Do we really need winche's that powerful?

I ask this question based on the warn 8274. Everybody seems to advise no less than a 8500lb (3855kg) for our little trucks which I'n most cases weigh less than 1500kg fully modded yet some of the most hardcore landrovers out thee weighing in at over 2 ton manage completely fine with the warn 8274 which has a line pull of only 8000lb (3628kg). Is it really necessary to have such large winches on such small/light trucks when bigger heavier trucks manage with only an 8000lb winch?

It really depends on where you're driving. If you are going to hardcore places and get stuck window deep in mud or swamp, there is no such thing as too powerful winch, and if you drive in 4" deep muddy road with road tires and get stuck, even an ATV winch might help you out. And if you're wheeling with some other guys with bigger trucks and maybe need to fish them out from a bog, a big winch will do the job without letting the smoke out.

I personally would go with "too powerful" rather than be sorry in a tight spot...

Yup..

If stuck in a bog, trying to get out of it, You can easily push a massive amount of mud in front of your truck. Just as much as if you were driving a bigge 4x4.

Most of the time they are used for pulling a larger heavier land rover out of the way so we can get past lol

Ahh I see what your saying reaper. the point I was trying to make paul4x4 is that a landrover manages with an 8000lb winch in the same circumstances and described by you yet we're over half a ton lighter but most feel the need for a more powerful winch than a 2+ ton landrover needs.

Power is needed to pull over weight land rovers out. I have used my 10,000lbs winch only to recover landrovers, and never once recover myself. But I have the advantage of a paddle clutch, rocklobster and rear locker.