How much winch do you need?

[Prybry]

Simple answer...

Buy as much winch as your bumper and pocket book can support...
Make up for the difference with additional support equipment.
snatch blocks, line extensions, tree straps, anchor devices...

I have a 6000 lb Ramsey on my Jeep and a 12,000 lb Warn on my Dodge, neither one is "enough" for every pull.

You will always "always" wish you had more pull... faster pull...
Bottom line, go big or don't go... just never wheel alone.

 

[yaknowthatguy]

at the risk of complete idiocy, going to ask this question.

In the fire service, I'm used to rescue rope applications where we pre-rig 2:1, and up to 4:1 mechanical advantages - essentially using pulley blocks to reduce lifting force. And having a couple of friends who are crane operators, they run big Manitowoc cranes on relatively small diesel engines - but the drum has a 500:1 rate or something like that.

Besides convenience (being able to straight-line rig your winch rope to a pulling point), is there a clear reason to not use a "relatively" smaller winch for your application, and count on using a 3:1 advantage system? Yes, it's more of a hassle to spend the time rigging....and yes, you run out of winch rope faster (which may be a big factor depending on where you are)....

I dont have a winch for my Pinz yet....though it's an eventual purchase. so many projects, so little time...

thanks for the answers and the help!

 

[Antichrist]

It really depends on your situation.

If you're in competitions where you need a fast recovery, then you want to be able to single line and high speed pull.

If you often travel with a group where you need to winch a lot and have a deadline, you probably want a single line and fairly fast pull (some people are impatient and will piss and moan if they are held up while you rig snatch blocks, etc).

If you off-road alone, or with just a small group of close friends and/or don't travel in places you have to winch often, then a lot can be said for more complex rigging. The major factor IMO is safety. You end up with a slower pull and can monitor the recovery more carefully and you're reducing the loads at each connection point of your rigging.

 

[AxeAngel]

I'm running an 8k winch, it's fine for all but the hairiest most mudbogged extractions. With a simple pulley block, a tree strap and some extra 3/8 cable I have no problems gettig out o most situations. Spend an extra $100 bucks on winch tools as opposed to several hundred for a bigger winch.

 

[ersatzknarf]

Tirfor

I like this kind of solution : http://www.tractel.com/us/presentation/tirfor_en.php?id_master=38

 

[slooowr6]

I like this kind of solution : http://www.tractel.com/us/presentation/tirfor_en.php?id_master=38

I like it too, but it's really expensive. http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=7060716&ucst=t

 

[michaelgroves]

To my mind, the biggest single advantage of carrying lots of rigging is the ability to split the load between multiple anchor points. When you're well and truly bogged down in the real world, often finding a suitable anchor is a much bigger problem than having insufficient pulling power. Carrying lots of rope and several snatch blocks and related tackle, means that you can rig to separate anchor points, and exert a more moderate pull on all of them. This is handy whether they be ground anchors, small trees, boulders, smaller vehicles, buried spare wheels etc.

Of course, the same rigging along with a more powerful winch achieves the same objective, but on the other hand, if you have the rigging anyway, then maybe the cost and weight of the bigger winch aren't as necessary...

 

[JohnMcD348]

Don't think I wouldn't consider a hydraulic winch on my dodge. I have a 6-bolt SAE PTO port on the drivers side of the transmission with tons of room since the driveshaft and exhaust run down the passenger side.

edit: to keep this thread on topic. Even with my dodge being 6500-8000lbs depending on load I would still only run a 10K winch be it hydraulic or electric. I have had my eye on the smittybilt 10K comp winch with synthetic winch line and aluminum hawse for $550. I don't think you can get more winch for the money.

Isn't the Warn winch they put on the Power Wagon a 12-15000lb winch? I know there's been a ton of discussion over on Dodgetalk about this and most say it's a specially built Warn winch that's rated at 15K.

I've been looking at winches for awhile but want something I can place into a carrier so that I can transfer it between my Bronco and my MegaCab so I need to go big for that sake. At least I'll know I've got more than enough for the Bronco when I do.

If I didn't need to be able to transfer the winch I would give serious consideration to a Hydraulic winch plumbed into a heavy duty power steering pump. But for that reason, I'll stick with electric.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

If I didn't need to be able to transfer the winch I would give serious consideration to a Hydraulic winch plumbed into a heavy duty power steering pump. But for that reason, I'll stick with electric.

What about the hydraulic quick connects? They use them on tractors and snowplows.

It wouldn't be much more work to hook up 2 hyd lines, compared to the elctric connection.

 

[Nonimouse]

Someone mentioned the 'Premier lightweight winch' earlier on in this thread but got the name wrong. So here is a link

http://www.red-winches.com/

 

[chrishaynesusa]

12000 pounds of pulling goodness
and air too.

 

[dzzz]

What about the hydraulic quick connects? They use them on tractors and snowplows.

It wouldn't be much more work to hook up 2 hyd lines, compared to the elctric connection.

I have quick connects, but not to transfer the winch. It's no problem ordering pre-made hoses with quick connects. Worthwhile hydraulic winches are going to be 100lbs plus, making transfer a bit of a challenge. I think I would only be willing to transfer medium size electric winches.

 

[ldivinag]

another thing to consider...

you might not be pulling with rolling tires.

once, i got stuck going uphill on a trail that was going from bad to worse. well i started to slide sideways... and off to the left side which is a cliff!

so i strung the winch cable from the front, to the right side where a tree was, looped my tree strap and onto a clevis, then the wire rope hook to my rear bumper.

so essentially, the wire rope formed 2 legs of a triangle.

i was able to winch myself SIDEWAYS enough that i was no longer in danger of going off the side of the cliff!!!


so, i'm going uphill, on a muddy trail and pulling myself sideways.

my 4runner maxes out at less than 5000 pounds. did i wish i had more than the 9500 pound WARN winch? heck yes! i was kicking my self for not shelling out the extra $$$ for the 12500 pound version.

but in the end... that safety margin got me out!