Winch recommendation?

Durability/long life. I started four wheeling in the eighties using wire rope and I've used it in various rescue/extrication classes and real life scenes along with some rigging classes so while synthetic does have a lot of advantages, it doesn't really bother me to use wire. I understand it's limitations and dangers and I have a very healthy respect for them. One plus is that it's less likely to be damaged by rocks or mud, both of which are common around here.

Until recently, I was traveling a lot for work so I wasn't in the States as often meaning my truck sat for periods of time. When I travel here I'm usually alone so I purposefully avoid unnecessary risks as much as possible meaning it doesn't get used a lot. I want the security of the winch but there's no point in spending a couple hundred on a synthetic line that's going to need to be replaced every couple of years when a wire rope can sit for years with an occasional lubing and be fine. I've pulled out far more people than I have self recoveries and I've also used it for moving stuff around.

Now that I'm back in the US if I find I'm using it more then I may switch to synthetic but other than the weight issue I haven't really thought much of it. Having watched a decent number of folks using their winches, especially younger folks who buy a 4wd and a winch and suddenly think they know what they're doing, I almost always recommend synthetic. The safety factor alone is worth it for most folks and most actual experts are smart to recommend it if for that reason alone. In my experience, a lot of the people with winches don't have much of a grasp on physics or understand just how dangerous a winch can be so removing at least one of those hazards is worthwhile. Even a lot of the tow truck operators don't really seem to know what they're doing and rely on the brute force of their winches or their trucks. Ever watched a tow truck pull a vehicle out of a ditch with a J hook in an iffy location or using a frame hook (transportation keys)?

None of this should be construed as me being some sort of winching or extrication expert, I make no claims to that despite having a handful of certs in various areas. I have taken the time to try to learn from some folks who were experts though. Whatever the OP gets, I just hope he takes the time to learn some safe rigging practices and is careful.

Note: I do love soft shackles too!

 

X bull 13k

 

How many of you hard wired the toggle switch and mounted it in the dash ???? , makes for faster access to your winch

 

If he goes with my recommendation it has a wireless remote (along with a wired backup). Only plebs winch outside.

 

i have that same winch on my FJ40
i use a comeup winch on my taco and it hasnt let me down yet.

 

Same (recommend Smittybilt that is.. )

No need to spend big money on a fancy name. Get one that fit your needs (9.5k lb is popular for these trucks), then figure out if the weight savings with synthetic line is worth the extra $ in your case.

As long as you maintain it and follow the recommendation of cycling it once a month you should be good. And learn some basic winch safety as well

I've only had to make like one real pull with my xrc 9.5 but it was a 200+ ft pull, up hill, through the snow. No problems