I just bought a champion 4500lb winch at my local tractor supply for $200, ordered a front mount reciever for $105, and a winch mount for the reciever for $57, and a d-ring on a 2" reciever for $40. I know I should have a stronger winch but I think for what wheeling I do this should be enough, and for the price of everything I couldnt turn em down. I havent had the need for them yet but better to have than to wish I did. I'm so excited I just had to tell somebody!

 

that's awsome man. sounds like you got a good deal out of it. post pics of it in action when you get a chance.

 

sorry to say, but that isnt gonna do much of anything to help you out. a stock XJ weighs something like 4000lbs. it weighs a whole lot more than that when its stuck.

 

I'm aware of the weight of my xj. set up as a dual pull with the ****** block I had lying around it'll pull 9000, I think that may be enough to get me out of most sticky situations that i'll find myself in.

 

Im not a knocker.....but you have $402 without tax into a setup that only draws straight, at twice the line speed with the ****** block.......which gets you.........8 feet in four minutes?..........

There are numerous things to research when buying a tool, right now I'm thinking you need a major battery upgrade, then an altenater.......battery for reserve power, alt. to keep delivering....

Again not knocking, I think over a very short distance of time, say 40 feet, you'll see what I'm saying.

 

not to steal the thread but i've always wondered that. If i turn everything that will drain power on on my jeep i see the gauge go down. I cant imagine what a winch on a long pull would do to the battery. Would you need to install a second battery and high output alternator or what?

 

136 amp alt of of a grand cherokee with the v8 does well. about 35$ at junk yard around here. about 2 hours to install. 46amp extra for $35 and 2 hours, cant beat that

 

Out of curiosity, what the heck are some of you getting stuck in? How often do you need the winch pulling on you for 40 feet?? I have always wheeled with a winch on my Jeep, and in the few times I have needed to use it, getting unstuck was a matter of a few feet. Then again, I wheel pretty dry.

As far as weighing a lot more when stuck, I think this only applies in bad mud holes, in which case any winch will be in trouble. IF you are able to help the winch with some tire spinnage, it should do OK. Although, you ideally want 1.5 your jeep weight covered without a ****** block. If you are into it already, you might as well see what happens. Try not to have to use it!