"Portable Winch" ideas?

I also ride alone, 90% of the time. I do 7s with no issues and its all good. I had a break down 1 time because I ran over a stick that drove itself into my transmission pan and drained everything on the spot.

Used the winch to get myself off the trail and onto a trailer the next day.

I have never needed a rear winch but have used the front a lot either for me or helping others.

SocalBonanza

Hello All,
Against best practices, I mostly drive trails by myself. (Lots of reasons, and likely not going to change.)

Generally, I limit myself to 3s and 4s, with the occasional 5 (using onX or TrailsOffroad grading). But I know that at some point, I will get stuck and I will need to winch myself out/up/whatever.

Most people seem to install winches on the front, since, I presume, mostly we want to get pulled up over an obstacle. I see some people use a trailer hitch mount for rear mounting winches. (Seemingly, based on YT, to get out of mud holes.) Naively, I would think I want both options. But I don't want to buy two winches. The portable "box" winch options have very limiting pulling capability. As well, I am not sure I want the extra 60 pounds hanging off my nose 100% of the time.

So I was thinking...

What about putting a winch mount on the front, carrying a trailer hitch mount, and leaving the winch in the back of the truck? When the winch is needed, bolt it to whichever mount you need. Naively, I would think I would only need to run thick cables from the front to the back, for when the rear option is needed.

Does anyone do this? Is this a stupid idea? Or rather, is it stupider than riding alone? 😐

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

I've been 4 wheelin' solo most of the time since the mid 80's.. The key is go prepared, know your limits and the limits of the Bronco.

Why not just mount a winch to the front like most people do? If there is nothing towards the front of the vehicle to anchor the winch to, then use some sort of an earth anchor.

I recently purchased a Deadman V2 earth anchor to make my life easier. My plan before purchasing it was to burry the spare tire and use it as a winch anchor point..

https://www.deadmanoffroad.com/collections/recovery-kits/products/the-complete-deadman-kit-v2

I have a Warn Zeon 10S winch mounted to the front and here is what I carry in my Bronco for off-road trips when solo:

• Winch recovery gear
  • snatch block
  • recovery ring
  • tree protector
  • 6ea soft shackles
  • 30 foot kinetic recovery rope
  • 20 foot tow strap
  • gloves
  • hard shackles
  • Deadman V2 Earth Recovery Kit
• MaxTrax Mini Traction Boards
• Tire repair kit
• First Aid kit
• Bronco 84 piece tool kit
• Extra Tie Rods
• Duct tape and zip ties
• Safe Jack with extensions
• DMOS shovel
• Garmin inReach Mini
• Starlink Mini
• Extra water / drinks
• MRE (meal ready to eat)

Going out solo unprepared is dangerous.. If you are prepared, confident in yourself and in your ability to self recover then you'll be fine as long as you have the proper gear and don't push past your limits...

I have no shame in abandoning a trail if it gets to gnarly and / or if there is no bypass on a gnarly section..

Have you considered a Power Puller? Not a winch but also not your Daddy's come-along.

DeanL

Have you considered a Power Puller? Not a winch but also not your Daddy's come-along.

Death trap..

Please use proper vehicle recovery gear and use it safely.. Never stand inline with a winch line when it's under load. Even more so if it's a steel line with metal hooks..

This photo from their website is a death waiting to happen if anything in that that line fails when it's under load..

raqball

Death trap..

Please use proper vehicle recovery gear and use it safely.. Never stand inline with a winch line when it's under load. Even more so if it's a steel line with metal hooks..

This photo from their website is a death waiting to happen if anything in that that line fails when it's under load..

Would a blanket on the line mitigate your warning?

I carry a Hi-Lift jack, and have watched the Nena Barlow video where she shows something similar to this. Nina has a lot of experience...

raqball

I've been 4 wheelin' solo most of the time since the mid 80's.. The key is go prepared, know your limits and the limits of the Bronco.

Why not just mount a winch to the front like most people do? If there is nothing towards the front of the vehicle to anchor the winch to, then use some sort of an earth anchor.

I recently purchased a Deadman V2 earth anchor to make my life easier. My plan before purchasing it was to burry the spare tire and use it as a winch anchor point..

https://www.deadmanoffroad.com/collections/recovery-kits/products/the-complete-deadman-kit-v2

I have a Warn Zeon 10S winch mounted to the front and here is what I carry in my Bronco for off-road trips when solo:

• Winch recovery gear
  • snatch block
  • recovery ring
  • tree protector
  • 6ea soft shackles
  • 30 foot kinetic recovery rope
  • 20 foot tow strap
  • gloves
  • hard shackles
  • Deadman V2 Earth Recovery Kit
• MaxTrax Mini Traction Boards
• Tire repair kit
• First Aid kit
• Bronco 84 piece tool kit
• Extra Tie Rods
• Duct tape and zip ties
• Safe Jack with extensions
• DMOS shovel
• Garmin inReach Mini
• Starlink Mini
• Extra water / drinks
• MRE (meal ready to eat)

Going out solo unprepared is dangerous.. If you are prepared, confident in yourself and in your ability to self recover then you'll be fine as long as you have the proper gear and don't push past your limits...

I have no shame in abandoning a trail if it gets to gnarly and / or if there is no bypass on a gnarly section..

Yep. I have seen your list before. Except for the tie-rods, the Garmin, the Starlink and the Deadman, I carry that list, and a bit more. Instead of the Garmin, I carry a PLB. I probably should have tie rods, not because I could do anything with them, but perhaps a passer-by could...

SocalBonanza

Would a blanket on the line mitigate your warning?

I carry a Hi-Lift jack, and have watched the Nena Barlow video where she shows something similar to this. Nina has a lot of experience...

IMO, the amount of tension on the line and the amount of force that the line would snap back at upon failure would be quite significant.. A heavy blanket or something like sand in bags draped over it would help, sure, but why even risk it when there are safer and more suitable options available?

The # 1 priority in any recovery should be safety. People should never stand in direct line with the winch rope / line / wire..

Do people use hi-lift jacks and come-alongs for winching? Sure, but are they safe? Nope...

I do not know who Nena Barlow is but I personally would not take advice from anyone who recommends unsafe practices.. This is just my opinion. If you trust this Nena Barlow then by all means feel free to follow their advice.

If your main concern is not having anything in the front to anchor the winch line to then a) use an earth anchor or b) bury your spare and use it.

My .02

Check this one out… Maximus 3, I believe

Bluestreak57

Check this one out… Maximus 3, I believe

I am seriously considering changing out my factory winch set up for this. Only problem is I would have to store the winch someplace when not in use. The Bronco is a convenient storage location. 😂

I've been working on a design for those with only a front mounted winch, to be able to self extract backwards.
It's still in the design phase, but testing is going really well so far. With the expense involved, I will set up a Go FundMe page soon, please contribute!

RobWTx

I've been working on a design for those with only a front mounted winch, to be able to self extract backwards.
It's still in the design phase, but testing is going really well so far. With the expense involved, I will set up a Go FundMe page soon, please contribute!

I get the funny, but you can pull yourself backwards with a front mounted winch. Using 4 snatch blocks.

J.bell

I get the funny, but you can pull yourself backwards with a front mounted winch. Using 4 snatch blocks.

I think I found n article a while back (before AI was around) saying someone did that. Just got this from ChatGPT.

Yes — you can pull yourself backwards using a front-mounted winch with snatch blocks (pulleys), but it takes some creative rigging. Off-roaders sometimes do this when they only have a front winch but need to recover in reverse.
Here’s how it works in principle:

1. Anchor Point Behind the Vehicle
   • You need a solid anchor (tree, rock, buried spare tire, ground anchor, another vehicle) behind you.
2. Routing with Snatch Blocks
   • Run the winch line forward to a snatch block on a forward anchor (like a tree in front of you).
   • Redirect the line back toward a snatch block on the rear anchor point.
   • Finally, run the line back to a recovery point on the rear of your vehicle.
     This way, the winch is pulling forward, but the rope is re-routed so that the force is applied backwards on your vehicle.
3. Mechanical Considerations
   • Each pulley (snatch block) introduces friction but also multiplies options for direction and pulling power.
   • You need recovery points on both ends of your vehicle strong enough to take the load.
   • Cable management is critical — crossing under the vehicle is possible but risky (sharp edges, suspension, exhaust, moving parts). Better if you can run the line around the outside.
4. Downsides
   • Slower and more complex setup.
   • Requires multiple snatch blocks and tree savers/straps.
   • More rope length is used (you might run out if your winch line is short).

👉 In short: Yes, totally possible. It’s a known recovery trick called a self-recovery reverse pull using redirects.
Do you want me to sketch out (or mock up) a diagram of how the line would be routed for this setup?

Well, even easier than I thought, damn YouTube! I shoulda searched there first.

Bluestreak57

Check this one out… Maximus 3, I believe

That looks really good! I am second guessing having gotten the Turn mount...

SocalBonanza

That looks really good! I am second guessing having gotten the Turn mount...

I mean it's cool but I am failing to see the purpose of it.. You'd still need to carry the winch except now it's inside the Bronco.. How much would that plate with a winch combo weigh? I assume about 100lbs..

I suppose it might be a good idea if someone rarely off-roads but wants a winch option for when they do. When they are on-road driving for the majority of the time, the Bronco looks cleaner without a winch on the front?

I guess another argument could be that when not attached, a winch plate is not sticking out from the bumper or, like in the case of the Ford Performance plate, it's not hanging low and causing issues when in the gnarly stuff.

Some people might say anti-theft but I've had a winch on every 4x4 I've owned since the mid 80's and I've never had one stolen.. Off topic note: I really wish Ramsey would make a comeback in the consumer winch market. I absolutely loved their winches..

Cool design, cool idea but more of a niche application? I'd understand it's purpose more if it also had some sort of hitch receiver integrated into it where it could then be mounted to the front, as it is now, and also be attached to a rear tow hitch..

But anything is better than nothing.. If this design works for people then I say cool!

*Sad story of despair time and why people should NEVER go out solo without, at a bare minimum, a winch and basic recovery gear.

The 6 P's apply here.. Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Mid 80's, I'm new to 4x4'ing and have a sweet used CJ I had just purchased.. Now remember, this is the mid 80's so no cell phones ect.. I have nothing, no recovery gear at all..

I go out and end up on a very narrow and muddy forest trail. At about 5 miles deep into the trail, the trail is blocked by numerous downed trees.. The sides of this very narrow trail are even more muddy and they are soft and very deep. I attempt a 5,000 point turn around and at some point, I back up to much and my driver side rear wheel instantly sinks into the mud at the side of the trail. The entire rear wheel is swallowed up and buried deep in the mud.

I spend about 2 hours trying to get unstuck. I am digging mud out with hands, stuffing branches and everything I can find to try and get traction. No dice!

I hike back out the 5'ish miles to the main road and start trying to hitchhike a ride back to civilization. I am covered head to toe in mud and probably look like I had just murdered someone and buried them out in the forest.. 😂

Eventually someone stops and gives me a lift. The next day a buddy with a 4Runner dives me back out to the spot and we are able to get it out.

I ordered a winch within a week of that incident and now it's always one of the 1st items that I order..

*/sad story of despair

Good luck whatever option you decide.. 👍

Imo it doesn’t matter where you mount your winch. It better to have it when you need it , than to need it and not have it. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve used my winch to get me unstuck. It’s usually used on the guy in front of me. If i’m alone , I tend to be more careful and thoughtful of the terrain.

J.bell

Imo it doesn’t matter where you mount your winch.

Well, sort of.. I don't think I've ever seen a single person hard mount their only winch, intended for recovery purposes when off-road solo, to the rear of a vehicle.. Maybe there is a reason and I just can't wrap my head around why someone would do that..

I use to wheel with a group every now and then back in the 90's (??? I think it was the 90's LOL) and one dude had a standard winch mounted on the front and a winch he carried in his Jeep that was mounted to a custom bracket for his rear hitch.. He went out solo quite a bit and did some seriously gnarly stuff while solo though..

Something like this, but this one is much prettier than his was..

https://www.harborfreight.com/12000-lb-winch-hitch-mount-57607.html?



I don't know, I could be wrong but IMO just mount it to the front and if need be, you can use some sort of earth anchor.. No reason to over complicate a recovery, especially when solo, with 27 (<---- exaggeration) snatch blocks..

In the end, people should just do whatever they feel comfortable with..

J.bell

If i’m alone , I tend to be more careful and thoughtful of the terrain.

Sound advice! 👍

I have no shame whatsoever taking a bypass or completely abandoning a trail..

raqball

I mean it's cool but I am failing to see the purpose of it.. You'd still need to carry the winch except now it's inside the Bronco.. How much would that plate with a winch combo weigh? I assume about 100lbs..

I suppose it might be a good idea if someone rarely off-roads but wants a winch option for when they do. When they are on-road driving for the majority of the time, the Bronco looks cleaner without a winch on the front?

I guess another argument could be that when not attached, a winch plate is not sticking out from the bumper or, like in the case of the Ford Performance plate, it's not hanging low and causing issues when in the gnarly stuff.

Some people might say anti-theft but I've had a winch on every 4x4 I've owned since the mid 80's and I've never had one stolen.. Off topic note: I really wish Ramsey would make a comeback in the consumer winch market. I absolutely loved their winches..

Cool design, cool idea but more of a niche application? I'd understand it's purpose more if it also had some sort of hitch receiver integrated into it where it could then be mounted to the front, as it is now, and also be attached to a rear tow hitch..

But anything is better than nothing.. If this design works for people then I say cool!

*Sad story of despair time and why people should NEVER go out solo without, at a bare minimum, a winch and basic recovery gear.

The 6 P's apply here.. Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Mid 80's, I'm new to 4x4'ing and have a sweet used CJ I had just purchased.. Now remember, this is the mid 80's so no cell phones ect.. I have nothing, no recovery gear at all..

I go out and end up on a very narrow and muddy forest trail. At about 5 miles deep into the trail, the trail is blocked by numerous downed trees.. The sides of this very narrow trail are even more muddy and they are soft and very deep. I attempt a 5,000 point turn around and at some point, I back up to much and my driver side rear wheel instantly sinks into the mud at the side of the trail. The entire rear wheel is swallowed up and buried deep in the mud.

I spend about 2 hours trying to get unstuck. I am digging mud out with hands, stuffing branches and everything I can find to try and get traction. No dice!

I hike back out the 5'ish miles to the main road and start trying to hitchhike a ride back to civilization. I am covered head to toe in mud and probably look like I had just murdered someone and buried them out in the forest.. 😂

Eventually someone stops and gives me a lift. The next day a buddy with a 4Runner dives me back out to the spot and we are able to get it out.

I ordered a winch within a week of that incident and now it's always one of the 1st items that I order..

*/sad story of despair

Good luck whatever option you decide.. 👍

You could avoid a lot of this winch headache by scouting ahead of time, maybe use a drone...
😂

Bronco V-8

You could avoid a lot of this winch headache by scouting ahead of time, maybe use a drone...
😂

Don't think a drone would be very helpful in finding out how deep or bad a mud pit is or how soft and deep the sand is, how steep of an off-camber are you going to be on etc... A drone would be great for identifying downed trees, a very narrow shelf, extreme overgrowth ahead.. You know, stuff like that..