Why does Warn recommend a 4500lb winch?

I misread the warn page. Here is the answer: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-does-warn-recommend-a-4500lb-winch.829526/#post-29733741

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When using warn's calculator with a 3rd gen Tacoma, they have a winch with a 4500lb (single line) load capacity.

After seeing this, I realized that everything I know about winch sizing isn't based on any actual testing. Are we all just buying oversized winches?


https://www.warn.com/warn-industries-101140

AXON 45-S POWERSPORT WINCH - 101140

 

Depends on what you are doing with it.

If up to your chassis in muck with all 4 wheels in dug out holes it takes a lot more than the weight of the vehicle to pop free.

 

That’s the heaviest power sport winch. You need truck/suv winch

 

20 years ago it felt like a 9k winch was the most common and you only saw a 12k on big full-size rigs.


But. If the size and weight aren’t hugely different, may as well get the biggest you can, i don’t think anyone has ever wished for a smaller winch while pulling someone out.


That said, I feel like improper recovery techniques only have their danger multiplied by using ever bigger winches.

 

Why is Warn recommending it?

 

When I search on the 2020 taco:

 

Usually best to double the vehicle weight, when selecting a winch rating

 

How did I miss that? This is the answer.