I used one for a short period of time. I had an 8K come-along. They do work put will only pull you a few feet at a time. I got stuck going up a hill, I wasn’t alone but it happened we both got stuck about the same time. The other wheeler got stuck coming back to try to get me unstuck. We had a come-along and a Hi Lift. We would have to winch for a few feet, take a chain and tie the jeep off so it wouldn’t role back. One time I did roll back and if it wasn’t for some trees and some thick brush I wouldn’t be typing this today, I would be rotting 6 feet under. After that incident it was either quit wheeling or get the right equipment. I also wasn’t comfortable standing in between a stuck vehicle and anchor point. If something where to break or come loose you can end up in a bad situation.

Spend the money and get a good winch, tree strap, pulley and shackles. If you get a good winch it will only be a onetime investment that can really pay off.

What is even better than that is never wheeling alone.

 

I think I would agree with Ross. An electric winch will make things much easier, and if you are alone, probably safer as well. Since with the electric winch you will more than likely be able to winch completely out of the area you are stuck into, and be able to securly park the vehicle after you winch to a secure spot. While winching you will be in the vehicle, so you'll be in control of the vehicle, and can make steering and braking corrections as you go, and you'll know when you are un-stuck because you'll be able to drive forward..

With a hand winch on the other hand, you won't be able to winch and drive at the same time, or at least no practical way that I can think of would you be able to. I personally would not like to take the vehicle out of gear and hop out to hand-winch, if I were on a hill I don't think I'd like this at all.

I don't use my winch too often (only get out wheeling maybe once every month or two with my work schedule, and don't need the winch every time I wheel), but when I do use it, I'm sure glad I have it. It's a breeze to use and gets me un-stuck very quickly. I've put in-cab controls as well, so it's even quicker to use when I don't have to connect up the electric hand control and run it back to the cab. I'd suggest that as well, one less thing you have to pack with you in your bag, and you'll always be able to use your winch even if you don't have your entire winch kit with you.

The extra weight won't affect the ride of the vehicle to much, especially if you don't get a heavy bumper to go along with it. And if you are really worried about the weight, you could remove the winch and winch plate during the year, and when you go on your trip just bolt it back on there and connect up the wires again. A bit of a hassle, but probably far less hassle than hand-winching

If you can afford the winch, I would do it, you won't regret it after the first time or two you use it to recover yourself (or someone else)

 

Good input guys. I had just starting thinking about some of these points earlier today as well. Although I should add that when said I wheel alone I meant I am the only vehicle. My wife would be with me to drive while I winch. But I'm not sure how much I want to be between a stuck vehicle and the anchor point winching with someone trying to drive it forward either.

Please keep the replies coming. It is bringing me some good insight.

 

I agree, electric winch is the way to go. The Rough Country 9500lb winch for $299 and the Smittybilt XRC8 for $299 are both popular entry level choices that don't have a bad reputation, especially if you keep them protected from the elements while you are daily driving. I went with a multi-mount setup mostly so I didn't need to keep the SB on the front of my Jeep year-round while only using it a couple times a year. Going this route would require you to get a front receiver hitch on your LJ, probably would set you back around $600 total including winch, mount, hitch, wiring, etc.

Not only will you have the ease of use and won't have to do back-breaking labor, but the safety and versatility are so much higher, even if all you ever need is to drag a tree out of the way. Come-a-longs are cheap but you have very limited reach and very limited pull distance, chances are you won't even be able to use it unless you bring a ton of chain with you to reach an anchor point. A winch with a 100' cable has a usable reach around 85-90 feet. How much would 80 ft of chain + a come-a-long weigh?

Lastly, ARB does have a long-distance hand winch that is not a come-a-long and can do longer pulls. However, the load capacity is low and the price fully-equipped is around $400. It's a nice product but it's just not worth the money to still have to crank it yourself.

 

Like mentioned above the arb hand winch is not cheap and its very heavy, like 60 -80 pounds I think. Then its a cable hand winch like a big comealong, The thought of being directly in its path if it was to break it to much for me to handle. I speak from experience with a come along. I tried to use one once years ago. I thought for sure I was going to die. I gave up and spent 7 hours shoveling my way out. The hi lift winch kit is okay, but I to recently quit carrying it. My 20 feet of chains and the chains the winch kit came with totaled 46 pounds of weight. To much weight in my jeep if I was to roll it over. I have a ramsey 9500 with synthetic rope. I feel so much safer having that up front. I have never used it to get myself unstuck yet but I have moved many trees that were blocking the roads and trails I was on. If you get a winch with synthetic rope it will not be that much weight. Only like 60-70 pounds. If you got stuck to bad and had to call a wrecker truck they would charge you more than what a winch would have costed. And the winch you get to keep and use it over and over.

 

I've personally snapped a few come alongs in my day and seen many more break. they really arent designed or intended for pulling a big vehicle out of a stuck situation. I'd go with an entry level 8000lb electric winch. you'll be happy you did when you need it, and you wont be exhausted from trying to crank a handle a million times to move your jeep a foot

 

Definitely go with a winch. Best thing about my Jeep. Only used it once to get my Jeep out. I have used it a lot to pull out other vehicles and 4 wheelers. I use it all the time to pull up trees and bushes around the house.

 

The Rough Country winch pulled me out of a couple of spots last winter. While I don't consider what I do now wheeling, I do spend time out on forest service roads single vehicle.

A winch is a good thing to have, but make sure you are also considering other essential items like blankets, a couple days worth of food, way to start a fire, cell phone charger, gloves, shovel, etc...

And while opinions differ, I'll stand by a hi-lift jack as it bailed me out once where the winch wouldn't.

 

Great reply guys. I never thought about the amount of line that would be needed with a hand winch. Definetly something to keep in mind. I really don't want chains floating around the cabin. I'm starting to think that a cheap $400 electric winch is better than a quality $200 hand winch. I'll keep researching a bit and I look forward to any additional opinions and thoughts.. Especially those who have used hand winches and come alongs. Your experiences supply a great deal of insight. Thank you.

 

Great reply guys. I never thought about the amount of line that would be needed with a hand winch. Definetly something to keep in mind. I really don't want chains floating around the cabin. I'm starting to think that a cheap $400 electric winch is better than a quality $200 hand winch. I'll keep researching a bit and I look forward to any additional opinions and thoughts.. Especially those who have used hand winches and come alongs. Your experiences supply a great deal of insight. Thank you.

Do a bit of research before you decide to do this. For a couple hundred extra dollars you will be able to get a winch you can trust. Even if you only need it occasional you want something you can count on.

 

If you're looking for a HD hand winch, check this out. You're still talking $200. Plus factor in an extension length of cable and/or chain.

http://www.wyeth-scott.com/

You're better off with an electric winch though. There are plenty of options for entry level winches, and the new Warn line. The first time you're in a jam and an electric winch gets you out you will be thanking God you got an electric winch (and you won't even be thinking about what you paid for it). But since you originally asked about a hand winch...

 

Thank you. That is the type of hand winch I was thinking about. If I go that route I definetly want a high quality one and I am willing to pay $200 for it. But if I go electric I can't afford a top of the line winch. So I will be looking at cheaper winches. But from what I am hearing it sounds like a cheap electric will still be more usable than a hand winch. I think if I also get a good cover for it or pull it off when I am not using it that should also keep it more reliable.

 

The hand winch sounds like a neat idea but really... dont. Go electric and always remember: 1. there are cheap electric winches but you get what you payfor. 2. even if you dont use your winch every day, when you need it you want it to work, and work NOW! 3. your jeep is heavy and expensive, so get one that won't fail.

Thats just my opinion but, recovery equipment should not be skimped on, cause when you need it, it had better work.

 

One of the many thing to consider on a hand winch to is what if your hurt yourself, out wheeling and started getting sick, winching inthe dark, rain, snow, waist deep mud and water, etc. You are going to want somthing faster than a hand winch that may have to be erigged several times. If you screwed up your arm, and your trying to get out and you get stuck, do you want to be cranking on a hand winch. If stuck in headlight deepmud while its dark and snowing, do you want to be spending an hour or several trying to get out. A good eletric winch is the popular choice of many wheelers. I can see having a hand winch as possibly a backup, but not as a nuber one choice. if your trying to save money by going with a hand winch, you might loose money if that thing was to break and hurt you and give you one big hospital bill. Most jeepers are over prepared,and thats a good thing. Like said above recovery equipment shouldnt be skimped on. I think most people will agree that have used a hand winch to recover a jeep will say its well worth the money to get a electric winch.

 

Do people tend to shy away from using their hi-lift as a hand winch? I thought that was one of the benefits of it while on the trail.

I've been looking at electric winches for a while now and think I might end up with the smittybuilt xr8 or the 8klbs warn. I jsut need to figure out how to get it to mount to my bumper.

Do you need longer tie in brackets for your bumpers for electric winches?

 

The Hi-Lift has some of the same issues as a come-a-long. Limited reach, need to carry a lot of chain, only get a few feet of travel before you have to re-setup the pull.

 

If you are using it as a come-along it will have the same issues as mentioned above. But a Hi Lift is much more versatile. I have used a Hi Lift to lift a jeep high and push it off of something hanging it up, or to put rocks under a tire. Even while winching I have used a Hi lift. A Hi lift is more useful than a come along. .

 

Black Rat Recovery Hoist / Hand Winch

 

$20 more gets you a decent entry-level electric winch with 4 times the pulling power. I like that it has some decent safety features built in (such as a shear-pin that breaks off at 2200lb load) but I just don't see it as a practical Jeep recovery tool (for all the reasons listed above).

 

$20 more gets you a decent entry-level electric winch with 4 times the pulling power. I like that it has some decent safety features built in (such as a shear-pin that breaks off at 2200lb load) but I just don't see it as a practical Jeep recovery tool (for all the reasons listed above).

Something like that couldn't even be conisdered as a recovery tool for a jeep. I Hi lift or come-along would be a much better choice.

 

Hand winch

Some great points here.
Hand winch and hilift has its place but I won't trade my Warn for anything. What is best will definitely depends on the situation but a winch on front gets you out most of the time.
You can get a used m 8000 for 400.
I never wheel alone and don't recommend it either.
I had a hand winch but it was almost useless in deep mud. There is no way I am winching myself 20 feet with a hand winch.

You will also need full recovery gear. few crosbys, straps, chain, tree savers, snatch block, gloves etc.
Some of the recovery kits sell 1 each in a recovery kit which is bare minimum.

 

When I wheel I carry a ingersoll & rand chain hoist. I only have this for an emergency situation. I never go somewhere I feel like I "need" four wheel drive alone. I learned the hard way when I was 21 and spent 8 hours recovering my stock rubicon. I also always carry an axe and shovel. A thunderstorm taught me that lesson.

 

I apologize for jumping on an old thread, but I don't see much new on these and I've been researching options to outfit my newer jeep. I'd like to share some ideas with anybody else making a similar search. Here's a couple of thoughts about what I've read on this thread and others like it. I'm not necessarily right, but I've used and broken at least a dozen of these over the last 30 years so I have some experience to back up my opinions. I have pulled my full size rigs out of all kinds of stuff with an 8K come-along, ~100ft of cables, chains, straps, etc. and a lot of sweat. I've even flipped over my F150 that was on it's lid 20 feet over the road bank, drug it back onto the road, duct taped my mirror back on and kept wheeling all afternoon. It took hours, but it works. A winch would not have helped me flip my rig, or pulled it backwards up the bank.

I wouldn't recommend skipping the electric winch if you're the safari type that says that never turns back, or goes down hills they can't get back up. Personally, I'm willing to turn around when I come to something my rig isn't capable of. I'm always looking for stuff I can make, but barely, because that's what's fun to me, so I tend to get stuck fairly often, but rarely more than a dozen feet from terrain I can drive, or to where I've shoveled a path. I have a full size shovel, pick, and axe, to supplement my hi-lift and come-along. Given enough time, those tools can do a lot.

First, price matters a lot, and I shouldn't have to say the load rating matters a lot too. I don't bother with anything rated under 6K, but I have a 6K american made unit that will pull apart 2 chinese 8K units at once. If you buy a $60 and under unit, buy 2 and lubricate and test them first under a heavy load (put it in 4wd and park, then drag it up a gravel road). You should pull out their soft metal bolts, replace them with grade 5, and lube everything. I've had many cheap ones fail the very first time. The last two cheap ones I bought were very sturdy, but the ratchet catch was mounted so it engaged almost perpendicular to the drum and let it flex by under what I would guess was only 1/4 of their rated weight. I drilled new holes about 1/2" from where they did, and replaced the rubbery bolts with grade 5, then they worked great as backup to my good one. I've bought $160 units that worked flawlessly for years before wearing out.

I just ordered, but haven't tested yet, an ARB hand winch. It has a low rating of 5300 pounds, but can pull any length of cable through itself, so there's no reason not to use a snatch block to double the rating, or two to triple it for that matter. I'll have 200 feet of cables and chains, 2 snatch blocks, and a rating as high as 15,900 pounds depending on how I set it up. If you don't know how that works, ask and I'll explain it. Yes, it will take a lot of time to move very far, but what else do you have to do when you're stuck? It's worth noting the ARB hand winch would not work for some of the undercarriage repair tricks I've heard of but never done.

Second, on the comments that you can get an electric winch for $400: that's like saying cheap 37" tire prices and thinking that's all it will cost to put them on your stock jeep (without mentioning the cost of the lift, wheels, etc.). In reality, unless you already have a winch mount bumper, that's a $400 paper weight.
The cheapest I've ever mounted a winch (I won a winch as a door prize once, so add your $400 crap winch on top of this cost), was when I bought a hidden mount kit for about $300, wires and other hardware probably around $50, then spent an entire weekend modifying my rig to get it working. Even if you go with a hitch mount and you already have a rear receiver, the mount is $100 to $200, and the wiring is another $100 to $200. That ignores the fact that you should have a dual battery setup for winching, but can risk getting by without it. Keep your lights off, the heater fan off, and rev the engine 5 minutes at 2,000 rpm after every one minute you winch. Do not ever shut your rig off while winching out, or you risk needing a jump start in the middle of a mud bog.

I would say, if you're good at bargain hunting and modifying, you can get a minimal winch mounting setup in for $300 to $400, so call it $700 for the cheapest winch that is about as reliable as a free flashlight. Would you go in a cave alone, with only a free flashlight to find your way back? Okay, you can walk out of the woods when your rig is stuck, so that's a bit dramatic, but I'll still say you need to buy a hand winch on top of your electric anyway.

Contrast that with $250 for a quality hand unit and some chains and cables. If you aren't strong enough to run a hand winch for an hour or two, and do some digging and jacking, then don't go out alone (I don't anymore, so I'm not judging; I'm giving the advice I use myself).

For my current jeep, to get a winch mounted on the front, I bought a $1500 ARB winch mount bumper, then paid about $700 to have it installed (optional), on top of the $800 I spent on a quality winch that will actually work more than once. I've had several of those $400 winches over the years, and one of them worked many times, but I could never trust them, and some didn't work when I opened the box. DO NOT install a cheap winch without running it on the shop floor first, because you have about a 50% chance you'll be boxing it back up and sending it back. I also don't recommend mail ordering a cheap winch because I hate return shipping processes. Pay $20 bucks more and buy your crappy winch somewhere you can stomp back in and swap it the same day.

You should have a quality hand winch AND a hi-lift jack as backup to your electric winch anyway, unless you never, ever go out alone. Or, I suppose, unless you're comfortable with the idea of walking out of the woods and getting help. Just my 2 cents. Have fun wheeling!