A winch for the truck is always an attraction. There are many available, all with pros and cons, they cost, and are heavy. Fixed winches usually incur installation costs. Main types are:
Electric – fixed to vehicle and ‘wired in’ to the electrics, usually remote control. A 9,000lb rating is OK for casual use. Get a snatch block (pulley) also, and use it. Synthetic rope for heavy use, steel for occasional use.
Hand operated – portable, not fixed to vehicle, cheapest. Many versions of ‘Tirfor’ style available. Some effort required!
PTO – engine driven via a power take off, usually second-hand.
First question – how often are you likely to use it? Many sit front-mounted, exposed to the elements for years ,and get used once.
If that’s you – consider a portable hand winch and load it when likely to need it.
If ‘serious’ 4WDding with much winching is planned go big electric or PTO.
For 4WD and other use portable is the most versatile. They can pull trees, lift, align a construction item, recover a vehicle from a difficult site, do an engine swap, pull in any direction.
A front-mounted winch cannot recover you backwards (there is a way, don’t ask).
Any winch requires an anchor point in the right place.
An electric winch works best with the engine running, will have less duration on battery alone so fit biggest battery you can. Electric winches may deteriorate if unused for a long period.
A PTO winch needs the engine running but can run continuously. Only fit vehicles that can accept a power take-off, which eliminates most modern vehicles. Most are old Toyota or Nissan units. Hard to find complete with pto, controls and drive-line.
Go for it: when you need one, you need one. On multi-vehicle trips you’ll mostly winch others out, and they you. If usually alone a hand winch may be a wise option (its often easier to reverse out). Electric winches need to be run regularly – run the cable out and back twice a year.
Get a tree-protector strap and use it, otherwise that anchor tree may be gone next time its needed!
Having a winch changes your mindset– you look for an anchor tree before you enter the hazard!
