Winch....Why?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 135
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From: Arkansas
JK Super Freak
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,037
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From: Springfield, Oregon
I guess I don't understand what you are asking. Because if you don't understand what I'm saying which is to be prepared, then I don't know how to tell you it's ok to rely on everyone else.
Murphy's Law definitely applies to 4 wheeling. It doesn't care what trail. It doesn't care what rig or if it's dedicated or a daily driver. It doesn't care about the weather.
Stuff breaks, batteries die and equipment fails.
Plan for the worst and expect the best.
Murphy's Law definitely applies to 4 wheeling. It doesn't care what trail. It doesn't care what rig or if it's dedicated or a daily driver. It doesn't care about the weather.
Stuff breaks, batteries die and equipment fails.
Plan for the worst and expect the best.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Thornton, CO
Let's take an on-road example. Say you live in Colorado, like me. You're driving down the road after a good snow storm. The vehicle in front of you loses control and goes off the road and into a ditch. If you've got a winch, you can easily pull them out.
It's not just a matter of helping yourself ... it's also about helping others.
It's not just a matter of helping yourself ... it's also about helping others.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, Oregon
If we have talked you into getting one remember the unwritten law. Never ever charge anyone for winching them out. Somewhere down the road someone will pay you back by helping you out of a sticky or stuck situation. If they offer, only take it if you have broken something or you really need the gas money. We are all in this together as a jeep family. I would never charge another brother/sister .
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: London, Ontario
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?
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?
JK Jedi
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,831
Likes: 2
From: SoCal, USA
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.
Never seemed to have the need to carry around a couple hundred extra pounds for the winch. Prove me wrong.
a) I may want to go wheelin' with rigs that don't have winches.
b) I may want to go wheelin' alone (it may be a "no-no", but I've still done it).
c) If one winch breaks, it sure is nice to have a backup.
d) There are on-road cases where a winch could come in handy.
e) Better to be prepared than sorry.
f) What if someone parks in my spot at work?
g) If everyone figured "why have a winch?", then you wouldn't have a buddy with a winch to rely on.
Mine's a daily driver/weekend off-roader and I feel much safer knowing I'll soon have a winch to help me or others in sticky situations.
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 4
From: OC
But, our winch was able to
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,326
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From: Central Georgia
This is the reason that I'm not getting the $1300 Warn powerplant that I want. I would really like to have this winch, but I'm not going to use it that much and it would end up being more of a "Hey come steal me" item. Instead, I'm going to use a Tabor 9K, from Warn's value line. We'll see how it does.
Last edited by BLKRUBI; May 4, 2007 at 09:28 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
From: Mint Hill, NC
thnaks for the insight... i am by no means "anti-winch".
i really wanted to get a discussion going of why you need one and why you dont.
seems like the consensus it have one in case you need it, and in many cases it is easier (better) to winch stationary than to pull out with another moving vehicle.
in what cases is a winch better? tow strap better?
i really wanted to get a discussion going of why you need one and why you dont.
seems like the consensus it have one in case you need it, and in many cases it is easier (better) to winch stationary than to pull out with another moving vehicle.
in what cases is a winch better? tow strap better?