Is the hidden winch worth it?

I don't wheel, no one i know does anymore. Sometimes i may take my truck down a dirt road getting to a hunting spot, nothing crazy.

I have ran into a few situations lately that I would of liked a winch tho, mainly around the house.

The hidden winch mount is about $500, shipped, and the warn winch i want is about $620, shipped.

Is it worth it to spend $1,100 on a setup I MAY use occasionally.

Anyone else in the same boat? If so, what pushed you over the edge on purchasing one?

 

Subbed for same answers!

 

I'm not a huge wheeler but I think that if you do need it when off roading it's worth more than a grand.

 

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

I agree. I had a mile marker on my old 4runner, never needed it, but it was nice to know it was there..untill some scumbag stole it.

We were pulling out some forsithia bushes a while back, dad was using the winch on his quad, but it was getting a work out. That winch is only like 2500#'s tho.

Numerous stuff around here, like that situation is where a bigger winch would be nice.

 

I carry around 60' of straps, numerous shackles and clevises, and a come along. I just think a winch would be nicer, and less I have to carry.

 

I wouldn't waste the money. I bought a heavy duty come along for around the house. For the few times you'd need it off road, you could probably make due with a high lift. Sure, it's not the best way to pull a vehicle out but it's a LOT cheaper than $1,100 and will get the job done if you're really stuck and have no one to come help you.

EDIT: you mentioned less to carry, even with a winch, I'd still carry that stuff. Electrical components fail all the time, I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of an electrical connection that's been corroding in the salt all winter to save my ass when push comes to shove.

 

I have a Hi-lift also. Im going to purchase the 4x innovation mounts to put it in the bed.

 

I have a rubber maid box in my bed, full of stuff, just in case. I'd love to be able to compact everything to one of the bed cubbys, or maybe under the rear seat.

 

My neighbor and I use to rip large bushes and vines out of their roots with this 1994 4x4 Tacoma. We just looped the rope to the hitch and pulled. It always did what we needed it to.

 

If you are set on a winch and don't plan on using it (or needing it) frequently, I'd get a front receiver and one of those receiver mounted winch carriers. That way the winch can stay stored out of the weather and road grime and be installed if/when you need it.

 

It you are in to hard off road then yes a winch is good.
You want a mount that is high and out of the normal water.
I like the one you can remove, found a lot more uses over the years.
Built a mount to stick in the front or back and will mount to any 2" rec.
On bot ends of the mount are spots to place a D ring and also have about 20-25 foot of power cable.
Have used it to drop trees, move them, move rigs out of the trail, tow things up on the trailer and so on. Even mad a chain mount to wrap around a mount the winch mount to the tree.
I have two, one 9500HSI and a warn 8000I.
But one of the best tools I ever got was the More Power Puller.
Works for any and all needs from wheeling to around the farm or house.
http://www.wyeth-scott.com/

One thing I found over the years, having one mounted on the front of a rig, they take a beating, need a lot of up keep and cleaning.....
Never had one not work 100% when I went to a mount I could remove.

 

I won't do that with my truck, don't want to burn the clutch out. My dad used his 02 tacoma, but it was tough on it, also.

I'd like to have that option, but if its not permenantly mounted to the truck, i'd never carry it.

 

I have a hidden mount and a Warn 8k winch. It has been used more times to recover other peoples rigs than my own. Sometimes it's not your ass that needs saving.

Just something else to keep in mind

 

X2. Theres been a few times i used my old rig on the beach to pull people out, with no winch.

I'd just like the option to have one, but don't want it to be wasted either.

 

I have stuff i can sell to fund it. I have a compressor, trd offroad wheels, kobalt tool box..anyone intrested to fund my possible purchase?

 

I wish i can find someone thats taking one off. I contacted the hidden winch mount company about a group buy, they said not intrested.

 

I ended up using the CBI receiver mount up front on my '12 with a carrier for the winch. If I'm going around town, the winch stays in the garage. If I need it, I can slap it in the receiver before I leave town or even toss it in the back of the truck. I'm going to end up removing it and selling it, though since I plan to get an ARB in the near future. If has, however, been damn handy.

 

Bump! Anyone else?

 

ato front hidden hitch
and i will give you a good deal on one?
then you can use your winch front or rear on a carrier as i have done for some time
also great if you ever move boats around