1999 Toyota 4Runner — winch size and recovery points before accessories

Write down what you already tried. A second data point from another 1999 Toyota 4Runner owner helps more than a generic diagnosis. That's where I'd start. When does it actually happen? Might be overthinking it, but I'd rather overthink than overspend.

Don't overfit one forum story to your car. If it still isn't clear on the 1999 Toyota 4Runner, a specialist hour can be cheaper than another round of parts. Then you'll know the next fork. That's the whole play. Make the next action something you can finish this week. If the story changes I'll post the new data.

I'd keep this practical. Verify the cheap/easy branch on the 1999 Toyota 4Runner before a big repair or a big spend. That's where I'd start. Have you gotten a second quote in writing? Doing the boring step first on purpose.