Why bother getting a winch? If you arent going to wheel alone whats the point. Seems like only the lead person would need a winch, everyone else could use the jeep before them.

Never seemed to have the need to carry around a couple hundred extra pounds for the winch. Prove me wrong.

 

Not to prove you wrong because I don't have one either (then agian I don't wheel I do offroad see my reply here https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-talk-26/do-you-take-your-jk-off-roading-7560/ ) You need a winch for at least one reason going up a steep incline. You can attach a winch to something at the top and actuall use your winch to pull down on the front and "weight" it down for traction as well as a boost up. I have also seen people get stuck so bad it took three or four winches to pull them out. These are what I consider the biggest two of what will most likely be several you get.
BTW if we change a letter and are talking about a wench I will take several

 

I have had a few winches in the past and I have one on my truck. I have used them for helping others out of ditches snow banks mud, etc. I have used it on my self a lot more then once. I've used them to move logs off the road and trails. I even used it to help straighten a bumper.

 

i guess i understand a winch in certian condiditons: competitions, trail dedicated rigs, etc. but ona jeep that is a daily driver and ocasionally "offroad" what are the benifits of using a winch vs. using your buddy's jeep as a tow rig.

 

Let me attempt to answer by providing a hypothetical scenario... say you're out wheeling with a buddy or two, and you wedge yourself deep in mud. Certainly possible so far, right? Well, now one of your friends rides out close enough to use whatever tow strap you have handy, and when they try to pull you out, they find that the added strain of your Jeep's weigh coupled with their own is too much for the traction available... so now they're stuck, too. Still quite possible. If there are two of you, the story is over here... if there's a 3rd with you, then there's ONE more chance to get you both out...

Now, consider the above scenario, except buddy #2 (the one that tries to pull you out) has a winch - he doesn't have to get CLOSE to where you are, and doesn't have to move nearly as much to cause YOU to move... he pretty much has to hold steady against the force exerted by the winch, and not much more. So, he's not stuck, and now, neither are you...

Maybe that's a bit of a bad example, but I'd ask the opposite: Why NOT have a winch? Yes, it adds some weight. Yes, it costs some money. But, wouldn't you rather have one and not need it than the other way around?

 

Sometimes murphy's law strikes and you can't get the other jeep in a position to pull you out. You can use a winch and a snatch block to get the right angle to pull. Plus the winch line is longer then tow straps. I have even used both connected to reach the stuck vehicle, because I wanted the pulling rig on solid ground. It is better to have one and not use it then not have one and need it.

 

Simple and the reason I will be getting one as soon as I can afford it (budget is tight with buying the JK and starting a buisness). I know this is a no no but I tend to be driving offroad alone not wheeling mind you but offroad. If something happens say I get stuck I want to be able to get myself out w/o having to call for backup.

 

"It is better to have one and not use it then not have one and need it."
hey, doesnt that belong in the gun thread too?

 

You can also hook up your winch to a solid object your buddies to you and have more pulling power. Like I said possibilites are endless. Now like if you said you only offroad a little chances are you may not need one but if you offroad a lot you may. If you wheel get one it's a needed tool not a nice to have.

 

Yap! We all preach not to go alone, but we all do it.