I suppose it depends on where you wheel. When I'm 200 miles from nowhere in the alaskan wilderness, you won't find anyone with a costco winch. A winch is always the first thing any of my off-road rigs get, and I don't go off road without at least 2 winch equipped rigs.


EDIT: hey, just noticed your a fellow alaskan, right on. You know what I'm talkin about!

 

Yea, I know about those. Never believed they would work, still don't. Anybody got real world experience where that thing saved your ***?

http://www.pullpal.com/

Bill

 

Let me tell you all a little story. I have always pretty much believed that on winches that you pay for a name. However, I was set straight last memorial day.

I was out wheelin with my jeep club when we came across 6 jeep cherokees. these guys were about 10 miles from any readily accessible road when they had a guy break an axle. Not having any replacement, they had no choice but to go home. Before they had broke, they went down this hill that was about 200 yards down in 3-4 feet of snow. They now had to get back up this thing with a crippled rig. No problem, they had three mile-marker winches. These guys proceeded to winch their 6 rigs up this hill. Before they got the first one to the top (using a ****** block), the winch gave up the ghost. They then moved the jeeps around and toasted a second winch. Long story short, they toasted three mile-marker winches before they got even one rig up this hill. When i came across them, it was 6pm and about 30 degrees and they were trying to dig their way to the top of this hill. I was there about two hours winching all 6 of those guys up this hill without a ****** block. Thank GOD i have a Warn. After that day, I will NEVER use anything but a Warn. If there is something that you will rely on to get yourself out of a bad spot, spend the money (regardless of wether you have a mansion on a mountain top) and get something that you CAN RELY on.

I know this was probably just a fluke, but out of my entire jeep club, I have NEVER seen a warn break no matter what we put it through.

Just my two cents!

 

I have seen warns break, but much less frequently than others. I'd say that most of the failures were due to misuse or lack of care. My motto is: Tires and lockers will get you in, a Warn will get you out!'. Give them lots of current (multiple batteries) and time to cool off (duty cycle) and they'll last as close to forever as anything else you've got.

As for the pullpal, I have on many occasions used them. They work. For a big heavy pull two can be used to make a sort of triangle winch point. They'll just keep diggin until you get out. If you have some fab skills they're pretty simple and can be built relatively simply. One thing I add to al mine or any homemade devices is a 'recovery tether'... A chain or something that trails the anchor as it's being set to pull it backward and recover it. They can really be a pain to get out once they're really in there.

 

ya im always equipt with 2 winches on my truck. a warn 8000 and a milemarker 12000


Ray

 

I vote Warn. I had a Warn 9000 on my '03 F150 and now I have a Warn 15,000 on my '06 F250. I never had a problem with either one as far has saving others and myself.

 

I'm saving for the semi-hidden mount and 15,000 Warn.

 

Thats what I have on mine now and I get compliments on it all the time.

 

how would they know you have it if its hidden?


Ray

 

The winch mount pushes the bumper out 5" and you fill the gap with the bumper skirting

 

sounds pretty cool that should help keep it nice and clean


Ray

 

I like it because the winch is then directly tied into the frame, and you don't have all the weight of an aftermarket bumper.

4xsport, does it also move the tow hooks back out 5"? I want to run a NFAB prerunner but it mounts to the tow hook bolts so they would have to move forward with the bumper.

Thanks

 

Yes It moves everything forward, if you were to look straight at it it would appear stock. The kit comes complete with all the brackets and it is fairly easy to install. I did it in the driveway with the help of some friends to actually lift it into place(winch+mount=HEAVY). I have some pictures of the truck in my gallery if you need an idea of how it looks.

 

Thanks, the truck looks great!