• select a winch with a rating = 1.2 to 1.5 x vehicle's GVWR - any winch in the 8000 to 9500 lb range is appropriate for Cherokees & Commanches
• cable length - 100-140 ft is usually adequate
• pull speed
• remotes
• (With a permanently-mounted winch) beefing up suspension to handle up to 130 lbs of extra static weight
• - this is why it is important to mount the winch as low & close to the axle as possible
• - equipping vehicle with dual batteries with winch connected to second battery
• connected in parallel (with a knife switch or isolator)
•  

Receiver-Mounted Winches: - those mounted on 2x2 receiver inserts

can be used on front or rear of vehicle

eliminate any need for weight-related suspension modifications

winch can be carried inside vehicle protected from the elements (securely mounted, I hope)

Winch would not be damaged in collision

winch protected from theft

Load vs Angle for 4000 lb vehicle

angle load on winch

      5 deg        349 lbs
    10 deg        695 lbs
     15 deg     1035 lbs
     20 deg     1368 lbs
     25 deg     1690 lbs
     30 deg     2000 lbs
     35 deg     2294 lbs
     40 deg     2571 lbs
     45 deg     2828 lbs
     60 deg     3464 lbs
     90 deg     4000 lbs

5/16 to 3/8 dia.

New braided cord style best - Next time you have to replace your cable - think about replacing it with the new braided cord-type cable - lighter  - safer, if the cable breaks or fails, it simply drops to the ground (as opposed to a steel cable which can whip back and damage things or people)

Ready-made recovery kits for winch-equipped vehicles are available from most if not all winch manufacturers.
   (4 WheelParts markets the Warn® Recovery Kit (including: bag, gloves, shackle, choker chain, snatch block and tree strap) for ~$145.95)
   (Summit Racing markets the Superwinch® Accessory Kit (including: bag, 2 shackles, 20,000 lb snatch block, tree strap and gloves) for ~$169.99

• keep clean & dry
• pull cable out and clean
• check for frays broken strands, kinks
• check swage at hook eye
• lube with silicon spray - let dry
• rewind properly
• be sure you have your remote and it works
• properly wrap cable after use

key points:

- ALWAYS wear heavy leather gloves when working with cables & chains

- winch cable’s hook should never be looped back onto its own cable, this can cause kinking of the cable which weakens the cable. - use a tow strap or tree-saver strap on stuck vehicle

Raising the hood and/or standing behind an open door while operating the winch gives some protection if the cable or connection should fail

place a heavy coat or blanket in the middle of the cable to help prevent the cable from whipping back if the is a failure of the cable or connection

remember that the outer cable layer of a 9000 lb winch may only provide 2000 lbs of pulling power due to leverage - using a snatch block will allow getting to inner layers of cable and at the same time double the pull strength of the winch.

Snatch-block pulley snatch block (pulley) ($25-$75) - should have rating greater than your winch

tree straps 6-10 ft. tree-saver strap (3" x 6') to wrap around trees or frame of stuck vehicle ($15-$25)

2-4 foot length of 3/4 inch garden hose - split lengthwise to protect winch cable against sharp rocks or protect trees against cable

chokers 8-15 foot length of 3/8 grade-80 or grade 43 chain winch chain   ($15-$25)

we always carry a winch hook designed to hook to 3/8  choker chains

Always use a graded chain * shock loading, as in attempting to jerk a vehicle from a stuck position, can break a chain under loads considerably less than its rated static working load.

a couple of 3/8 x 2in grade 8 bolts w/ flat washers & nuts  to bolt chain together for varying working lengths

aux cable 25-40 foot length or 5/16 or 3/8 cable with large swaged loops at each end - extension to winch cable,

extra winch hook and pins and locks