Always keep the engine running (if you are in a situation where you can) during winching.

 

Do you use your winch too often?................... Now I see that you don't have a winch yet. I had a winch on my Recon but I guess you're planning to get a Rubi. As reconranger has written, you never want to use a winch without the motor running. It'll drain your battery.

 

The worst thing for your battery is to let it go completely dead, completely. Unless you have a "ddep-cycle" (RV type) battery.