If you like off-road adventures with your Jeep, you may need to upgrade your vehicle with some necessary equipment. The must-have list of Jeep accessories may be long. This leads to the question, “do I need a winch on my Jeep?”
The answer is simple. You do need a winch because some unexpected situations can happen. A good winch is necessary if you get stuck in deep snow or mud. Heavy pulls and freezing rains won’t be a problem for you anymore.
Why Do You Need a Winch on a Jeep?
It is good to know what a winch is and how you can use it. In general, a winch comes in two options. There are electrical and hydraulic winches.
Both types have the same function. They help you take out the car from the mud or sand. Difficult terrain is always challenging, and that is why you need to have a winch when you are off-road.
A winch is a pulling device, and it consists of a cable and a motor. In some situations, you can use the help of a winch even if your car motor is dead. The winch will take you out when you are stuck in mud or sand.
The difference between hydraulic and electric winch lies in the maintenance features. You will need to maintain hydraulic winches in a detailed manner if you want them to work properly.
On the other hand, electric winches need less maintenance, and they are more user-friendly.
You should make sure that a winch is protected from external factors. The rain, sun, or moisture can affect the winch in a bad way.
The inside components like the motor, rope, and control unit are sensitive, and you need to take care of them. That is why you need to keep the winch protected from a harsh environment.
What Are the Advantages of an Electric Winch
In general, electric winches use electric motors that drive a gear set. This is necessary to turn a drum. When it comes to the drum, it is good to know that this tool is a cylinder for cable or rope that is spooled around the drum.
There is a magnetism that rotates and it is all possible thanks to the magnets with different polarities.
Electric motors have two parts, and these are rotor and stator. In practical use, the rotor is an assembly that rotates, and the stator goes around the rotor and it stays still. [1]
You can find two different kinds of electric motors when it comes to winches. One type is a permanent magnet motor, and the other kind is a series wound motor.
Series wound motors are more reliable and they are usually more expensive than permanent magnet motors.
Electric winches use a huge amount of power and they usually deplete the automotive battery. This is especially noticeable when you start a vehicle.
The alternator recharges the battery while they supply the power to the engine and accessories. In this manner, the fluctuations from the alternator are smoothed out when the car is running.
It is important to have an alternator that is capable of outputting a large amount of current. Factory alternators might not be capable of this, and that is why you may think about installing a new one.
A bad alternator will put too much strain on a battery and it won’t be able to handle the winch system properly.
What Are the Advantages of a Hydraulic Winch
Modern hydraulic winches use hydraulic fluid, and they are usually a more expensive option than electric winches. The installation of the hydraulic winch is also more demanding.
You need to get access to the power steering pump, and you need to run the pressure lines to the winch. At the same time, you may need to install the hydraulic solenoids.
This installation might be complicated, and you may need to call a mechanic to help you. They will know how to install the necessary parts and put your hydraulic winch in operation.
Once you install the hydraulic winch, you can start noticing the main advantages of this solution. These winches have a 100 percent duty cycle, and they are completely submersible. They can constantly run without any issues.
You can use hydraulic winches for commercial purposes and different off-road situations when you need to winch many times in a short period of time.
These winches use a fluid and a pump in order to create pressure. In a reservoir, there is a low-pressure fluid that works with the assistance of the pump.
There are also several valves that control the entire system. Therefore, we have a pump, reservoir, lines, and valves that combine their effects and control the hydraulic winch.
It is best to have a winch with a hydraulic motor for commercial use. These winches can constantly work and without issues. You do not have to worry about overheating and other issues.
Burning out of a motor is very rare when you use hydraulic winches. That is why you can use them for commercial purposes. Many tow trucks and heavy-duty vehicles operate with hydraulic winches.
- 2 Speed
- Free spooling
Do You Need a Winch on a Jeep Wrangler?
You never know what kind of a situation can happen when you are driving off-road. You can get stuck in the trails and you may need assistance.
If you have a Jeep Wrangler, you need a winch as part of your tool kit. It is best to have a winch if you go to the mountain trails and rough terrains.
You may wonder what size winch for Jeep Wrangler is the best one. You should take into account different conditions.
One of the most important factors is the weight of the vehicle. The heavier the vehicle, the stronger the winch must be.
Winch Choices
A good measurement is to use the vehicle weight and multiply it by 1.5. You can drive your Jeep Wrangler to the local weight station and see the vehicle’s overall weight.[2]
When you know the weight of all parts of the car, including tires, wheels, bumpers, and all other parts, you can decide on the winch solution.
It is good to go to the weight station with all the equipment that you usually have when you off-road.
In this manner, you will get a clear picture of the weight of your Jeep Wrangler. You can multiply the weight by 1.5 and get the accurate number.
This Smittybilt winch is made to support a 10,000 lb. load capacity, which is a good solution. The winch kit includes a synthetic rope, forged hook, power cables, and wireless remote.
- Your purchase includes: Smittybilt X20 Comp Synthetic Rope Winch, hawse fairlead with forged hook, All required power cables to hook up to your...
- Winch can be operated with the remote or manually
Another good option for your Jeep could be a Warn winch with synthetic rope for 8000 lb. capacity.
- Uniquely balanced 8000 pounds winch with synthetic rope and roller fairlead
- Design is consistent throughout the entire winch with the same look on the motor as on the gear side
This winch has various mounting options and it has a winch drum that is lightweight.
How to Use a Winch on a Jeep?
When you want to get out of the mud or heavy snow, you must know how to use a winch properly.
First of all, you must select a good anchor point. Find a sturdy point that you can attach your winch to. A heavy rock or a sturdy tree might be a good solution. [3]
When you attach the winch rope, your vehicle needs to be put in neutral. Then, you can start a winch motor.
It is important not to run a winch motor too quickly. The main point is not the speed but the proper pulling out.
The most important thing about using the winch is to make the process safe. You should not damage the equipment or the accessories that come with the winch.
You should wear gloves when you do this process. A synthetic rope is very harsh and it could hurt your hands if you do not wear thick leather gloves.
When you want to get out of the mud or heavy snow, you can also use the power of another Jeep. In this case, the anchor point is another vehicle.
You can use the D-rings to attach the winch to the frame of another vehicle. In this manner, you can get out of the difficult terrain.
Related: P06dd Jeep Wrangler
Conclusion
A winch can be a lifesaver on an off-road adventure. You may want to test the limits of your Jeep, but many situations can happen.
You can stuck in the middle of rough terrain, and the only way to get out is by using the right winch.
Now you know that a winch can be very efficient in some difficult situations. You can use a tree, a solid rock, or a hole as an anchor point or get help from another Jeep.
You need a winch on a Jeep to be ready for an off-road adventure. A good winch can save you a lot of time and rescue you from the difficult situation on the trip. And if you are driving on a highway, it’s better to remove the winch from your Jeep.
