Anyone regret a winch?

Winches absolutely require maintenance. The biggest killer of winches is lack of use. You'll see people mount it as a "just in case" and have never touched it, but then go to need it and it's dead. It's recommended once a month to power out 5' of winch line, free spool out another 5', and then power it back in. This keeps everything lubricated and happy.

Plus syn line needs to be washed, dried, and respooled under load anytime you get it dirty/muddy. That's another quick way to ruin winch line.

Even with my large aftermarket battery, I would never winch without the truck on, unless I was spooling in a few feet of line with no load on it. The harder the winch has to pull, the more power it draws. That's a quick way to drain and shorten the life of a battery.

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I think winches are awesome. As others have mentioned, they have more uses than just pulling yourself free. I've used mine to pull others free, and I've also used it to move trees off the trail. Without it, we would have been up shits creek and had to turn around.

Everyone has already offered great alternatives to a full bumper. IMO I would go low profile. In theory the hitch ones sound great, but in order to use it in the back, then you've got to wire in some BIG wires running to the back, expensive quick disconnects front and rear and on the winch as well. Then you've got the deal with maneuvering this 60-70lb winch+cradle into a little 2" square, in what may be a precarious situation. No thanks.

In response to your actual list, I replied within the quote.

 

Thank you for your detailed response. Lots of excellent points to consider.

 

You're welcome, hope it helps one way or another. FWIW I know someone who has manually winched themselves once with a hi-lift and was so pissed off at the whole experience and how shitty it was, went and bought a winch the second he gets home. I think on the trail in a real world situation it'll be pretty shitty.

 

I have regretted having a winch on a few occasions. Had an '00 XJ with plate bumper and 10k winch back in 2014-2016.

I took my jeep through a few sketchy situations, but always made it through without its assistance.

However, my friends/acquaintances knew I had a winch, and by golly did they call on me when they needed help.

This is the worst example. I had an acquaintance (with a new 2016 Tacoma no less) that was on a snowy trail and didn't want a snow covered branch to touch the top of his truck. Tried to go around it, ended up sliding down a hill near a creek with his truck resting at a perilous angle.

Calls me up. It's only a few miles from my house and they way he described it it didn't sound too bad. Yeah, right.

6 hours later I am finally in position to start winching his truck for the first time! It took deep into the night, re-positioning my XJ again and again, to finally get him back on the snowy trail. I regretted having a winch that day.

Now I'm all for helping a friend, but that was something else.

* No winch plans for my current TRDOR, but I don't go ham with the truck yet.

 

Another thing that comes with a winch, is knowing how to properly and safely use it, and the accompanying gear too. Snatch block, winch blanket to dampen the line, extra shackles and tree savers. All the basics to carry if you're going to have a winch. As far as learning on safety, youtube is your friend. A lot of good, reputable videos on there to teach basic safety and winch operation. Blows me away when someone I'm wheeling with doesn't have something as basic as a snatch block.

edit: Fuck I keep thinking of things to say. Another pro of adding a low profile/full plate bumper is proper recovery points.

 

He ditched the trunk also. Looks clean!

 

Great info except for the rear wiring part. Instead of routing 0/1 gauge cables from the front batteries to the rear around the frame just for a receiver mount winch, I did not mount the rear cables and keep them wound up in a pouch so I can use them as a long reaching emergency jumper, a 12v high amp power supply extension cord for camp, and to be able to power the winch when mounted on the rear of my or someone else’s rear if needed. It is this kit:

Energizer 1-Gauge 800A kit Jumper Battery Cables with Quick Connect Plug 30 Ft Booster Jump Start ENB-130-30' Allows you to boost a battery (or run a winch) from behind a vehicle (giant safety plus if you are jumping along a narrow road or freeway instead of having to head into it!), and to be able to move the winch or jumper to a different vehicle as needed:

$99 Energizer Jumper Cables, 30 feet, 1 Gauge, 800A, Booster Battery Cables with Permanent Installation kit and Quick Connect Plug for SUV & Trucks with up to 8-Liter Gasoline and 6-Liter Diesel Engines

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GU4O3GG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_d5ZsDbS20PRYS

 

Beyond the day I needed to winch out of a sandbox (partly because I was dumb enough to not air down far enough for the conditions), the winch was worth it; although I might not have gone out alone if I hadn't had it on in the first place.

The US Offroad mount I put on to hold the winch saved me from having to figure out how to deal with insurance and repairs the morning I got backed into at a red light by someone in a Nissan Armada who didn't speak any english (or german or spanish); no damage other than a slightly bent light bracket, at least on my truck.

 

Why the fuck is this even a question? NO is the answer. at the very least it will look good on instagram.

 

and you can winch yourself backward if you need to

 

https://www.***********************/collections/toyota-tacoma/products/hidden-winch-mount-tacoma

This seems like a low weight and low profile especially with a hook that lays flat like a factor 55 and a flip-able license place holder. That's what I'm shooting for but need some extra funds

 

I did eventually, OME 886. Rides great. If weight is a concern, I’d go with a front receiver. You won’t notice any difference or change the driving characteristics with one on compared to a bumper/winch combo. And it’s way more cost effective and a simpler DIY install too.

 

Thank me later. If you need further help, reach out. We are all here for you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AdFJUET2gRg

 

I'm not angry. But it's a rhetorical question right ?
like if I asked if I should spend all my money on hookers and blow. The answer would always be yes

 

I see your point.

There have been a couple responses here from guys with winches on older vehicles that haven’t taken the plunge on their new truck. That’s the info I am most interested in I suppose.

 

Really though, It depends on what you plan on doing with the truck. If the answer involves offroading at all and you can afford it the answer is yes.
I wheeled mine for a while without a winch but I always went with a group and someone in the group had a winch. I was very glad they did a couple times. A snatch strap will not work in some situations.

Since I have had a winch I can go offroad by myself and push the limits, no need to wait on someone else to go with me.

And there have been a few instances where I used it to make work easier. Like cutting a tree and pulling it up to a burn pile

 

Winch mandatory for me. I'm often out alone, a lot of miles from anywhere, weeks at a time, and mostly during crappy weather (hunting seasons). I am not going to play the "get stuck / shovel / move two feet / get stuck again / shovel some more" game.

Haven't needed it on the Gen3 yet as I just haven't been out much with it yet. But it certainly got a workout being on the Gen1 over the course of 15 years. Saved me mucho trouble. Thirty miles plus in, crappy roads, few (if any) people braving the weather and area for days at a time. That's when I'm happiest....getting out there where others really don't want to bother with due to bad roads / weather. Within reason.

I am careful not to go through anything too questionable if there isn't a tree or something to anchor to within 250' though (100' on the spool, and 150' behind the back seat). But the winch has given me the opportunity many times of getting fairly quickly unstuck and being able to move on and continue my trip, which again is usually purpose based (scouting or hunting). Trust me, I HATE cleaning mud off my trucks after a trip. If it was not necessary to go out during crappy weather, I doubt I ever would, and would have little to no need for a winch.

As for maintenance, short of spooling and un-spooling occasionally (usually before a trip), don't do too much with it. Just tore the M8000 apart and re-built before I threw it on the Gen3. Other than a fairly badly corroded drum (which I replaced), the insides looked to be in great shape. Has never given me a lick of problems. Replaced seals while I was there, cleaned it up, greased it up, and I expect to get another 15 yrs out of it.

Won't own a truck without one personally. Having said that, if I didn't do the things I do, where I do them....and was an occasional fire road traveler, not too far from town, and / or with a partner vehicle, then I could see getting by easily without one (or worst case a hitch receiver type winch). It's not a cheap proposition. Suspension, bumper, winch itself, recovery gear, etc. Worth every dime to me, but others maybe not so much.

 

I’d advise taking some recovery classes at overland expo or the overland rallies. There are a lot of ways to get out of various situations. Contrary to popular belief, a winch isn’t a “must have” and it always will not always get you out.

Many people also underestimate the danger of a winch and the necessity of properly rated recovery equipment. A truck bogged to the frame requires a huge amount of force to break the suction and pull it out.

Budget recovery gear is not a great idea.

 

PTTTT. People that overland don't need winches.

I recommend watching some youtube videos from people that actually off-road

 

95% of people don’t need winches.

They need common sense.