Well, I suppose the original poster was talking about traveling to back
country locations where a towing service is unlikely to also travel to, or
even be reachable.  That said, yes, if one is sticking to regular road
travel, then the money and effort invested in a winch and the upgrades
needed to make it work well are definite overkill.  I would think a winch
would be something that one would consider only if one's travels take one
to places unreachable by the vast majority of people.

Just my thought.  mcneely

On Sat, Nov 20, 2021 at 7:08 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> I have to say I do like those bumper options from Westy World. A bit
> pricey.
> There is a lot to be considered before going for a winch. To some extent
> unless your plan is a form of sport, competition, or access to difficult
> places a winch should really be considered a last resort to use or even
> have. If your use is normal on road driving during difficult weather every
> other option should be considered to avoid needing a winch in the first
> place. Of course the first is tires for conditions expected. Then since a
> Syncro upgrade is not reasonable then go for some type of posit traction
> differential.
>
> For the Vanagon the front suspension does not do that well with the
> extended overhung load of weight added up front. Also you need to consider
> the electrical requirements. Under load winches will draw significant
> current some as high as 400 amps. Even the small ones at 100 A/H or so need
> significant battery power available. Larger batteries and at a minimum
> upgraded alternator wiring needs to part of the plan. I often suggest low
> voltage cut out to stop it when the alternator can't keep up.
>
> Than of course there is learning how to use one safely. Rigging set up and
> calculating forces may be required. The cable should be blanket for hard
> pulls. Need to know when cables, chains, or stretch straps are needed. A
> snapped cable can cause some serious injuries. For roadside getting stuck a
> towing service is often a good choice.
>
> Dennis
>