Winch behind bumper

Agree with Ola.

For occasional recovery. Dual batteries and split charge relay is a waste of money. Split charge is a waste of money anyway... That's just for overlanding.

A decent quality 6000-9500 lbs winch and good +750 CCA battery is what you need.

I would try to go for a 9klb winch personally and a Jimny Bits Battery tray to put a bigger battery in. The Numax range of Leisure Batteries are good value. Cheap 9klb winches are not much more, so why not. You know it can cope with anything then, rather than have to double line pull.

You seem to be able to make a winch mount, so why not make your own version of the JB battery tray too?

Kirkynut

This post is covered with the caveat that it is my personal opinion and is not an indictment of anyone who holds a contrary position.

It is a widespread belief in the green lane community thet one should "go lightly" when travelling the byways. I have always felt that to mean that if a lane has an obstacle that can't readily be negotiated in a standard ish 4x4 with suitable tyres then there's a strong argument for coming back off said lane the way you arrived and finding an alternative route.

I regularly hear the arguments in favour of winches being put forward that they alow controlled low impact navigation of difficult obstacles that would otherwise lead to much potential wheel spinning and making the obstacle even more impassable which in and of itself is a valid point except for the counterpart argument that a driver of a winch equipped vehicle is inevitably going to be more inclined to tackling obstacles that in a none winch vehicle they would leave well alone.

I appreciate that winches also have a role to play in recovery of stuck vehicles either self or of others (I have had enough nice days out ruined by the talentless getting impossibly stuck for no good reason) it happens. But again having a winch equipped vehicle your self or in your group tends to increase the levels of risk taking people are prepared to accept as there's a sense of having a get out of gaol free card.

I'm not anti being prepared or even anti winch but I am pro being responsible in venturing out on our network of unsealed rights of way and to my mind that means being prepared to leave a trail if it's effectively impassable rather than seeing it as a chance to show how manly I and my vehicle are. There's plenty of options for doing that in the controlled environment of a pay and play site.

Again I'm not attempting to goad people with this post, it's simply my personal opinion and is nothing more than that, off roading is a large house with many mansions.

I wasn't being anti - winch, just encouraging the poster to consider what they need and not what they want.......

My car is a road car that I do a fair bit of green laning with. I was considering all the "responsible" modifications including winch, which would allow me to drive some local lanes and get myself out of trouble.

I bought a 9000lb winch and Jimnybits mount with recovery points, I was all in picking it up to put it in the back of my car....... It weighed a ton.

Then look at this guard and that guard, heavy duty this and heavy duty that and the very nature of the car is changing. I sold the winch on.

Don't get me wrong, I've had a ride out with some really trick cars in the group and thought they looked and performed, amazingly well. They were able drive over obstacles that I had to pick my way through, I was slower and had to think a bit more, but I got there.

I doubt I would put myself in the position of needing winch recovery, even if driving out with the confidence of recovery equipped colleagues. I like my car and don't want to hurt it. I often drive a lane and turn around to avoid the risk of damage or mud.

Have a drive out with a group, look at how far you want to go with modifications, once you understand the impact of them.

Better tyres, suspension or gearing might be of greater benefit, keeping the weight off helps too....

sniper

Snow is the main reason i have a winch.. Getting stuck in 70cm snow, alone, is no fun at all.. But man its fun just until it happens :laugh:

When / if i get a winch, it will be mounted in a cradle. 2" receiver of some sorts and wires and plugs will be in both ends of my cars.
It will be of light weight and size and will have rope.

I will probably use it max once every year so no point in it hanging out there in all this weather.

And agreed Ola, must have some sort of snow anchor.
And extra straps for using more than one tree to hook up. seen many pull the tree down instead of the car up

The winch will probably be used like my 5 ton strap, mostly to help others.
But that is what is most fun!