How many run a Winch on the truck

[mxgsfmdpx]

My take on this is also based on experiences pulling underprepared people out of the way so we can continue on. Lots of times, a good quality and strong enough winch would have had them freed.

 

[IdahoElk]

I have one and have never used it to get unstuck but have pulled other people out with it and moved trees off of trails.

 

[IdahoBeav]

IMO, tire chains and a handyman jack are more likely to be needed than a winch. I have a winch on my atv, and the only time I have used it was for loading it onto a trailer, and even then, it wasn't necessary.

 

[BucksNBulls]

Had a receiver hitch for a 3rd season Colorado hunt about 18 years ago. Set up for the front and the back. If I didn't have it I'd probably still be stuck back there. Snowed a couple feet a day that year. I used it almost daily.
Since then, I discovered SXS's and only drive to an unload point and use the SXS's to get to where I want to start hunting. They always have a winch too.
There is nothing like that freeze/thaw Colorado mud. And I mean nothing.

 

[Weldor]

I would check the rating on the receiver mount before using one. The ones I looked at years ago were rated for 6000 and 8000. I run a 12000 on my 2500 and 9000 on my jeep. A4500 on my can am. Used them all on greasy and icy trails many times. Not to mention logs and blow downs and rocky terrain

 

[JeffP_Or]

Anyone use a receiver hitch winch that can be mounted on the front or back? Thats what Ive always wanted to do.


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I feel like this is a great idea. Until you’re moving around that hundred pound hunk of junk everywhere. Where do you store it? You don’t want it hanging off of your truck all the time.
This seams like it would just turn into a pain in the ass.


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I bought a 9k# Warn w/ carrier and have it set up with front/rear receivers on my '94 Chev K1500. Extremely useful to have the placement option. The front is a brushguard system designed by Warn that pairs with the winch/carrier.

It is about 110-pounds - so not light. It is rather awkward - but mostly because the truck is an extended cab [third and fourth doors were not yet options then] and I have to lug it up and over/around the seat. The winch lives in the truck - full time. It fits nicely on the floorboard behind the passenger seat between the seat and the factory jack hatch. Not lying, it is not easy to get out but for the number of times I use it - still a winner. The wiring/controller fit inside the jack console of the truck so they are always together. Other recovery 'stuff' rides under the passenger seat or a chain tote.

And trust me - though you can rig a front mount winch to haul you out backwards - the option to just hook the winch in the rear pays. The other bonus is having a front receiver - works pretty good for some trailer maneuvering and boat launching situations as well as the option for a hitch receiver recovery stinger.

 

[LongWayAround]

I hunt fourth rifle most years. I've never needed a winch, nor wished I had one.

I did have a sketchy drive on an icy road this season. A little more slide and I might have wished I had a winch. It was definitely a time where I should have had chains on (which I don't even own).

 

[LongWayAround]

I see lots of overloaded (Tacomas especially) that don't need 1/2 of the stuff they carry around. All it does is reduce the trucks ability to do what its supposed to do.

You never know when you might need four jerry cans, six recovery boards, a shovel, axe, pulaski, and roof tent on your skeleton topper thing. Definitely don't forget the exhaust snorkel, buffalo bumper, and winch.

Sounds like every rich kid I see driving around town.

 

[Rotnguns]

Warne winch front mounted on my Jeep Wrangler Sport S.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I've had a winch on my truck for 14yrs? I've used it twice. Its not a need thing if funds are tight and you only are thinking about it for this one hunt but its useful cheapish insurance.

Once I winched a girls car back up onto a mountain road she went off the edge up and it stopped against a downhill tree. Saved her $$$ I am quite sure and had her back on the road shortly vs walking through the snow down the road when we found her after passing the car off the road.

Once I sunk my truck in gumbo out in the grasslands, I tried and failed a buried anchor and had to call a buddy in, his 3/4T duramax provided an anchor point and I was nearly stalling a 12k winch fully spooled out on a 2:1 pulley to break loose from that muck. That would have been an expensive situation if I had to call in an offroad recovery.

How often have you needed the come-a-long and is $5K much money to you?

A winch doesn't need to cost anywhere close to $5k to install.

 

[Carr5vols]

3rd generation logging family and the only winches we owned were on cats and skidders. Still don't own a winch, or tire chains. If snow is likely, buy some chains from les schwab on the way out, return for a refund if you don't use them. Winches tend to be a confidence booster for people that have no business trying to go that last mile.

Agree. 3rd gen logger as well we have never had one on anything but skidders. Have had jeeps, 4wheelera, etc. Amazing what you can get out of with traction boards or a short 2x4 strapped to a tire. If you need a winch make a flip flop winch if you get in a jam...don't put yourself in a situation is best thing older guys taught me...

 

[Coldtrail]

I bought a winch 20+ years ago that is still mounted on its second truck, it's a nice to have but not a need to have for me. I use it in snow country regularly as a matter of convenience to avoid having to shovel, but can only think of one time I needed it in mud. The weight, excessive battery drain, risk to electronics, frame bending etc doesn't seem worth it enough for me to install one on a newer vehicle.

My long distance away from home hunting newer truck has a portable tool box with a heavy duty come along, lots of synthetic rope and other fixin's to get me out of about any jam and I can just throw it in the truck before I head out on a remote trip and leave it home when doing highway travel. I find that system cheaper and more sensible.

 

[180ls1]

A winch doesn't need to cost anywhere close to $5k to install.

I agree. I am just making some assumptions as he will probably pay to have it installed and by the time he buys a bumper or two, winch, lights? + tax on everything it gets up there fast. That's a pretty common setup.

 

[okie archer]

Don't have one on my truck, could have probably used a winch a few times.
However, I have one on my 4 wheeler and have used it many times. I use 4 wheeler winch to load bears onto rack. Have used it several times to load back into truck bed when I had mechanical problems.
I don't ever plan on going without a winch on any 4 wheeler I will ever have

 

[49ereric]

3 ton power puller

 

[IDVortex]

For this coming spring bear I'm more concerned on having a highlift jack and good quality rebuildable chains.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I agree. I am just making some assumptions as he will probably pay to have it installed and by the time he buys a bumper or two, winch, lights? + tax on everything it gets up there fast. That's a pretty common setup.

Depends on the truck, some have options for winch brackets that fit factory bumpers so installing a winch doesn’t inherently mean bumpers and lights, etc. It’s less than a grand in some situations to put a mid tier winch on a truck.

 

[missjordan]

Anyone use a receiver hitch winch that can be mounted on the front or back? Thats what Ive always wanted to do.


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Yes it’s awesome to have the flexibility. Pic is from 2017 been running this setup for a long time

We also carry a decent sized bag with straps, chains, and snatchblocks as well. Most of the time we usually are saving other people. Like that one time we had to save my step dads jet boat in the breaks. Cradle came in handy that day. Nobody got hurt everyone was really lucky

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[wyosam]

Always have for the last 30+ years, though my new one I picked up this fall doesn’t have one yet. I use them often enough and in remote enough places that I’ll never own a truck without one.


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[mtnbound]

I have used my winch more to get other folks unstuck than myself. It is most used in early winter and early spring. During this time frame, most of the rescue calls we respond to are from folks stuck in either vehicles or SxS.
Chains are always with me, starting in archery season. I have thrown chains before and winched myself out. Hi-lift jacks are tremendous, but most vehicles have no lift points to use them, and they suck as a com-a-long.
I have had a winch capable of going from front to back, but it was a pain. Now, I just run one on the front.
I have also effectively used a chainsaw winch to get unstuck and a Capstan rope winch to recover various things. I agree that most do not need a winch, but I sure like having one.