4x4 Winch

When you are attempting to parallel park between two large vans, a 4x4 winch is the reason you shouldn't take this vehicle downtown. When you are attempting to get over a bolder or off of a tree root, a 4x4 winch is evidence that we could probably win the West again.

A winch is a spool of cable connected to a motor which is attached to the frame of your 4x4. You can hook the cable to a solid object or another vehicle, then rewind the spool, resulting in the movement of either your vehicle or the solid object. The amount of weight you can move, or the situation you can extract yourself from, depends on the capacity of the 4x4 winch and the weight of your vehicle. For instance, if you have a 5,000 lb winch mounted on your Wrangler, you'll be able to move your own vehicle easily, but if you are trying to pull a fully loaded Suburban out of a ditch, you might be in for a rough night.

While it's hard to anticipate every tough spot you'll crawl into with your 4x4, you should have an educated opinion about the kind of winch you want and how much you are willing to pay for it. Winches are classified by the number of pounds they can move, and that ranges generally from 5,000 to 16,000 pounds for non-commercial vehicles. Some winches are electric, others are hydraulic, and many of them have remotes so they can be activated from inside or outside of your 4x4. Many winches are made to be mounted on the front of your 4x4, but a few large ones work better in a truck bed. 4x4 winches can be priced from $350 to nearly $2000, depending on their quality and capacity.