I'm stuck! What would you do?

So I'm stuck in a predicament. With some of the good ole cash I'm making from my internship this summer, I want to buy either a Canon EOS 40D, or build a winch. I won't have money for both, so I need to choose one. It's a tough choice especially since they are totally different toys.

I'd use the camera to get shots behind the boat, in the snow, whatever and wherever. But the winch would be handy to have and flippin' sweet! It would most likely get used in the winter too for towing into rails and the like.

What would you go for?

id go for the winch

Winch FTW

They'll always be someone else willing to take pictures of you ridin' your new winch.......

Is she cute?

a winch is unique.. cameras are a dime a dozen..

camera...after using the winch a couple of times it will get old...the camera will catch some priceless memories.

Camera.... Take some sweet pic's, sell them, and then use that money to buy a winch.

Winch. Definitely. So many more cool things to do w/ it. Pictures are cool, but everyone's got a camera.

Winch. Which would you rather have: way more riding time or way more pics of the little riding you would be doing? Definitely more riding time.

Camera
+ pics are great, useful always, memories!
- will keep costing money (lens' etc. etc.)

Winch
+ cool spots, snow/wake use
- need at least 2 ppl, hiking gets old, gas

To add to Nick's great points, the winch will more than likely require regular maintenance as well.. I'd go with a really good camera that will last you a long time.

Do you HAVE to buy a brand new camera? How about looking at good used 20Ds or 30Ds and still have money left over for the winch. Or.. find a buddy with some money burning a hole in his pocket and get him to get the camera and you build the winch.
Cameras are great to have because you can use them for anything, but like nick said, with a DSLR you are going to constantly be wanting to buy lenses for telephoto, fish eye, macro, landscape, then comes the waterproof housing for water shots, then extra batteries, memory cards, flashes, extenders, tripods and before you know it you have a full studio setup. Ok, partly kidding. Also remember that it doesn't take a great camera to produce great photos.. it just makes it easier.
Winches bring out the creative side of us in a different way than a camera does. When you have the winch ANY bit of water is game to ride on. You'll be driving down the road and be like... man I bet we could build a tiny rail and session it in that ditch over there. With a winch you can.
I've rambled enough and not helped one bit in your decision. Just wanted to give you some things to think about.

I 2nd find a buddy with a little cash. Once you get started winching, someone will want pics of it. let them figure that out and just keep winching.

winch

Save the money.

Everyone has a camera. Cheap camera opportunities pop up all the time, esp used ones. DSLRs are a beating to haul around so most people that buy them offload them for a nice small point-n-shoot.

Winches are mechanical and require care (money) to keep em running right. The best winches in the world belong to someone else.

winch

Build a winch and buy a 10D off craigslist.

just skip a car payment and get both

I change my mind. I agree with Jason, save the cash.

I wouldn't blow your whole summer savings on either. If you really want a winch, see if you can find 3 or 4 other people to split it with. For those kind of toys that you use every once in a while, it is never cost effective to buy it on your own. As far as the camera, other posts have offered other options. The DSLRs are nice no doubt, but do not make a lot of financial sense unless your are buying one for semi-professional situations or truly have extra cash to totally blow.