So.....can anyone confirm why the portable winch is a bad idea?
There are several obvious benefits of the portable winch:
Provided you have a hitch, you can winch backwards
You can use it on multiple vehicle, provided they have a hitch(es)
You don't have to carry it all the time, so fuel saving on the school run
It will not get weathered like a front mounted winch will
But there are some clear disadvantages also:
You have to pack it to use it. It's no good in the garage (maybe, but another point)
You need to have suitable attachment points to use it, not usually an issue at the rear as the hayman reece receiver is perfect, but not many people have these on the front of their vehicles anymore, so winching forward could be out of the question
Winches are heavy; imagine this badboy playing with your fridge, food, gear, lunch, kids in the back of the fourby
You have to be able to attach it, that is even if you have the appropriate hitch you have to get the winch positioned properly. I've been stuck where I couldn't reach the recovery points myself