How many run a Winch on the truck

[mtwarden]

3 ton power puller

This is the route I went as well. When I was warden, the powers to be pooh poohed us getting winches, I got these instead for all the guys. Not as handy as a winch, but they work.

 

[roosiebull]

Looking at doing a 2nd Season hunt in CO this coming year and looks like ill be going solo.
So I am trying to get some ideas on things I need to di a bit different with gear etc.
And that also is including the truck as well. I have been going through a list of things I want to put in the truck for the just in case thing like a Jump Pack, Tire Chains etc.
The other thing I got to thinking about was putting a winch on the front of the truck.
Might not ever need it. But if I would need it sure would be nice to have.
I have a Come-A-Long but not a huge fan of those either.

So how many run a winch. And how often do you use it?
Would you put one on your next rig?

I have had one pickup with a winch, and the couple times it would have came in handy it wouldn’t work, once was in the sage, nothing to hook up to, it had snowed the night before and we went up into the hills to call dogs, when the snow thawed, that desert clay got really nasty and it was touch and go, but we finally got out of there… I had big clumps of that clay falling out from under my pickup for months, that stuff is horrible

The other time pulling from the front would have been worse, so front mounted winches aren’t very versatile in my mind

I think having a receiver front and rear with a capstan winch is the best option, and you don’t have to have a big heavy bumper to have it, keep it in the tool box or whatever, and mount it to either side of the pickup depending on the situation… makes a lot more sense to me, and you can use them outside of your pickup.

Last year I had to pull a guy out who had a winch, because pulling from the front was going to make it worse. So again, the winch was dead weight and he couldn’t get the cable to pull out anyway because it was all bound up on the spool

That guy went in the ditch on purpose, which made it more ironic, because it was fairly obvious that a front winch wouldn’t help if he got stuck, I don’t know how he thought that was going to go in his head.

If you do get a front mounted winch, don’t let it give you a false sense of security, because there are a lot of scenarios that they won’t help. If you were good at rigging and carried some pulleys, it might make it more versatile, but I would much rather have a capstan with front and rear receivers

 

[roosiebull]

They also double as an excellent way to pull down dead trees/large branches for firewood for large/long base camp hunts.

The other day I almost screwed myself trying to get around a down tree, a winch would have given me the ability to pull the problem tree out of the way enough to not put myself in a bad position. It was probably a 12” diameter alder, my passenger side had to go over it, drivers side was on a downward slope with soft mud… it was a bad idea, but I didn’t want to give up on my day, and I made it, but it was stressful.

I almost always pack my little stihl this time of year but I was being a little girl and didn’t want to put a saw in my new pickup, but that was a good reminder of why I do, and shiny or not, it’s a pickup, and regardless it won’t stay new long with me. Would have been ironic if I would have put a big dent scratch down the whole side, which was a very real possibility in that situation

 

[Choupique]

I had one for 10 years. Only recovered myself once with it. Used for recovering others and general utility use more times than I could ever recall. Its one of those things I like having but my current truck doesn't have one because the cost just to mount it is high.

A good winch is a long term investment. My warn is 30 years old and works like new still. Just took it off my tractor.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I currently don’t have one on my truck , but I have used one quite a bit
Self recovery 5-7 times, recovering other folks mainly, it requires some extra gear , like snatch blocks, straps, 10ft chain , a shovel, ect , scotch block for anchoring truck , a wench line anchor is a must ( unless you’re not afraid of a injury or broken window)
My 2 winches are a 5000lbs & 16000K warne , very very reliable
I have used them a lot for standing up deer blinds, moving trees, ect

Mounting was done in a receiver hitch ( the heavy duty line to the back is quite expensive but worth it)

 

[49ereric]

This is the route I went as well. When I was warden, the powers to be pooh poohed us getting winches, I got these instead for all the guys. Not as handy as a winch, but they work.

I have had a 2 ton for decades and although small to get my truck out of a mud hole it would do it if someone was there to apply the throttle slightly (auto trans) without spinning the tires. This would make it easier to ratchet the power puller. I used a longer steel handle @20” though. When you get a truck with 38” swampers with lockers front and rear stuck you get a long work out with the hand winch. I used to use a handy man jack with shackles at both ends as well.

 

[farmermail]

I have a winch, used it once to pull myself out, many times to pull others out. The majority of time, I am pulling trees out of the road, much faster than a chainsaw.

 

[HNTR918]

Looking at doing a 2nd Season hunt in CO this coming year and looks like ill be going solo.
So I am trying to get some ideas on things I need to di a bit different with gear etc.
And that also is including the truck as well. I have been going through a list of things I want to put in the truck for the just in case thing like a Jump Pack, Tire Chains etc.
The other thing I got to thinking about was putting a winch on the front of the truck.
Might not ever need it. But if I would need it sure would be nice to have.
I have a Come-A-Long but not a huge fan of those either.

So how many run a winch. And how often do you use it?
Would you put one on your next rig?

V-Bar Tire Chains on all 4.
Winch in front bumper.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Btw..you asked this question last year

Any of you all run a Winch on your truck?

We bought a new to me truck a few weeks ago. Hopeing to have it for a while and trying to get some things lined out to set it up better for hunting. Its already got a lift and 35s on it. Thinking of putting a Winch on the front also for the just in case times. For those that have which one did...

rokslide.com

 

[uglymud]

Don't have one anymore not seeing a lot of appealing options for mounting on a newer F250 and it's better to stay out of those situations in a long bed if you can.

If I do go for a winch definitely doing front and rear in dedicated winch bumpers. The cradle looks like an absolute pain to deal with.

Previous rig was an FJ80 used the winch plenty on that. As others have said, buy once cry once. Warn 8274 gets my vote for anything less than a 3/4 ton truck. Synthetic rope is 10x better than dealing with cable, and you can carry extensions easily.

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