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BJ, winching a rig that is heavier than your own or one that is severely stuck can lead to frame damage to the lighter rig. I have refused to hook my 1/4 ton flatty winch to a buried 1 ton truck for concern I'd rip my rig apart, particularly when I'd need to "dead man" my rig to a tree. I'll jump in and dig, stack rocks, high lift jack, that stuck rig, but leave the heavy winching to a bigger rig.
As far as motors, whatever...Warns who ever makes it, it is better than a Ramsey or MM or HF POS.

If I'm buying a winch I'd like it to do what a good winch should do. That is where all winches but Warns pale.
LINE SPEED is more that how fast you reel in when you're done winching. How many of us on this board have been on runs where they are so tough that winching is expected.
Not because of being stupid, but rather, where trail is that tough. You know 35" or bigger tires, Lockers F&R, very skilled driving and are still not making it due to trail difficulty? Every trip (6) to South Dakota is like that.
Upper Helldorado, is a must winch out the waterfall.

When stuck, you can't back up, can't go forward, can't get a push from fellow jeepers to get moving...the trusty Warn cable gets pulled, and while winching, you are driving too (or at least trying) and as the winch gets you moving, you gain some traction and the winch cable goes slack, with a Warn and the speedy motor (who ever makes it) that slack gets reeled in before you could possibly run over your cable.
When I bought my first of two Warns (first one 1987)got sold with my old red cj5 and is working fine today) and the second that is currently on my xj was purchased with the same intention that I will be using it. Not avoiding using it with some notion that it will be there "just in case" but rather to go into trails where it will likely be used.
Buy it with the intention of using it and more so over many years, it is after all an investment that shows your dedication to your rig and the sport.

SD


the whole point to upgrading the rig it to not have to use the winch , to make the rig more capable to overcome these obstacle on the trail.

and as far as driveing the rig while being held by the winch , has any one every read the directions ? most will tell you not to do this as it is very unsafe . i do know that tons of people do this everyday , but it only takes 1 sec. to kill you, if that long . <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />