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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 10:33:09 GMT -5
Post by Zaphod on Nov 21, 2003 10:33:09 GMT -5
At what point is a winch really necessary?
If I'm planning to use my Trooper in the Rockies, and then only doing moderate off-roading, is a winch really needed?
I ask because as a gearhead and newbie (fatal combination! ;D) I don't want to spend money on something I'll likely never need, but OTOH I DO believe in being prepared, even if only to hel someone who got stuck themselves.
I've heard that these things are heavy, draw lots of power, aren't cheap, and therefore are to be considered carefully.
So, what's YOUR philosophy on this little bit of gear?
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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 11:30:00 GMT -5
Post by BigSwede on Nov 21, 2003 11:30:00 GMT -5
Are you going alone? What do you consider "moderate"?
As the saying goes, most of the mods you do to your rig just mean you will get stuck farther away from civilization! A winch is the only mod that can get you unstuck.
Having said that, I don't plan to get one, as I don't wheel alone and there is always help available if I need it.
If you do get one, you can mitigate the weight somewhat by getting winch rope instead of wire cable, and you can get the stiffer torsion bars to support it all.
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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 11:55:05 GMT -5
Post by Eric on Nov 21, 2003 11:55:05 GMT -5
I totally agree with BigSwede's comments.
One thing I'd add, though, is there are cheaper options than buying a $400-1200 winch. Harbor Freight has a 6000lb (rolling load) winch which is very small and only weighs probably 20lbs. My brother gave me one, but I know they're less than $100. If memory serves, it's more like $60. They have a little plate that comes with them which lets you just slide it over your hitch ball, or you could mount it to some sort of frame which you'd have to fabricate. Either way, it's a way cheaper option.
Supplementing BigSwede's comment about wheeling alone, though, I'd just add that I never do anything which could break something when I'm by myself. That's sometimes hard to guage, because it's hard to know what might break something. A good idea is to use your best judgement. If there's a question in your mind that it might break something, don't try it. That is, if you're alone.
Otherwise, you could just always make sure you're wheeling with at least one other guy.
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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 14:02:36 GMT -5
Post by Zaphod on Nov 21, 2003 14:02:36 GMT -5
Well, I never considered the importance of having someone with me, but since I'll most likely be moving alone (divorce does that), I have to assume that I'll be alone at least some of the time.
So, I'll follow the advice not to do anything too tough unless there's help around.
As for "moderate", I don't know how to measure the difficulty of a trail. There wouldn't be much mud, and most likely the terrain would be either arid rock or Rocky-Mountain forest. As for slopes and such, how do you measure that?
I'll look into those smaller whinches, though. I've also heard that there is a type of wire that floats on water, which saves weight. Anyone know about that?
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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 16:00:19 GMT -5
Post by BigSwede on Nov 21, 2003 16:00:19 GMT -5
I'll look into those smaller whinches, though. I've also heard that there is a type of wire that floats on wire, which saves weight. Anyone know about that? Assuming you meant floats on water ...that's what I meant by winch rope (as opposed to wire cable). Great stuff, very light, won't cut your hands while handling, doesn't store energy so if it breaks under tension it isn't a deadly projectile, etc. There are several choices out there, I don't have any links handy but a search on 4x4Wire should turn up some discussions on this stuff.
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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 18:26:29 GMT -5
Post by Eric on Nov 21, 2003 18:26:29 GMT -5
It's hard to measure difficulty, I know. It wasn't until this past July that I had any idea what difficulty level my driving skill level and the Trooper's abilities would be able to accomplish without breakage. I haven't broken anything yet, knock on wood, but have been in some pretty hair-raising situations where if someone else hadn't been around, I might've gotten really nervous.
I guess the big reason to have someone else around is illustrated in the following example.
When I was down at Tuttle last time, there was a group of three kids who were somewhere between 15 and 17 who had borrowed daddy's new-ish Blazer. They'd broken a tie rod. I stopped to ask if they needed any help, to which they replied "no, we're fine."
An hour later, I came around to the same spot, and they were still there, crawling around in the mud trying to get the thing mobile again.
If they'd had another vehicle with them, they could have at least gotten it out of the mud where it'd be a lot easier to fix a busted tie rod.
Climbing grassy embankments and tooling around in the snow won't break your Trooper. It may be Japanese and have IFS, but let me tell you, it's a stout machine anyway. Don't let the Chevy, Ford, and Jeep guys tell you that it's flimsy.
But, if you're hammering down on the gas climbing 10" rocks on a steep incline, you're starting to get to the point where CV joints and tie rods start to become a concern.
What do you plan to do with your Trooper, at least in the short term?
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IsuzuRS
Full Member
"Your not really 4wheelin unless you get it stuck."
Posts: 70
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Winches
Nov 21, 2003 23:56:49 GMT -5
Post by IsuzuRS on Nov 21, 2003 23:56:49 GMT -5
I'd get atleast a High-Lift jack because its a jack, can pull(like winch), and is strong as hell. I'd get one, but I borrow a buddies when we go 4 wheelin. There about $60, and you can get many accesories for them, like roof rakck mounts, spare tire mounting braket, cover, so on.
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Winches
Nov 22, 2003 16:16:57 GMT -5
Post by Zaphod on Nov 22, 2003 16:16:57 GMT -5
[quote author=BigSwede Assuming you meant floats on water [/quote] NO! NO! Floats on WIRE! Don't you guys have wire lakes round your area? Sheesh! Thanks for the info. I'd likely look into that. I especially like the idea of no energy storage. Having been in the Navy for ten years, they beat us insessently about snapback, which can cut you in half if you're in the way. To answer ERS's question, before I go off-roading with my rig, I plan on using it as a daily driver, and as a moving van when I do move. Pretty exciting, eh? Unfortunately, the biggest hill round here (Miami) is an overpass or a garbage dump, and the largest vertical barrier you have to navigate is the occaisional 5" curb step. BORING!
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Winches
Nov 22, 2003 16:17:36 GMT -5
Post by Zaphod on Nov 22, 2003 16:17:36 GMT -5
I'd get atleast a High-Lift jack because its a jack, can pull(like winch), and is strong as hell. I'd get one, but I borrow a buddies when we go 4 wheelin. There about 460, and you can get many accesories for them, like roof rakck mounts, spare tire mounting braket, cover, so on. Yep! Got one of those on the wishlist for sure. Roof rack mount and everything! ;D
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