ok, ive heard i need 1.5 times the weight of the truck for a minumum winch size. truck x 1.5 is 3500 lbs. that gives me 1000 lbs over that rating. is it enough winch for the job? most it will be doing is utility work and pulling the truck over stuff from being highcentered, or a wheel is off the ground, or light mud. no being buried to the rockers in the sticky stuff, it just isnt around here.

other thing im wondering is, its a UTV style winch, with the smaller rollers off the front, i have a zor front bumper drilled for the larger style for a 6000-8000lb winch. is there any way i can adapt it to work?

difference for me is the 4500 is half the price a 6000-8000lb winch. and thats the price of a cheapy one.

I tried a 3500# winch and returned it the day I bought it. It would not winch my Sidekick over a 6" vertical curb in a parking lot. Even considering the price difference I would highly recommend that you get a 8000# winch for your Suzuki.

Zig

 



Layers of cable vs capacity
 



Winch load cap in lb.
 

1st layer: 4500
 

2nd layer: 4000
 

3rd layer: 3000
 

4th layer: 2000
 

5th layer: 1000
 




 

Minimum capacity winch I would consider would be 6,000 lbs.

Alot of folks confuse rolling weight with "O Crap" weight. Rolling weight is the manufacturers suggested spec on a good day. Oh Crap weight is when the chips are down and you have but 1 friend on the front of your bumper.

Don't throw your hard earned $$$ away on an ATV winch .... you might be okay with a 4500 lb winch using winch blocks. But 6,000 will provide you some confidence.

I use an 8,000 and can not only help me but others as well. It has seen other vehicles before the Sammy and if I do chose to let it go then it will be included in the sale price. Win / win for everybody...

I'm with Tux & Zig,
    MINIMUM 6,000# winch !! There are several previous "Winch" posts and the REAL conscious is......
     Double the LOADED WEIGHT of your rig on the winch plus a ABUSE FACTOR !!
      AND make sure all your tie off straps, snatch blocks, etc. are at this rating also !!!
        just remember.... IF things head SOUTH, and they will INSTANTLY...
          and now you are tied OFF by aircraft cable to the ...$)-(!T... that is FREE FALLING (Less Resistance) in too the abyss...

CAPT

At Warn, our formula is 1.5 x Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = minimum capacity.

- Andy

Mike . You live in BC. - I live in NW Oregon ...Same taraine. You NEED a real winch
.1.5 the capacity is a minimum suggestion. I would recommend 2x
 In my experience - always expect the unexpected....
Your recovery gear is your last line of defence . Go big......
Unless you like the idea of walking out of the woods ...Boxcar... 

Warn may use a 1.5x factor to base a minimum requirement off of, but that factor number is based upon their design and quality, lower the design and quality factors of that formula and the minimum required size of the winch has to increase.

And I am sorry to inform you but you will be pulling someone one else out far more often than yourself, so size accordinaly.

And I am sorry to inform you but you will be pulling someone one else out far more often than yourself, so size accordinaly.

Yes, Jeeps are heavy. Buy a big winch. 
I've only used mine on other vehicles, so far.
I have a 9000lb Tmax on mine.

If you can't stick a Samurai then your not trying....  I had mine on my Jeep before the Samurai and I mostly pulled out LWB trucks with it. Only once did I pull myself out but then a broken axle kinda slows anything down..... LOL...