Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives winches

Pretty sure I want to buy one before next fall, but the more I research them the more confused I get. I've been driving 4X4 trucks and SUV's since 1976 and managed without one. When younger we'd get together and hit challenging trails just for fun. If someone got in trouble there was lots of help to pull you out. With a truck that would cost $40,000 to replace I don't play off road any more. Today that is what the $3000 ATV is for.

Today I'm more likely to be alone out hunting on a farm road or forest service road. Both can get bad in the right conditions. Last fall I slid into a ditch on a forest service road but was able to drive out after a few tries. Almost got stuck trying to turn around in deep snow on a forest service road too. Was on my own both times and feel a winch would be a good idea.

It's going on a 2014 F150 supercrew. The truck with a cap on it weighs 6000 lbs and normally isn't loaded heavy. Will a 9,000-10,000 lb winch be enough, or should I pay a bit more for 12,000 lbs? I don't plan to go out and bury it frame deep in mud holes playing around. Just to get out of a ditch or muddy spot on a farm road. I'd probably be more likely to use it to pull others out and using a winch has to be safer and easier on both vehicles than using a tow strap.

Is synthetic rope worth $150 more than steel cable? I'm leaning toward steel cable as being good enough for my uses.

It won't get a lot of hard use, maybe never be needed. But I want one that is dependable enough to know it will work if it is needed. A Warn will cost $600-$800 and I trust the brand. One dealer recommended Smitybilt as good enough for my uses and they would run $450-$600. And I have a couple of friends with the Harbor Freight 12,000 lb winches that swear by them. I have a 20% off coupon and could get the 12K winch for about $320.

The bigger question is how/where to mount it. I don't really want to put big bucks into an aftermarket bumper. I'm torn between behind the front bumper, or using a receiver hitch. The idea of being able to use it front or back and take it off when not needed is appealing. But there are negatives to that approach too. My truck has the 5.0 V8, so behind the bumper is an option. Not so with the 3.5 EB engines.

Looking for advice

I have a 9000 # Warn on my 98 Dodge Cummins .The truck alone weighs about 8000 #'s and this winch does the job. I was once stuck on greasy mud with a 20 ft gooseneck empty trailer. I was able to use the winch to keep from sliding sideways as I made it to the hard pan, with the winch assisting the wheels.

I keep wanting to buy the synthetic rope, but never seem to get around to it.My winch weighs just shy of 100 pounds with steel cable and mounted on a receiver stub.That synthetic would take 30 pounds off it.

My advice. Use a front frame mounted receiver hitch so you can take the winch on and off and have it so you can also mount it on the rear receiver hitch. Wire up both front and rear with a heavy duty disconnect plug and match the winch power cable to i.t Make sure each is receiver rated to at least what the winch is rated at. I don't think you want a 10,000 # pulling capability on a Ford 150 . Something is going to give besides what you are pulling.

I use my winch mostly for pulling trees or logs of f roads, moving some wheeled equipment and such.Hardly ever from getting unstuck. These heavy diesel front ends,you learn to be a little more picky about where you take them.

Here is how mine is mounted on my truck.

That's very sound advice. If you drive into a mess, the last place you want to go is farther into the mess. You need to put the winch on the rear to get the hell out of there.

About that rope vs steel cable...if you're in a foot of mud and need to move the winch from front to rear, staggering along with a 100lb winch in your hands isn't fun. It's bad enough with the rope and a 70lb winch. I suppose you could carry a sled of some kind to drag it on.

I have wanted a winch for some time now and have never been able to pull the trigger for various reasons, one being I have yet to find a mounting system for my 2002 Super Duty truck that I like.

I did purchase a "Wyeth-Scott More Power Puller" which is rated for 6000# dead lift and rated to drag 12,000#. The good thing about is you can use it front or rear, pull sideways or actually lift the vehicle to place something under the wheels if you fan get a rope on a high tree limb. And of course it can be used around the home, farm or camp for lots of uses.

https://www.wyeth-scott.com

Most recently just bought a Smittybuilt 9500 w/steel rope.....going on my '14 Tacoma......

weight is one thing to consider.......synthetic rope model will be 35# lighter......or so

For my application.....I'm adding an ARB full replacement bumper/bull bar....pics when installed (soon)

My problem....will/may have to beef up front coils to compensate for the added 175#....

Picked up my winch from Amazon....$270 shipped

ARB pic......

https://www.smittybilt.com/gen2_winches.html

Thanks for the tips. Going to a 9000-10000 lb winch with synthetic rope would almost offset the cost of a 12,000 lb winch and steel cable. Mounted behind the bumper the added weight of the steel cable isn't as big of a problem. But I can see where it might be helpful if moving it around. Looking online I see a Warn 8000 lb winch with rope that only weighs 53 lbs. Figure 10-15 lbs or so lbs for the mount.

It seems that the winch is mounted pretty low on the front receiver. Is this ever a problem, or am I over thinking this.

I have never had a problem with the winch on the Dodge. I have a new Chevy 20500 HD though and it has a BIG LOW Air Dam on the front.I might have to do without a winch or get one that hooks onto the tow hooks when I need it.

ARB.......from Australia builds/designs kick azz full bumper winch ready systems

Air bag compatible also

https://www.arbusa.com/bumpers-protection-equipment-3/

My Ford has/had 2 plastic air dams. The one that was the lowest was easy to take off, just 2 bolts and the owners manual said to remove for off road driving. The second one isn't low enough to be in the way and the youtube video's I've seen on mounting a front receiver hitch shows cutting a notch in it for the receiver. The pic of the one on your Dodge doesn't look too low. Need to find some pics of one on a Ford.

I like the looks of the ARB bumpers. But I'm trying to do this at minimal cost.

Synthetic cable is the way to go, IMO. Much lighter, and easier to handle, although easy to fray or cut if you don’t use a tree saver. Added bonus is that it floats, nice when you’re winching yourself or someone else out of a creek.

You've convinced me that it is worth the cost to go with synthetic and that I'll probably be fine with something in the 9000-10,000 lb range. I've still not decided on which mount is best, or if I need to pay the difference to go with a Warn winch over Smittybilt.

Thinking this might work but it doesn't have the roller fairlead. It seems all with steel cable do, those with synthetic don't. How important is that?

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/smitt...h-aluminum-fairlead-98495/_/R-DSBP-98495

Or pay almost $300 more for an 8000 lb Warn

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/warn-vr8-s-gen-ii-8000lb-winch-96805/_/R-BCSQ-96805

There is one of these stores about an hour away, but I can get free shipping on either and there is no tax on the Smittybilt which will save another $30.

I don't have any 1st hand experience but supposedly a roller fairlead will cause excessive wear on a rope.

Synthetic rope models have the 'Hawse' fairlead........

Don't over look Summit Racing and/or Amazon for good pricing

https://www.summitracing.com/

For the uses you describe, I'd think you'd be happy with a 8-10K winch. I've done a lot of stuff with my 8K Warn, unstuck a 12K forklift a few times, pulled my skid steer out of a couple of good holes, etc. I've also stalled it when I got the toyota stuck deep enough...

There is no way I could do the removable/hitch mounted deal. I'd never have it when I needed it. I'd go behind the bumper.

I was all excited about the synthetic rope thing until my buddies talked me out of it. They had broken lots of synthetic and all switched back to steel. I left the steel on my Warn. It can be a painful reminder to wear gloves, but it hasn't broken on me.

Last year I added a 4K winch to the back of the toyota. Its a tiny little thing that I added mainly to run a gin pole setup, but I used it a bit as just a winch. It came with synthetic rope and a wireless remote and it was like $150 on ebay. Applied with a little judgement, it will pull the yota out of pretty good mud hole. Haven't broken the rope yet, but have not abused it either. Wireless remote is so handy I am planning to get one for the other winch. Something to think about.

[quote=cwh2
There is no way I could do the removable/hitch mounted deal. I'd never have it when I needed it. I'd go behind the bumper.
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There is no reason you have to take it off if you don't want to.It' is only more versatile.Front mount behind the bumper and you lose the capability to pull from the back.

Lots of good advice here and I appreciate the voice of experience. But this is how I'm leaning for now based on what I've learned in the last week.

The only real advantage I can see of synthetic rope is the lighter weight which would be a plus for a winch moved around. I was leaning that way for a receiver mount used on both front and rear. But there are negatives. It costs more and doesn't last as long. It is more easily cut when in use. It is also is weakened by sunlight and heat. Both concerns here in GA. I know it is safer if it breaks, but steel cable has been used for years and if common sense is used shouldn't be a problem.

If I were pulling the trigger today I'd buy this and mount it behind the bumper. It is 78 lbs, but it wouldn't be moved.

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/smittybilt-xrc-9-5k-waterproof-9500lb-winch-gen2-97495/_/R-DSBP-97495

And at that price, might well buy a 2nd one at a later time and mount it in a winch carrier that could be used in the rear receiver. The total cost of 2 with steel cable would cost about $100 more than 1 with synthetic rope. The 2nd one could also be used in the rear hitch of my older Tacoma and could be stored in the bed until needed. I have fiberglass caps on both.

The front receiver hitch mount has a lot of things that I like, but I'm afraid that on MY truck it would hang too low and protrude too far in front of the truck. The ones I see on 3/4 ton and larger trucks mount higher. And based on what I've read you need an extension to get the winch far enough away from the bumper in many trucks, mine included. I wouldn't leave it mounted there when driving. Just attach it when needed.

There is no reason you have to take it off if you don't want to.It' is only more versatile.Front mount behind the bumper and you lose the capability to pull from the back.
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Not really, just not as easy. They make a roller that mounts below the winch, and the cable will then pass below the vehicle to hook on to something behind. There are drawbacks of course, the effort will get you dirty. The cable is shorter, and the roller is lower and cuts down on your ground clearance. The synthetic rope and cable are the same strength, and interchangeable, but the cable is heavier, and has more weight involved if the cable ever breaks. The rope has much less abrasion resistance, and higher cost.
I will stick with cable, as I can cut and fit it myself, and at a discount.

Had my ARB bumper installed yesterday......a buddy....a good buddy did the work.......

undisclosed cash & Bud Lite payment........7 hours......winch & lights included

I figured if I were installing a winch ready bumper...might as well install a winch.......right ?

So I went cheap....Smittybuilt steel rope 9500#......pics show the HD ARB bumper...approx 134#

If you are considering a winch ready bumper........think ARB !

Added weight sagged my front coils 1/2"......will soon replace coils with 886 ARBs to support the weight

Truck is '14 Tacoma SBDC.....sorry for the lame in garage pic...honey do busy today......

My DD truck needs to allow for a snow plow, needs to allow parking in retarded Anchorage, and needs to let me tow stuff on the weekends. If I ever stick a winch on the front it will be a behind the bumper deal. If I have to pull it off to plow, I'm unlikely to put it on later to most likely not get used and bang into stuff the rest of the time.

My trail rig,

I just can't imagine the fun of pulling a winch off the front, slogging it to the back, digging out a spot to allow me to get it into the receiver in the rear and plugging it in, all just to not get where I was going in the first place. Fairly rare here to have a truly "dual purpose" vehicle. There is just very little middle ground between pavement and swamp here IME. I realize that's not the case everywhere, and for some folks the receiver mounted winch makes a lot of sense. It just doesn't for me.

so, to get the truck backed up, you pull the cable out and snake it under the truck to the rear?

Also, why would anyone drive into that mess to start with?