Winch for my Truck??

[trook]

I am considering a winch for my chevy 2500 diesel. If I get one, it will probably be a 12k Warn. They are expensive, and it appears that I will have to spend several hundred on a bumper as well.

I had a winch on a jeep in the past, and found that is is GREAT when you are by yourself and get stuck (and have a tree nearby). However, assuming that you always have another 4wd truck and a chain, is a winch really a better alternative? What can a winch do what another 4wd truck and chain can't do?

What works better in an identical situation:
1. A truck with a chain spinning tires as it pulls a stuck vehicle
2. The same truck in the exact same circumstances applying the brakes while it uses a winch to pull a stuck vehicle?

Please talk me into (or out of) a winch.

 

[nwngunner]

You dont have to have a winch bumper, you can get your hands on a front receiver. You dont have to have a warn. As for talking you in or out of, there are many times a winch will get you out where another truck or tractor wont. Also you might want to carry straps with you to chain your truck in to place if your pulling something heavy out of the mud and or the snow.

I have had my truck stuck to the point my tractor wouldnt pull it out. How ever my winch on a double line pull, pulled it out like nothing. Also you can use that winch in tigher areas then another truck.

Like i had a cattle chute i needed to put into my barn. I used the winch chained to the corner post of the barn and pulled it in exactly where i wanted it.

 

[Agrantina]

I have a chevy 2500 duramx with a warn on it.. I went with a 9k winch and have not had any trouble with the smaller one. When I bought mine I was told a 12k would bend the frame on the truck before the winch would stop pulling! The 9k has got me out of 2 places fine. Mostly with my crew cab it was high centered so I only needed to drag it off... I did back down in the cache river duck hunting and got the boat trailer/ truck stuck and hand to winch out while being pulled at the same time. Got out but got a little worried after a few hrs..

remeber that when you winch someone out you can tie your truck off to something and it will not slide.. pulling with a chain you cant do that and you are just sitting and spinning..

AndyG

 

[trook]

I have had my truck stuck to the point my tractor wouldnt pull it out. How ever my winch on a double line pull, pulled it out like nothing. Also you can use that winch in tigher areas then another truck.

Wow!! I'm surprised at that. Was it a small tractor or something?

 

[wirenut]

I have a Mile Marker 10,500 hydraulic on my F0250 (works off the power steering pump) that has pulled out my SS and tractor when nothing else I owned would move it. I really like the hydraulic, as it does not get hot, is 2 speed, and is water proof.
I installed it about 2 years ago, wish I had gotten it sooner.

 

[2458n]

I would go with the 12,000 Warn and a snatch block. You can bend the frame with any winch if you do not know what you are doing. You are buying the winch to do things with. Get a real winch or save your money and buy a come along and a cell phone. That way someone with a large winch can get you out.

 

[2458n]

To answer your question one is a controled movement -where the chain and spining tires would be considered an accident that has not happened yet. I am typing with one finger wrapped in black electrical tape. Well aware of the unplanned events.

 

[bdog]

I would guess ninety percent of the people that buy winches don't need one. I am off road a lot. I work in the oilfield and between our five trucks I would guess we have been stuck 150-200 times over the past year. This is mainly because we have places we have to go for work even if terrain is bad. We don't have winch on anything. I have had one in the past and I can think of one or two times it got us out of a bind but they are just too slow and expensive. Another truck with a good tow rope (not a chain) will usually do the trick.

 

[Reg]

I have seen people TRY to snatch a truck out with another truck and CHAIN.
That was violent, I doubt that the frames of either of those vehicles was straight after that.

I guess I don't understand the "need" for 12,000 lbs of line pull, the truck probably weighs under 8,000 lbs, you almost certainly will never try to lift it straight up, mud doesn't really SUCK on mired vehicles - and if a wheel is behind a massive boulder then a wheel is behind a massive boulder PERIOD. Try pulling it out the other way.

WRT no tree within cable reach; get a reasonable size folding boat anchor, e.g. Danforth type - that too doesn't need to have a holding power 150% of your vehicle's weight.
According to HOW you are stuck you may be able to set it HARD and then rig something to route the cable up and over to provide a bit of lift - maybe, it depends how well you plan your getting stuck and how well you execute that plan (-:

OTOH, without a winch maybe you won't go there, just MAYBE (-:

 

[AndyG]

I'll second what wirenut says. Have a look at the MileMarkers. I bougt a 12K Milemarker a couple of years ago and I think that the price was comparable with a good electric winch. I also got a wireless remote for about $75. If you use it very much or very long you will appreciate the hydraulic winch.