winch info

[Steve_925]

i just did a quick search and didnt find anything. i see alot of people with rear suck down winches and more and more people putting them on there rigs. but i never really hear people talk about what it helps with and when to use them and if there really all they are hyped to be on the trail. i really just kinda wants some genral info on the use for them. and if they are mostly used with coil overs, or coils, or air shocks??

also wanted some reference from people with front winches. im build my 73 pick up right now and am kinda stuck on if i should get a winch or not and how big of a winch to get. its a 73 pick up with 39.5" iroks, locked front and rear. i really only wheel the rubicon, but hopfully when its finished ill go to fordyce prettyoften. also snow wheelin is in the whole thought prosses also. what you guys think....yay or nay.
and how often do you guys with winches accually use them. is it worth the extra weight and space and $$$ it takes up. thanx in advance

[RokCrawlinToy]

For selecting a winch for your vehicle, you want to get one that is rated at 1.5 times your vehicle's weight. Doesn't matter what type of suspension you have, to get a winch.
Most of the time that I have used a winch is get someone else unstuck.
Also you want to get all the properly rated recovery gear and most importatly, learn how to use that equipment properly & safely.

[46&2]

I use my Warn winch about 3-10 times a year, almost always getting other people unstuck. So far this winter I have already winched out an old lady and some kids in a Kia in the span of one week after these last two snow storms. I also used it to winch myself out after getting cocky and barging a huge snow drift where I bit off a little more than I could chew 

Using the winch it took me about 2 minutes to get unstuck. Without it I would have been digging for hours.

I don't have any experience with using winches for suspension but like Rokcrawlintoy said for the front you want one rated for at least 1.5 times your vehicles weight. I see my winch as one of those "use it when you need it" not "wish you had it when you need it" items. I have used mine enough times to be extremely glad I have it. Just like a high lift jack, a good shovel or a good knife, a good winch definitely has the potential to save your life and is well worth having in my opinion.

[79coyotefrg]

atv winches are used to "suck down" the suspension  to avoid rollovers when on side hills,   or in my case to get in and out

[Steve_925]

i guess what i should have asked is out of all those times that you guys use your winch how often would you be F#$*ed with out it.

atv winches are used to "suck down" the suspension  to avoid rollovers when on side hills,   or in my case to get in and out

thats what i figured but wasent possitive

[lucky7]

Broke a birf this summer without my winch wouldn't have gotten it off the trail

[Rocksurfer]

The suckdown winch is used to eliminate body roll i.e. limiting travel to keep the platform level instead of leaning. Don't know that it works well on leaf vehicles I've only seen them used on coil/linked rigs.

[Birfailed]

If I got the parts and tools to make a repair I'll do it there.  I'm in no rush unless like a storm or the russians are coming.  The winch is good peace of mind.  I've also seen em hold a front end together when the dudes leaf spring hangers snapped off, wrapped the winch around all of it and sucked it down tight.  I'd feel naked without one, winch, tools, parts, and hi-lift jacks are pretty much necessary nowadays.  Theres no way I would of gotten my truck out of Helldorado with out the winch, unless I rebuilt the entire front axle and rear diff.  There kinda like beadlocks I guess, not required, but one less thing to worry about.  Better to have it and not need it...then need it and not have it.