Dont go with anything less than a 8K winch because sure enough someone else with a bigger rig will be stuff and will beg you to pull them out and if you have a smaller winch it will either break or do nothing.  With a 8K winch you will be able to move that to a larger rig and the resale on it is better also.  You can get a 8K for just under $300.  Try this site:  http://www.ntwonline.com

I have a Mile Marker 8K and if you are up to a little wiring you unmarry the control unit and mount it inside.  This will increase the life of the unit and sure is nice to having it inside where you can reach it.  I mounted mine behind my emergency brake lever.

Also if you do winch other people out I always find a stout tree to place my front bumber against that way you are not placing all of that stress on the mounts of your bumper and besides you almost always have to tie off to something so you will not get pulled into whatever slop the other rig is buried in.

5' 2", 108 lbs.
Color optional to your preference.
Saves on gas, food and BEER!

5' 2", 108 lbs.
Color optional to your preference.
Saves on gas, food and BEER!

LMAO good one Yumadavis 

i have a smittybuilt xrc8 and i love it all day long. its an excellent product.

I'm just going with 2 lewis winches.    put a 6hp chainsaw on one, and you've got 4k pullin capacity with the block setup, and 150' of cable.   they're pricey at $800, but worth it.    theres also imitators, but their products arent as good.

Thanks for the tip Bob, never heard of Lewis winches before, but that I have, it looks like an interesting product.

I like the lewis winch simply because the concept is really simple,  and its totally self sufficient/self containd, requiring nothing of the vehicle or object being pulled.