Is it absolutely stupid that I want to buy a winch just because it looks cool?

[DesertCanyons]

Come-alonng winch

Every thing Justin (JBrandt79) said two posts above is the right answer to this question.
If you need something to get unstuck once in a while when you're by yourself, get a 3000 pound capacity come-along winch by American Power Pull or Wyeth-Scott. Add a bridle and chock block, a few shackles and a couple of tow straps for rigging it up to something solid. All that costs around $250, it weighs a lot less and it sits behind your front seats when you're offroading. When you get home take it out and put in the garage. No extra weight to lug around.
I recently used it to pull a 1000 pound log down and out of a tree and across the ground. It was a lot of effort, mostly because it is limited to about 8 feet of pull when it's at full capacity. I had to reset the tow straps on different anchor points a few times. It's definitely a Manual Armstrong workout but it's a lot cheaper and more practical than having an electric winch and steel bumper.

 

[Offwidth]

Yeah especially if you go out by yourself and there is no one else to help you out. Not that I EVER do that...

I do. We would go on a hunt, or to a remote climbing spot in one car. “Over landing” caravans is entertainment in itself, not a normal use of an off-roading vehicle.

 

[SnowYeti]

This has been a great thread for me. I have been debating a winch as well, but not necessarily because I love the look of a winch, more so I do love the look of the C4 bumper, and prefer to have my light bar mounted front and center unobstructed. Unlike the behind the grill mounts. Then I think buying the bumper without a winch seems lame. ??? Also people around here drive huge trucks and clearly have no idea of their size, we have had 3 car bumped in parking lots, painted plastic does not like being “kissed”. Plus the possible protection against hitting a deer on the road, maybe. Forget about hitting a moose, game over.

Just doing the bumper I don’t think adds enough weight to require heavier springs than the 600# 6112 shocks, and likely little if any impact on handling or mileage.

I have never needed a winch, but then again I am by myself a lot off the the Colorado Rockies. As others have said, adding the winch has a negative impact in many ways. The “what if” is killing me. The come-along is an option, but having used them a lot growing up with clearing and fence building I know the effort it takes, as a teenager it was hard, 50 something sounds horrible.

 

[jhguth]

if you're ever worried about buying a winch because it looks cool, realize that there is a market of people buying and trading patches for their headliners that regularly cost over $30 and some of them are over $100!

 

[KingTaco]

if you're ever worried about buying a winch because it looks cool, realize that there is a market of people buying and trading patches for their headliners that regularly cost over $30 and some of them are over $100!

I thought this could not be true, so I Googled it. There is even a thread here about it!

Show off your patch collection!

I see one with a patch from a 4Runner meet up they attended. I can kinda get that. 99% of this, though...WTF

 

[MossJenks]

You can buy a lot of rare patches for the price of a winch and a winch bumper!

I've been wheeling solo (not always but often) for over 30 years. I do have a winch and have used it for self recovery a few times. It gets used more often to recover stuck folks I come across on the trail though. I have a Wyeth-Scott hand winch I carry with me occasionally (in case I need to do a backward pull) - once upon a time it was my only winch and it will get the job done. But look cool it does not!

 

[jhguth]

I thought this could not be true, so I Googled it. There is even a thread here about it!

Show off your patch collection!

I see one with a patch from a 4Runner meet up they attended. I can kinda get that. 99% of this, though...WTF

look at the toyota patch club facebook group, that's where i saw the $100+ patches

 

[KingTaco]

look at the toyota patch club facebook group, that's where i saw the $100+ patches

I wasn't able to view it without a FB account, but there are over 6500 members in that group!! :wow:

 

[willo]

The first time you use it, it just paid for itself. The winch that is. Feel free to get a bumper and add a winch later! I'm a fan of tigersharks with the synthetic rope, so call it two tow trucks. If you count the time for help to show up...

Anyhow, I like my warn hidden winch bumper. Cheers.

 

[jbrandt79]

I thought this could not be true, so I Googled it. There is even a thread here about it!

Show off your patch collection!

I see one with a patch from a 4Runner meet up they attended. I can kinda get that. 99% of this, though...WTF

I’m pretty active over on TacomaWorld, and “patches bro!” is pretty popular there too. More popular in the 3rd gen section for sure. God people go nuts with patches.

I mean, I guess patches aren’t really all that different from stickers, and I have a few of those. Stickers of clubs, race teams I am (or were) a member of, that type of stuff. But yeah, it gets pretty ridiculous with what people collect just for he sake of, i dunno, having the “most” I guess.

 

[jbrandt79]

look at the toyota patch club facebook group, that's where i saw the $100+ patches

Good god, that’s a thing?!

 

[DesertCanyons]

Headliner patches

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

 

[Soupbean]

Winch ....?

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

 

[Nightglow]

Winch or not to winch, that is the question...

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.

 

[SnowYeti]

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

 

[MossJenks]

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.

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

 

[AsAkite]

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. :usa:

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

 

[4Reak Show]

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."

 

[1BAMF]

Sounds like you need this my friend:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1rWN9CECdXc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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