Well, again I never said I would use one on "Hell's Revenge".. Nor would I recommend it - from the way you talk about it, I think I would tend to agree with you.. A hi-lift jack, however is a very useful tool. As far as "dangerous". Well, if that's a concern then Jeeping is the wrong hobby for (whomever). I'll agree with you on another point - I have never used my hi-lift (never needed it).. However, I am glad I have it and would never hit the trail without it. Although, I do not necessarily like the "look" of it and being mounted on my hood - it blocks my wiper jizz. I was speaking more in terms of a simple "high-center" stuck. Or to change a tire. And yes, it can be used as a winch (obviously for a very short pull - say, when stuck on a rock or high-centered). I tend to agree with you on the winch over the locker but I was simply trying to offer information so OP could properly weigh his options. You do raise a good point and I wouldn't want OP to think he can just get a hi-lift jack and go jack-winching himself easily out of any stuck - it certainly is not a simple task (and requires additional hardware). One thing I will say after getting the steel bumpers and winch - I miss being "light". When I had my plastic bumpers I floated over obstacles that had others stuck for 15-30 minutes. I really do miss the "minimalist" approach - going as light as possible. Of course, being with a group of guys (1/2 of whom had winches) I was never really worried about a permastuck.

Also, yesterday I used my winch (for the first time ever after having it a year or so) to pull a friends jetski trailer out of its sunken position in his back yard. So yes, a winch has many uses.. Heck, up in snow country you could probably drive around after a recent snow and pull soccer moms out of the snow drifts for $40 a pop!

 

Funny you should say that, 3 weeks ago when the creeks where running close to 30 inches of water because of the high temps creating heavy snow melt, I pulled an ATV out of the creek that tried to cross and got swept away when it started to float down stream and got caught on a dead tree. Then about 20 minutes later some guy on a motorcycle tried to cross and he got in the middle of the creek and the water knocked him over and the engine hydro locked on him. I gave him a ride back into town to get his truck to get his bike off the mountain.

 

And just fyi... hell's revenge.

 

This whole thread is nothing but personal opinion and preferences.

Additionally, I think the thread ignored the op after the 2nd page.

His need is for light trails and fishing spots which most likely doesn't involve 2 or more other 4x4s...hence a winch for self recovery......for now. Save up for lockers if it has to be one or the other right now

 

Yeah, I've seen that.. I think I watched a video of a dude who backflipped down that.. That's Moab, yes?

 

Yep. Very addictive place. Once you've been that's all you can think about weeks later, and you spend all your time trying to figure out how to get back.

 

I think my answer was very well tailored to OP's question (not sure if you read my response or not). And I completely disagree - this thread is not pure (biased) opinion - it has a great deal of excellent, unbiased information to help the OP make his decision. A poll is (far too often but not always) "click on what I like best". That was my point.

To be honest, it's posts like your last one that are useful to nobody.

 

Again opinion

 

Ha. I'd love to go there but you will never see me on Hell's Spankjob.. I'll leave that to the hardcore wheelers.. I'd love to visit Moab, but from central Cali, it would just be a bit too much of a hike..

 

Again, pointless and inaccurate comment. Also, you should quote my whole statement which included fact. But you trimmed the fact out to prolong your babbling banter. If you have nothing to add, just leave. Or, send me a PM if you REALLY need to inform me of your wisdom. But you didn't and won't. You must post for the whole world to read your garbage.