out of my way, and people out of harm's way.

I have used it to pull out a dead tree, and straighten a crooked tree so we could tie it in position and get it growing strait.

Let's see, I recovered my stuck Polaris, I pulled out big F250s that don't understand the physics of mud vs big motors when using the wrong tires.

It pulled me up an incline when my tires weren't hooking up.

Got a guy out of ice on a stretch of road with bad cell service.

I've been waiting for 9 weeks for my C4 bumper to add a Warn to my Tacoma. As others have said, plenty of less expensive options, but now I know the features and the cost Delta between Smitty and a discounted Warn was justifiable.

 

There is camraderie in OR groups and helping out is just part for the course. Most people that have been stuck were stuck in a way that others would not get stuck (Rut, MT trying to go up a steep hill with tire slip etc.

I would disagree that people have to be reckless or stupid to get stuck.

The consequences of getting stuck sometimes is being at the mercy of someone kindness because a tow truck can't come get you.

I see the crawl control as another feature similar to a winch. Good insurance you may one day need.

Even if you don't go OR all the time, plan B is an option we lucky Tacoma's have that other vehicles don't. These features are insurance for plan b.

I will admit the "I don't need a winch / crawl control because I know what I am doing" crowd baffles me.

 

I wheel alone a lot. The weight isn't really that big of an issue. I got my winch because I wheel alone a lot and I wanna explore the trucks full capabilities. It's nice to know I have an out.

 

Coupled with some snatch blocks and some miscellaneous rigging, not a lot I can't do (sideways, backwards)

 

I have a small 3000 lb winch on a utility trailer and decided to run some 4AWG wire to the back and mount an Anderson quick disconnect for that winch. I use that 50x more that the front because I can use it to load the utility trailer, dead UTV battery, broken UTV etc.

It's really a nice setup.

 

DC motors draw something like 10% of their peak current once they get turning and the draw will depend somewhat on the load, but a single blinking LED can eventually run a battery too low to turn over the engine. The alternator should be able to pretty easily cover the draw except for the initial cranking, or if you keep pushing with the motor "stalled" (pulling against more load than it can move) for any reason.

You can do enough running time to keep the system lubricated with the engine shut off with no worries (unless your battery is on its last legs), and could probably do a single pull in an emergency without too much of a worry. Portable jump-starters aren't nearly as expensive as a winch and aren't a bad idea to keep on hand even if you aren't going off road.

 

This thread reminded me to check my winch before heading out this weekend. Powered out a couple feet, free spooled a couple feet, and powered back in. Working as it should.

 

One trip. January lion calling. Hard crusted snow. Winch got used enough on that one that I stopped spooling it in and just wrapped it around the ARB. Perfect example of a winch making the difference between staying home, and getting out and enjoying the outdoors far from anyone else.











Didn't call in a lion, but we had a hell of a time!

 

Yep I’ve been there before! Just toss the winch line through the passenger window onto the seat. Saves a lot of time.

 

Smittybilt 10k X20 with synthetic rope for sure best bang for the buck going on a little over 2 years now and never had a problem.

 

And luck in equal parts. Some times there is no safe way to turn around. On more than one occasion; I would have preferred to turn around, but forward was the best bad option.

Weather is a variable bitch.

 

I found myself wondering if I needed a winch. I thought I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Fast forward 4 months and I got invited to a farm to tear up the fields before they plow. Me and my friend got stuck all over. There wasn't enough traction to use tow straps. Then we both got stuck trying to get to where I got stuck. If I didn't have the winch we would have had to wait hours for a 3rd to pull both of us.