Which Winch Combo?

[raycie]

EDIT:

Will be going with a hidden winch bumper, but now, the discussion turns to which winch.. The Warn Zeon 10s, or the smittybult X20 10,000

Original Text:

For my '16 4Runner Trail. Basic uses (avg 6-10x a year) - to make sure I get in and out of camp with the family. The trail that we take to go camping is a 8.5 mile mix of hard pack (during the summer) and areas of deep mud (especially when rains hard). I usually have my wife and 2 young kids, so just looking to be prepared. Sometimes there is some friends that go up, but many times, we may go in and out separately.

In full disclosure, I do carry my hi-lift, hi-lift winch adapter, 30' transport chain, and 50' synthetic winch extension to use if need be... Yes, the chain weighs a bunch... It would work in a pinch, but would just take some time to work. This past weekend, it rained pretty hard. Had some friends that needed to winch out in a couple of deep mud spots.

Thinking of either a front hitch mount (CBI), or a hidden winch mount (pelfrey). Don't want to get into a full bumper... Mostly all of my winching would be fairly straight to 45 degrees. Just getting out of a hole...

Living in Hawaii, thinking about a Warn VR10s (if hitch mounted) or a Warn Zeon 10s (if bumper mounted). The Zeon seems to be more corrosion resistant, so I would go that route if it lives on the 4R.

Prices for my 2 options seem to be in the same ballpark, so not sure which is the better option all things considered.

Option 1 - Hitch
CBI Hitch - $380
VR10s - $770
Hitch Cradle - $240

Option 2 - Bumper
Pelfrey Hidden Mount - $475
Flipster - $100
Zeon 10s - $1000


Thoughts....

 

[Lindenwood]

I wouldn't get a hitch-mounted winch. If you are concerned about the "what-ifs," imagine having to haul out and install 120lbs of winch out while buried to the axles in cold mud. I think that creates a situation rife with opportunities to fall and hurt yourself or, at the very least probably ruin your day at least as much as winching with the hi-lift would have :P .

I will say, this might be among the first times I have ever really heard of a winch really being almost required to simply traverse established trails to an otherwise known campsite!

*edit*

I also wouldnt be too quick to overlook the cheaper winch options!

 

[raycie]

I wouldn't get a hitch-mounted winch. If you are concerned about the "what-ifs," imagine having to haul out and install 120lbs of winch out while buried to the axles in cold mud. I think that creates a situation rife with opportunities to fall and hurt yourself or, at the very least probably ruin your day at least as much as winching with the hi-lift would have :P .

I will say, this might be among the first times I have ever really heard of a winch really being almost required to simply traverse established trails to an otherwise known campsite!

*edit*

I also wouldnt be too quick to overlook the cheaper winch options!

Yea, in the past couple days, I have decided on going with the hidden winch bumper mount. for the camp site that we frequent, I wouldn't call a winch a "requirement", but with any sort of localized and heavy rain (that can happen whenever), there are a couple spots where the mud can be bad. Can always get pulled out, but if ever alone, I gotta be prepared. The access is designated as a 4x4 path only. There are some 2xs that go up, but sometimes need to be assisted.

Case and point, past couple days it was beautiful. Then this morning, a bad weather pattern hit and there was heavy rains, thunder, lightning... Getting off the trail anytime after the rain cleared is gonna be messy.... but now again beautiful.. (Yes, Feb-April is the rainy months here in Hawaii)

I am now looking at either the Warn Zeon 10s, or the Smittybilt X20 10,000. The smitty is like 1/2 price, but I need it to work when I need it to work... some friends have the smitty and some have warns. Money is always an option, but not a huge factor in consideration of safety and needing it to work when my kids are with me...

 

[Lindenwood]

As to the Smitty, I am perhaps slightly less confident in it than if I'd purchased a Warn. However, like you, I also keep a winching kit for my hi-lift, so I think between the two it probably isnt such a big deal to go with the cheaper option.

However, I absolutely do check function of the winch any time I take the rig out, just to make sure.

 

[Dr Gil]

I too debated about this. I typically "buy the best and cry once". However, many considerations went into this purchase and this review by this guy that actually took it apart to look at the guts had me buy the
Harbor Freight 12,000K Winch. It's worth a read