Winches

[OffRoadin]

Don't know... I've only ever gone off roading once. That's why I'm asking all these questions that seem pretty basic and probably stupid to the more experienced people on the board. I'm used to motorcycles and sports cars. Been driving those since the 1st day I got my license. So this is all new to me.

Originally Posted by tomp

....and what happens when both of you get stuck while trying to pull out the other?

[CollegeSucks]

straps are fine, dont be retarded, pay attention to what the other guy is doin, and you'll be golden.

[tower]

Originally Posted by OffRoadin

I guess what I'm trying to say is are there any real added benifits to having a winch over just the straps looking at a cost point of view...

If there are huge benifits over straps then I'll still drop the $$$ on a winch, but if it's all the same if someone else will most likely be around to pull then I'll just get some good straps.

There in lies the rub. This means you wil most likely get unstuck, if you all know what you're doing and you don't get them stuck. They are called self recovery winches for a reason. I bet you can figure this one out on your own.

[Alan06SUT]

Winches kick a55. Straps are a necessity, a winch takes it to a new level. a winch can pull you up things you would never be able to climb on motor and traction alone. you wont need a truck at the top to pull you up, etc. You can also use it as a safety line when trying something for the first time. That way you may not flip off the mountain, etc! Then, once you figure out the line, you can try it without the winch. if you have a group with no winches and no one can make it up a certain obstacle, you have to go back. With one winch, he goes up, and then pulls everyone else up.


IMO, The warn multi mount is the most versitile as it can go on the front or rear, or be removed very easily. I have used mine on the back to pull a broken down vehicle up and on to my trailer, and to pull another truck up a hill that was too narrow to turn around on. It weighs about 60 or 70 lbs and is probably my favorite upgrade. Another time i was on a trail with a 300ft cliff on the left. suddenly I felt the front left slide down a couple of inches. I found that the earth was giving way under my tire. I hooked the winch to a tree on the right and slid my front end over three of four feet. Drivng forward or backwards may have caused me to fall down the cliff. like I said winches kick a55. Get one.

[OldHiker]

The most important thing - the cool factor!