Overview
I've found the best way to get unstuck, is to not get stuck in the first place. When I first bought my truck and installed the camper, I had a nasty four wheel drive trail experience that makes me think twice before making stupid decisions. I had left work early on a Friday to drive to Southwestern Colorado to hike a 14,000 foot peak. It was dark when I got to the four wheel drive trail, but I was anxious to set up camp. Even though my truck was totally stock, and had no additional lights, I headed up the trail in the dark. When I got to the point I where wanted to camp, someone had already taken the camp spot. Not wanting to camp too close to them, I kept going - for about 100 more feet. The truck began to slide. No problem, I thought, I'll just back down. By then, the truck was sliding sideways towards the passenger side. The more I moved, the further the truck slid to the passenger side. By the time I got out of the truck to check out the situation, it was really bleak.
Both right side wheels had slid off the road, and the truck was teetering on the edge of a bolder field. I spent the next couple of hours trying to shore up the roadway and removing boulders from under the truck. I then tried to back the truck onto the road. As soon as I touched the accelerator, the truck began sliding backwards and sideways down the boulder field. After sliding about 50 feet, it stopped with the right rear wheel buried to the axle in rocks, the left front wheel in the air, and tilted about 30 degrees to the side. It looked like it would roll over any minute, and I couldn't believe it hadn't rolled already.
I carefully fished my sleeping bag out of the teetering truck, and spent an agonizing night listening to creaks and groans that sounded like my truck sliding down the mountain. The next morning I hitched a ride with some other climbers. A two hour jeep ride into Ouray, and a $500 tow bill later, and all was well. I made a bunch of stupid mistakes on this trip, but I learned many valuable lessons. Most important of all, STOP and THINK and avoid rushing into a stupid mistake.
That said, getting stuck is part of traveling remote roads, so I am prepared with two winches, chains, tow straps, hi-lift jack, shovel and snatch block.
Winches and Accessories
My 10,000 pound truck is pushing the design limits of the Warn 12000 in many situations, but with a Warn heavy duty snatch block it works fine. I've pulled my truck up a 30 plus degree incline with the front Warn 12000 and no snatch block. Usually, a winch is needed for only a brief pull to get past a tough spot, and both winches can perform that function well. The rear Warn 9000 will always be used in conjunction with the Warn heavy duty snatch block.
The biggest problem is finding something to anchor too. I carry chain and tree straps, but if there are no trees, it's hard to find another vehicle heavy enough to anchor to. My guess is that I'll be using the winches to help other people more than I use them for myself.
I considered hydraulic winches, but I don't like the idea of driving a winch off of the power steering pump, and the inability to winch if the engine stalls. A hydraulic winch with a PTO driven pump, and a back-up 12 volt pump would be worth consideration in a 10,000 pound plus application, but this system would be very complex and expensive.
I've read all of the debates about hydraulic versus electric winches but I think for most applications an electric winch is a better choice. I consider my winches the same as insurance; I hope to never need them, but when I do...
If you buy a winch, don't forget tow straps, chains and a snatch block. The best winch in the world won't get you far without the right gear to go with it.
Hi-lift Jack
What can I say, you're not really wheeling unless you have a Hi-lift. Beware though, unless you add jack points, it's unlikely that the Hi-lift will work with a stock bumper without destroying the bumper.
