Thinkin about buying a 4500 Lbs winch from Tractor Supply for $180,for the Samurai...thoughts??  

i would get a badlands 6000 when they go onsale at harborfreight. thats what i run and it works great havnt had any problems. no complaints from me i love having it

Depends on how you use or abuse it. Light pulls only might be okay. 6k would be my minimum choice. I run an 8K and I don't worry much about what I am pulling on. I have more problems anchoring down since most stuff I pull out is heavier.

I use mine in the woods, mud, creekbeds, snow.

4500 is pretty light... It might be fine for a sammi only or similar but you can max that out pretty quick if you are dead weight stuck. Worse yet if you attempt to pull out someone heavier who is dead weight stuck.

Unless you use block & tackle lines and double your pulling capacity.

OK you talked my into it...think I'm going with the 5000 Lbs from Harbour Frirght for $200!!Thanks.

i run a 8k on my sidekick but before i had that i had to get pulled out by the 6k and i was rails deep and its a 4 door. it had a strugle but it did it and had a bad smell with it to haha thought i burnt it up. i think that if your just using it to get your self unstuck youll be fine. i would get a snatch block and call it good. i mean after all ive seen guys with a 2500lb quad winch and manage but barrely

I would also recommend a snatch block if at all possible.  5000 pounds is still marginal for a stuck in the mud Sami.  Anything larger that you will pull will be a lot heavier.  You will also need to find a way to anchor your Sami if you have to pull a buddy.

Rob

Sounds great guys,and a "snatch block" will be "on board" too!!

One of the reasons I went with an 8,000 lb. winch vs. a 6,000 or even 4,500 lb. winch is so I could also pull other vehicles out.

- Andy

thats why i went with the 8k on my kick to

I'm running a 9K Lb winch on the car hauler, and it is just able to do what
I need, I'm going to replace it with a 12K when it dies, when it comes to
a winch, bigger is much better, and you will be glad you did big when you
get really stuck, or have to pull someone else out of the goo

Wild

I got the biggest winch I could fit in my Calmini front bumper at the time, a Warn 6000. I've found it can pull much more than it seems rated for, like a stuck up to the frame rails Jeep Rubicon up a hill out of deep wet sand. A snatch block is always a good idea. If I come across something/someone that looks too big for me to pull out, I just make my apologies and offer my cell phone to them. Or ask for a $750  cash deposit. 

OK you talked my into it...think I'm going with the 5000 Lbs from Harbour Frirght for $200!!Thanks.

I bought the badlands 8 or 9k version. Although I realized it may not be as well made as the other name brands. Wait on the sales ad in the newspaper and get 20% off, then buy the warranty for $20 and its hard to go wrong.  This thing will pull the sami up a tree.  I think the extra $100 for the 8/9k is worth the money.

Good advice,was kinda leanin towards the "nylon rope" 'cause it would wiegh MUCH LESS than steel cable,but damn I think its twice as much money!!Might go with a affordable 6k winch...I'm gettin there!!

Heres a scary deal,pulled my 3K car up onto my trailer...with a tiny 3K winch!!Doubled the line through a (chrome) clevis!!Worked just fine,slow but fine.

Pulling a "rolling" vehicle is one thing - pulling a stuck vehicle is another.  Ever stepped into a mudhole and then tried to free your boot?  If you have then you know how much "suction" mud is capable of, now imagine a 3500lb vehicle up to the floor pan in mud.

A winch rated for a 3000 lb pull is supposedly capable of LIFTING 3000 lbs, so pulling a 3000 lb vehicle up a ramp, even without doubling the line should be possible.