Winch - really a necessity? Your comment welcome

Hi Neil. I'm older and wiser than you, by you own definition of course. I didn't really thing I needed a winch, but the BIL viewed a video of some of my Less adventurous excursions and told the Missus I needed one. She went to ARB and bought one. Not being one to look a Gift Horse in the mouth, I had it fitted. It was my Birthday after all. All good, I thought, it'll lower the nose a bit and give it that wedgie look. (Not really. I thought. I need stronger springs now.) Any way a nice bit of bling.
Well low and behold, not long ago, I actually had to use it. Yes there were alternatives but one would have involved a slight amount of damage to my vehicle and the other, testing my skill at a higher level than I was comfortable with given the four kids I had onboard. So, I set my lazy hide to the task and at the end of the day was grateful for the winch.

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Originally Posted by Tank

Not being a smartarse, but where you are planning to go You really don't need a 4WD, IMO, Regards Frank.

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Yer rrrrr you might have mis-read the bit where I mention not going "solo" where I am out of phone signal and flat-top range.

There is plenty of fun to be had getting stuck and picking better lines on nicely challenging trails where 4x4 and a few mods are definitely needed - where I go. With friends. Not solo.

Smartarse. ;)

If you don't think you have enough use for a winch, get a tirfor. Use it once and you'll wish you had a winch but at least it'll get you out.


Happy Days

Agree with all of the above comments. I've spent many hours using a PTO capstan winch on a SIII. Two notable efforts were 4 hours uphill and another time about 8 hours downhill in reasonably deep snow with a broken front axle. Once I had an all night walkout when I was bogged (S11A) and I had yet to fit the PTO drive shafts.

But I was young and silly then. I'm old and silly now.

Under no circumstances would I not have a winch on a Landrover.

When I bought the LSE the first thing I did was fit a Warn winch. I'm not a fan of electric winches, but if there's no alternative then you have no choice. In 20 years of ownership I've never had to use it for self recovery, although it's been handy for a few lifting applications or for winching cars onto trailers.

I still get to remote places (I'm a deer hunter) and I have taken the LSE everywhere the Series Landies went. Perhaps the LSE is more competent. I love the ETC on the rear wheels and I have ARB diff locks front and rear as well. As you've probably figured out, I mostly travel with just the one vehicle, so the passengers are dependent on me.

For a few years I had a P38 in NZ and went beach and mountain driving a few times when on holidays. It did not have a winch and I was surprised at how nervous I was in not having a winch as a backup.

I really think we travellers should be as independent and self reliant as possible, particularly when 4wd'ing alone. We carry extra water, food, fuel, spare parts, comms equipment, tyres, etc., and I would always argue that a winch (and knowing how to use it) is essential.

But I've never been a convoy person and I accept that if you regularly travel with others then it is perfectly acceptable to spread the recovery abilities across the convoy. But if you travel alone in remote areas, particularly with passengers, then I'd recommend fitting a winch. Oh! And a raised air intake if there's any chance of a deep river crossing.

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Originally Posted by DieselLSE

[...]
I really think we travellers should be as independent and self reliant as possible, particularly when 4wd'ing alone. We carry extra water, food, fuel, spare parts, comms equipment, tyres, etc., and I would always argue that a winch (and knowing how to use it) is essential.

But I've never been a convoy person and I accept that if you regularly travel with others then it is perfectly acceptable to spread the recovery abilities across the convoy. But if you travel alone in remote areas, particularly with passengers, then I'd recommend fitting a winch. Oh! And a raised air intake if there's any chance of a deep river crossing.

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This is pure gold comment - I reckon.

One adjunct to my anecdote as well Neil. It wouldn't have made any difference had I been in a convoy. The lead vehicle would have had to have a winch or they would all have been stuck. I've seen and heard what you do and it is no less difficult than what I do. You can't tell me either, that you're not inclined to push it a little further some times.

Just some thoughts to ponder, not having a go at all and not all super relevant to you but just my ramblings.

While you say you may not ever need it, and that may be true, but what's the downside to fitting one on the chance it may save you one day ( or someone else ) Quality can be had cheap enough these days, bullbar is normally the most expensive part! Runva 9500 with rope and lifetime warranty for example.

Being able to self recover is handy, while you may not chase the hard stuff, sometimes it does the chasing! Tracks change overnight etc. weather conditions etc that corner that didn't look that slippery, that ground that just gave way that you didn't see, finding that soft spot while backing the boat in,

I have had mechanical issues on the tracks that have then forced me to winch to safety when a snatch would not have been possible or caused further damage.

Sometimes a vehicle to vehicle recovery is not possible, position, safety etc and other times it's just quicker to winch than set up 2 cars etc

I have used my winch a few times on other cars when traveling, majority on cars slid off tracks, I'd hate to have to drive off on someone up the creek and requiring assistance, my missus reckons I have a hero complex.

handy to prevent damage, a simple task of crossing a rut / tree etc could quickly and unexpectedly turn sour and require a quick winch to pull you back on line / off that bank / tree / Rock.

Just like mentioned in this thread I've also used my winch for non 4wding moments.

Re: won't be anywhere you can't call for assistance; flat phone battery, thought you'd have reception but don't, Telstra just happened to drop out again, waiting 2-3 hours for a mate to come give you that 2 min snatch / winch. Roadside call out fee more than your winch cost?

Never had to winch in the past so don't see the point? I've never made an insurance claim in the past but I sure as **** still have insurance! I've never used my fire extinguisher in the car, but it's always in the car.

You don't NEED a winch to get out and about, you might never use it, If you only ever go with others and at least one has a winch then you pretty much covered 99% of the time, But there may be just that one time when you really really need it and it will Be worth its weight in gold.

I guess there no real answer, there's so many what ifs but the way I see it. There isn't many negatives Why not?

Im glad I paid the extra for a winch bar for my MY14 D4.The poxy 19" tyres are shocking in deep soft sand,yet to get a winch,Im pretty sure I wont be venturing up beaches alone until I have one,or GOE wheels with a better tyre sizing:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
Andrew

i thinking having a wench should be mandatory

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...016/03/328.jpg

Just on fire extinguishers - did a course for work recently and if you let off even a small amount of the common car type extinguisher in your car it will write it off. The chemicals eat silicon. Just something to be aware of.

I have a tirfor. Wish I had an electric winch on my D2 but a non winch bull bar makes it a pretty costly exercise for a bar and winch purchase on a 16 year old vehicle.

Pricey