Winch in Arizona Desert?

[TannerBNelson]

Hey everyone. I am wanting to get a winch but am having a hard time pulling the trigger. I live in the Phoenix, AZ area and most of my offroading is done in the desert. I don't see a lot of natural anchors on trails that could be used if I needed to self recover with a winch. A lot of cactus and bushes and rocky ground. Does anyone have a good solution that you use to justify a winch in areas like what I described?

Sponsored

 

[Dan-O]

Do a google search for “winch anchors” that’s what your looking for.

 

[ScLeCo]

https://www.pullpal.com

 

[CalvinT]

There's very little you can tie to in the desert. Maybe a palo verde or mesquite tree if you plan your emergency carefully. Saguaro cactus are protected by Federal and State law. Plus they can crush your Bronco if they fall on it. Before you decide you need a winch, think of what you need it for.

Unless you need to winch yourself up some rocks or up a trail, one really isn't needed. Ask people how often they've used theirs and why. Unless someone is into testing their skills and their machine, they usually use their winch to rescue others. I grew up driving in the Arizona desert. I've found a shovel to be more helpful.

You have front and rear lockers. Get a compressor and traction boards first. And think about where you're driving. You'll be set as long as you avoid mud. Caliche can be a real pain and difficult to get out of when wet. That's where traction boards can help.

I may get a high lift with a Lift-Mate so I can lift an individual wheel if necessary so I can fill the hole under it. Unless you have after market bumpers, the Bronco doesn't really have any good jacking points.

I wish you luck.

edit: For those who are going to warn me about the dangers of a High Lift. I'm well aware. When I learned to drive, every car came with a bumper jack, which is basically a cheap high lift.

 

[javelina]

have a high lift with my 06 TJ.... fortunately, never used it here in AZ. Had a winch on our 19 Wrangler MOAB, never used it either.... As for our new Raptor, haven't sorted that out yet. subscribing to thread to hear more.

 

[TannerBNelson]

Thank you everyone. I think I’m going to pass on the winch for now.

 

[GW48]

In a critical pinch and there's nothing to tie a winch to — get your spare tire/wheel out, connect the line to the wheel, and bury it. Dig a trench perpendicular to the winch line so the wheel is buried vertically, maybe dig out a little trench along the line to give it room to come up out of the ground.

Might take you hours in hard dirt, but if you're in the middle of nowhere, and nobody is coming...

Is that less effort than digging the car itself out? Maybe not, but it could be useful as an option in some cases like being high sided on a rock, but nothing in reach to winch from.

 

[CalvinT]

While it's good to learn how to self recover with a winch, I think it's better to learn to scout your route and pick your line to avoid trouble in the first place.

When I first started off-roading no one had a winch or a compressor. So we couldn't air down. Nor did we have locking axles. We learned to be careful.

 

[bf4445]

https://www.pullpal.com

not very useful in rocks.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Thank you everyone. I think I’m going to pass on the winch for now.

Jumping in late in this thread, but have wheeled a bunch in Arizona since I moved down here in 2009.

When I got a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon in 2012, one of the first things I went out and got for it was a winch (gave me an excuse to upgrade the bumpers also). In the 60K+ miles I had the winch on the vehicle then I used it absolutely ZERO times. Like others have said, your two potential issues here are usually getting stuck in soft sand (which can be avoided by airing down and helped with traction boards) or possibly getting high-sided on rocks. In both of these situations if you don't have another vehicle with you, you often will have no obvious point to winch off of in the first place.

I decided to skip a winch on my 2016 and 2020 4Runners after the Jeep and never once regretted the decision. Given the tough integration of winches on Broncos due to the presence of the intercooler, there is no way I'm going to put one on my Raptor (plus it can have an impact on your approach angle with how far it sticks out).

I truly believe winches in Arizona are more about people looking cool with their winch on the front of their vehicle versus actually ever using the damn things. Scout lines and make good decisions when running solo (it's okay to turn around if you don't feel good about something) and you probably will never regret skipping it.

 

[bf4445]

Jumping in late in this thread, but have wheeled a bunch in Arizona since I moved down here in 2009.

When I got a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon in 2012, one of the first things I went out and got for it was a winch (gave me an excuse to upgrade the bumpers also). In the 60K+ miles I had the winch on the vehicle then I used it absolutely ZERO times. Like others have said, your two potential issues here are usually getting stuck in soft sand (which can be avoided by airing down and helped with traction boards) or possibly getting high-sided on rocks. In both of these situations if you don't have another vehicle with you, you often will have no obvious point to winch off of in the first place.

I decided to skip a winch on my 2016 and 2020 4Runners after the Jeep and never once regretted the decision. Given the tough integration of winches on Broncos due to the presence of the intercooler, there is no way I'm going to put one on my Raptor (plus it can have an impact on your approach angle with how far it sticks out).

I truly believe winches in Arizona are more about people looking cool with their winch on the front of their vehicle versus actually ever using the damn things. Scout lines and make good decisions when running solo (it's okay to turn around if you don't feel good about something) and you probably will never regret skipping it.

You right on target. When you do use one if you have one it is most often to pull someone else

 

[AZ_Craig]

You right on target. When you do use one if you have one it is most often to pull someone else

Yes, and in many cases a snatch strap will work just as well to pull someone out.

I have definitely done at least 3 impromptu recoveries finding people buried in sand. Strap and a brain always got it done.

 

[CalvinT]

I have a kinetic and relevant shackles. They weigh less than a winch. I did break down and get a Superwinch "Winch in a box." Got it at Overland Expo last year for $200. Not sure how often I'll carry it though. I may take it with me when I go to snow country.

 

[bf4445]

Hey everyone. I am wanting to get a winch but am having a hard time pulling the trigger. I live in the Phoenix, AZ area and most of my offroading is done in the desert. I don't see a lot of natural anchors on trails that could be used if I needed to self recover with a winch. A lot of cactus and bushes and rocky ground. Does anyone have a good solution that you use to justify a winch in areas like what I described?

I like them but the truth is in 60 years off roading i have never used my winch for myself it was always someone else and by helping i often broke cables or other geqr a couple of times spider gers all of which could have been avoided if i didn't have a winch.
Yes I plan on a winch on my Bronco when i finally make a secision to order one.

 

[AZMikeL]

You right on target. When you do use one if you have one it is most often to pull someone else

I've not used the winch on this Bronco yet. Back when I had my 67, the winch came in really handy - for pulling out those green barb wire fence posts. Made much shorter work of that project!

Sponsored