Good god, that’s a thing?!

If you get the $100 "Recovery Patch" then you don't need a winch.

Answer to question......... YES

Not to beat a dead horse, but getting it for the looking seems to be subjective. I have a 2016 TEP and as you can see in the pictures modified it to suit my needs. As the aesthetics are important, do it. Also if you even take it off-road, do it. If you ever want to take your girlfriend on a camping trip, do it. It is like insurance, you will be glad you have it if you need it.

As for the weight and MPG, I live in Colorado and added the SSO bumper (pic 1) and a 10K Warn Winch. It added about a net 110 lbs to my front end and I did notice the difference when driving. I little more sluggish, but got used to it quickly. As for the MPG, it did not really change, maybe a 0.1 or 0.2 MPG. I still average between city and highway in the mid-17's. I have only time I used the winch (besides practice training with friends)once when I left an Overland trip with our group a day early and went on a sidetrack on my way home. I slide down a hillside exploring an offshoot trail solo and when I came back on the same trail, the mud and snow kept me from getting back up it. After several unsuccessful attempts, I pulled out the winch and made it out OK. I said to myself at the time after I got out of the problem that it was well worth the investment as I had no cell service and my CB would have been of little help. It would have been a long hike out looking for help.

Good luck in your decision and don't look back.

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That is exactly the type of situation that keeps running through my head.

There's a solution for that! www.arrl.org

There is always the more creative uses for a winch, other than when off roading.... Like, say... removing the buttface that parked in your favorite spot at the mall.

Like someone above said, better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Do it. Make the leap. You'll start going more places with confidence and potentially arrogance... Then need other stuff.

Like a lift to get over the stuff you had to winch over last time.

Then lockers for the stuff that you had to winch over, but at least didn't drag over because of your lift.

Then lights for the stuff you had to winch over, cleared height wise, but blew out an axle because of the locker and spend an extra hour fixing it.

Then a roof top tent for the stuff you winched over, cleared, locked and blew and axle, lit up the night and fixed it, but then realized "who the hell wants to go home now? Better stay the night just to be safe."

Just sent this to a buddy and he asked me where he could get one?! I guess I need new friends, dumb ass.