Winch

[g1g]

Do any boondockers have a winch with them incase they get stuck?

I know to walk around to see if it is solid but just incase do you have one

[Mike]

Nope. Not sure if there's any that could pull 9,000 lbs. without pulling the frame apart depending
on how stuck you get. I'd be afraid of snapping the winch cable, and getting killed or maimed by it.
If there was one that could do it, it is probably expensive.

[Photog]

There are Sportsmobile owners that have a winch.

There are a few winches that will pull 10,000 pounds.

Proper winching techniques always apply, to prevent frame damage and cable strikes. You Tube has quite a few demo clips, on safe winching technique.

You would need a good bumper to mount the winch in. Aluminess, Buckstop and others, build bumpers for the Ford and Chevy vans, that are able to support winch usage.

[Mike]

Sort of related, is the issue of driving off the roadway and getting stuck, and whether your ERS
will pull you out. Some say (in the fine print) if you aren't on the roadway or directly next to it
on the shoulder, they don't have to assist you. In other words, if you chose to drive off the roadway,
you're on your own, if you get stuck.
So, a winch might be something to consider. I suppose it's useless though, if you get stuck on a
beach, and there isn't anything solid and fixed to hook up to. Or, your cable is 50 feet long, and
the tree in the direction of escape, is 55 feet away.

[Flashman]

I've been pondering the idea of dry camping on government land, but of course you have to pull off the roads. I'm wondering if it might not be a good plan to have a dual purpose SUV tire on, rather than a straight highway tire, provided of course the weight rating is good enough. Or even to put chains on, when you venture off the blacktop. Or, carry 2 LT snow tires as spares, put 'em on when you get to the boonies. Then there's other things like sand mats or sand channels if you're gonna make a habit of pulling onto beaches or into dunes. Probably those "lego" wedges/levellers would help in a pinch.

Another precaution might be to carry some 2ft squares of 3/4 plywood or similar, to park on top of, so you don't wake up sunk to your axles if it's firm enough to drive over, but not exactly hard still.

Then there's the good old shovel and "farm jack".

I'd imagine that if you stuck a front mount drawbar on as well as a rear one, you could mount a single HD winch either end as required... I'd be inclined to get a hand cranked comealong though, it covers more "what ifs"

For tips, watch travalogues about going across India or Africa in the rainy season, in a bush taxi minibus... though often they cheat and call a guy with an elephant...

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Flashman

I've been pondering the idea of dry camping on government land, but of course you have to pull off the roads. I'm wondering if it might not be a good plan to have a dual purpose SUV tire on, rather than a straight highway tire, provided of course the weight rating is good enough. Or even to put chains on, when you venture off the blacktop. Or, carry 2 LT snow tires as spares, put 'em on when you get to the boonies. Then there's other things like sand mats or sand channels if you're gonna make a habit of pulling onto beaches or into dunes. Probably those "lego" wedges/levellers would help in a pinch.

Another precaution might be to carry some 2ft squares of 3/4 plywood or similar, to park on top of, so you don't wake up sunk to your axles if it's firm enough to drive over, but not exactly hard still.

Then there's the good old shovel and "farm jack".

I'd imagine that if you stuck a front mount drawbar on as well as a rear one, you could mount a single HD winch either end as required... I'd be inclined to get a hand cranked comealong though, it covers more "what ifs"

For tips, watch travalogues about going across India or Africa in the rainy season, in a bush taxi minibus... though often they cheat and call a guy with an elephant...

I was thinking more of getting myself stuck in the snow and soft ground sometimes found in
recently dampened campgrounds. Your idea of a "gnarlier" tire lead me to choose the LTX AT2
from Michelin. It's got the equivalent of a toothed edge tread for grip on less than ideal surfaces.
They are quiet on the freeway, and have a slightly deeper tread depth (initially) than the MS2
sister tires, which is possible due to it's slightly larger (1/32" ?) overall diameter, IIRC.
So far haven't really needed them, but it's good to know they might be a help on slippery stuff.

[mlts22]

I've seen some cables made from something like nylon webbing. They don't stretch, and if the cable breaks, it drops straight to the ground, rather than snapping back like steel cables.

I'd get one of those, then find yourself a decent heavy duty wench, and you will be set.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by mlts22

then find yourself a decent heavy duty wench, and you will be set.

Where can we find these "decent heavy duty wenches" ??? Sounds like the old import a Russian bride scam to me.

[AmCruiser]

Originally Posted by Mike

Where can we find these "decent heavy duty wenches" ??? Sounds like the old import a Russian bride scam to me.

I suppose you would need a "heavy duty" wench to push a "B" and probably several for an "A". I told my wife to start beefing up. Mike, that sure gave me a chuckle - I didn't notice the misspelling until I read your comment.

[Mike]

I almost spit coffee when I first read it, too.

[mlts22]

I spend weekends at about a quarter of the year at a renaissance festival. Guess that shows me to watch typos.

[Mike]

Renaissance festivals will put you in a wench state of mind, I guess.
Particularly after a tankard or two of the innkeeper's finest grog.....

[markopolo]

These are troubling times in the kingdom (video below):

[youtube:1msocnj5]lR7n20OPYZM[/youtube:1msocnj5]

Somehow, someday we will get this back on to the topic of winches ............

[Photog]

Warn makes a few winches that might do the job:

12 volt system
16,500 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/src/165ti_winch.shtml
15,000 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/src/M15000.shtml
12,000 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/truck/winches/ZEON_12.shtml

24 volt system (requires a 2nd battery for 24 volt power)
25,000 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/industrial/winches/olympus_25.shtml
22,000 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/industrial/winches/olympus_22.shtml
18,000 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/industrial/severe_duty/18.shtml
12,000 lbs pull: http://www.warn.com/industrial/sever.../pn63891.shtml

[AZ ADVenturist]

I have a Warn 8,000 lb. wInch on my Jeep Wrangler 4x4 that has never been used - the WINCH that is. Winches are a lot like Wenches - in that if you have to use one, you ought not to be there in the 1st place. I do use the 4wd however, in the rugged country of No. Central Arizona.

[Photog]

The problem I have found, with not having a winch on my 4x4 4Runner, is I have few options if I do get stuck, so I don't go many palces. I could probably get through with out getting stuck, but since that can't be garaunteed, we turn around and miss getting to our destination.

[Mike]

The hardest part of having 4WD is knowing when to say, "not today".
When i was working, I drove almost 75km one way to work across the top of Toronto, on some of the worst and most congested roads in the country in all types of weather. During the 11 years that I did that, I've observed that the 4X4s are the most likely vehicles to be seen in the ditches, when the roads are snow covered or icy.

[Eraygunz]

Hi.
Back in the old days,when they let us park our trucks on the beach.
A lot of the 4 wheel drive guys used to carry an aluminum boat anchor in the truck.
Works good in the sand and the mud.
They also had various ropes and cables and digging tools.
Not me, but some of those guys could"unstuck" just about anything.
I carry a come along in my big box. Not sure how much it can do.
But between that and my other tools. I can probably get my self out of anything I am dumb enough to get stuck in.I hope!
Cheers
Eddie