I go wheeling by myself sometimes in some tight places
Like having that option available if I would need a winch in back
Where my only option is going backwards when stuck
As far as looks cool that don't do anything for me
No, I don’t have a Jeep so I will not comment on a rear Jeep bumper types for a winch, but that is an awesome idea with zero disadvantages except for weight. As long as its high enough then it will not interfere with ground clearance, so if money is not an issue then having two winches in the bumpers, front and rear, will by far outperform any other Jeep with only one front winch when traveling alone. How could anyone dispute that? I’m sure somebody will try as it is entertaining.
I have a Warn Zeon 10s Multi-Mount hitch setup which has pros and cons. It can be setup in the front or rear at any given time if not in too much trouble.
For people that go out alone and in desolate areas, meaning areas where the trails are not well traveled, a multi mount winch setup can have its advantages if unexpected things occur.
I go out alone a lot. I also go places where no trails are marked as they are not highly traveled or known trails. With that being said, I can NOT ever count on help from anybody else but myself, so I try to have as many possible ways to help myself if stuck. One of those ways is being able to winch from the back of the vehicle if needed.
Do I ever use it much on the back? No, but it is good insurance. I also know that I cannot tell the future and I know that there are many possible scenarios that exist in nature where going backwards could be better than going forward and to think otherwise is factually wrong as nobody can predict that they can always go forward and nobody can predict that when stuck, going forward is the best option, especially when traveling alone. It is a completely different story when traveling with others, a major luxury when help is needed.
Do I check my trail in front when needed? Sure, but none of us check every corner, bend and turn of every trail we are on. What about when traveling on snow, ice, mud or water? Does everyone take a stick and probe every ounce of ground? No. So with that being said, it is impossible to know and predict everything.
Have I personally been in situations where going back is better? Yes. Those situations usually involved snow, ice, mud, water, or a washed out part of the road due to hill slides. I have also encountered several fallen trees across the road. Do I have a saw and axe with me, yes, but that does not mean I want to spend hours cutting the trees to pieces if there is another way by reversing out instead of going forward if I am stuck.
Need examples: I have many.
Here are two:
1. Once saw a guy down a muddy hill trail. So muddy in fact, his Jeep just kept sliding until he hit a stump. No way to turn around. Going further would have brought him to even more mud with ice mixed around. He did look to see where he was going. Noticed it was too slippery and he did try to turn around up top and when he tried to turn up top is when his Jeep slid down. It was a sort of clay mud with ice mixed in it, about the most slippery mud I have ever seen. I pulled him out reverse. So if he was alone he would have needed a winch on the rear as going forward was even worse and he was turned sideways so going forward would have put him on a 5ft diameter stump.
2. Another time I stopped on a road due to the fact of too much snow. A Jeep went by with 40” tires and got stuck. Under the fresh snow was packed ice and large rocks. He had nowhere to go but back. Shovel? It would not have worked. His tires were cradled between two huge rocks with ice around the rocks so it was a perfect trap under the snow.
Could he go forward? Nope, more snow and ice, no trees or rocks in the front to winch from, only the rear, and he had no anchor.
Could he use his Hi Lift jack to jack up a tire to use his ramps? He tried. At first he was bound and determined to go forward rather than ask me for help. But due to the terrain he was having a very difficult time with the ramps with the rocks and ice and how his wheels were cradled. He eventually stopped and I helped. I pulled him out reverse. If he was alone he would have needed a winch on the rear which by chance were also several boulders and trees that he could have winched from.
I have more stories to tell but I also do not have the time at the moment.
Ah hell, here is a 3rd one…
3. Traveling alone and getting turned sideways on a trail, mostly due from mud or ice and when going up or down hill. So now you need to get straightened out. Saw a guy turned sideways and he actually had a Multi Mount Warn winch like mine which I rarely see. He placed it on the rear, straightened his rig and moved on. If he only had a front winch, then it would not have helped.
Warn Multi Mount Winch
Disadvantages:
1. Warn Multi Mount winch setup sticks out further causing reduced approach and descending angles.
2. Can get stolen easily, so security bolts on the Warn platform are needed along with a security hitch bolt and a cable. With all of that it will at least keep honest people a tad more honest but can still get stolen.
3. Sometimes the winch cannot be attached to the desired location due to the situation such as the rear is too deep in the ground to attach to the rear when in trouble.
Advantages (which I feel outweigh the cons):
1. With many situations the winch can be utilized on both the front and rear.
2. Can be removed when not needed which reduces weight and keeps it out of the elements.
3. Great for when traveling alone as you will not have friends to rely on (called insurance).
Best setup if money is not an option:
1. Have a full time winch on front and rear bumper high off the ground. There are basically zero disadvantages except for added weight.
I am quite positive that several of you will be happy to dispute as it is quite entertaining to dispute. So please do, and maybe we can learn something…, or maybe not.
And why did I write this? Because maybe it can help some people that do travel alone and if it helps just one person then it’s worth it. :thumb:
