T-MAX winches?

Id rather go backwards to try a different line............................. dragging yourself forwards through/over the obstruction is the last resort IMO.

jonesyba420 wrote:

TomDK wrote:

2014Nathan wrote:

jonesyba420 wrote: All this talk of winches makes me want one sooooooooo much but my budget just doesnt allow it ATM

With some modifications you could fit a bigger battery in the stock position so you wouldnt need to fit dual batteries for occasional winch use.

Used a winch on a laning trip a few weeks back to shift a broken tree obstructing a lane.....................so many uses

What's the biggest battery we can fit for the Jimjam to run off? Don't want to put a big battery on and it too much power or something haha and tell me about it.. Fallen trees and big bushes would be no problem to move

It's not a matter of how big a battery you can fit. But about how good a quality battery you can get, and for the correct purpose. Best battery for winching is a Odyssey PC1500 or PC1700, but they are rather expensive. Cheaper batteries with high CCA's will do fine as well. But get at battery with more than 700 CCA's.

Generally speaking the higher the cca the bigger (physical size) the battery is......................unless you spend a fortune, even then I dont think you can get a 700+cca battery thats the same siza as the jimnys stock battery.

I think nathan meant whats the most powerfull battery we can run the jimny off without frying the cars wiring.

You can get Numax batteries with pretty high CCA's without the battery being a massive one that requires major modifications to the engine bay. You don't need to buy Odyssey to get high CCA's from a small battery.

ne-crock wrote:

jonesyba420 wrote: Recovering yourself backwards is the preferable option in my opinion and it's generally easier as you drove to where you got stuck.

dragging yourself through the obstruction could result in becoming more stuck or damaging the vehicle.

you dont become more stuck because you just winch yourself forward again, its all part of the fun,

plus if you recovery yourself backwards your only going to give it another go, then winch forwards so why not just do it in the first place?

Recovering backwards would be the easier option, and safest as you say doing the least damaged to whatever your driving over and your vehicle in most cases. Perfect if you didn't mean to get stuck in the first place on a lane for example.

But when on a p&p day I would say the challenge comes from being able to pass an obstacle, you attempt to pass it without the aid of the winch, but If you do need it it is there to get you through/past/over and out the other side. Would be a bit of a pain if you got stuck, then could only recover backwards and find another way around.

And I would have said mounting a winch to the front of the vehicle is a lot easier, especially if you only have basic tools.

And if your planning on going out alone then I'd say a winch is a must unless you have some good mates that don't mind dropping everything to come get you

Ploughing head-long into a bog knowing you won't get through isn't my cup of tea. For me the skill, and fun, is in knowing where you can and can't go and choosing the right line. In a real off-road situation (overland trips, or those of us that use our 4x4s for work) it's that judgment that gets you further.

I could probably conquer any pay and play obstacle in the country in a Fiesta if it had a 13000lb winch fitted. That doesn't make a Fiesta a good 4x4, nor me a good off-road driver.

horses for courses,

i quite enjoy getting the winch out and using it, seems daft to of spent £500 on it and it not get used

obviously you attempt to get through under car power but some sections the use of a winch is unavoidable, also winching can be a skill on its own, and can give you more control when crawling up a section rather than trying to use speed etc

i didnt mention bogs, but the winch can be used for multiple things rather than just mud plugging, but who doesnt enjoy getting muddy when off roading,

i'm sure this guy has fun in his ford ka off road?

Winching is indeed a skill in itself. Especially in competition.

This was easy to see when Team Gigglepin was racing in KOH 2013 with their defender, and also this year.