Not sure if I should replace my M8000 with a 10K winch

[projected]

I have a 2012 Frontier Pro4x that weighs about 5350lbs with a full tank of gas and me. The reason for the porky weight is all the steel I've added (full skid plates, sliders, front winch bumper, M8000 winch, 5 Cooper ST Maxx E rated tires, etc. I just installed a 4WC Finch slide in camper that I'm guessing will add about 1100 lbs when loaded for a trip (I will weigh the truck soon, just haven't had time). My recovery gear that includes a hi-lift jack, shackles, synthetic tow ropes/tree savers, line extension, snatch block, 4 plastic traction boards, pull pal, 3/8" X 15' chain, and some other stuff will add another 150+ lbs I'm guessing. All this should bring me into the mid to upper 6000's for weight.

I think I should have originally bought a 9000 or 9500 winch rather than the M8000 even before I had plans for the camper, now that the camper is on I'm really under rated with my M8000. I called warn to talk to them about which winch to buy and they recommended I stick with my M8000 and make sure to use a snatch block when I winch. My winch has 100' of rope and I carry a 50' extension but this would obviously at minimum cut my available rope reach in half.

In 2 years I have used the winch one single time. I bought the winch and all the recovery equipment because my wife and I take trips to very remote parts of CO, NM, UT, and AZ, we explore alone 99% of the time. I just did a Titan swap on the front end and added a Titan differential with an ARB locker, the rear is the OEM E-locker. The truck is very capable now with the long travel front end and being locked front and rear, BUT when things go wrong I want the best chance at getting home safely on my own.

I would like to hear opinions on what I should do here. I like the idea of not replacing my 2 year old winch as the Warn representative suggested but I also don't want to carry around the wrong tool for the job and have it fail when I need it.

I'm thinking a 10K is what I need minimum but Warn has me wondering now, as mentioned I'm definitely open to suggestions.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Kmrtnsn]

Get a couple of snatch blocks. You'd be amazed at the difference the mechanical advantage makes.

 

[tarditi]

keep what you have - it's fine. 1.5x weight is to make sure your winch is rated properly - you're not too far off that, especially if you double your line back with a snatch block.
Frankly, it depends on how stuck you are, too. High centered on rock and you've got to drag dead weight 30' is different than stuck in low-traction surface and need a little pull to get out.

 

[carbon60]

I use an 8000 lbs winch on a 7000 lb truck. Works great. I only use a snatch block when I feel there is resistance.

Remember that your winch is way stronger with one wrap on the drum than with 3 or 4.

 

[projected]

Thanks guys for your feedback, it helps me feel better about keeping what I have.

I agree with the concept of snatch blocks, but in order to use them you need to know some basic physics and a few things about rigging. I suggest you pick up a book on rigging. By using 2 snatch blocks and one shackle, with a tree saver, you can reduce a 15000 lb functional load to 3750 lbs. You just have to know some simple techniques. Buy a book on rigging. That would be your best investment.

(I know you're dying to know: In the example I gave, you just run the cable to the tree, (through a snatch block) back to the truck and through another snatch block, and back to the tree)

I appreciate your advice to get educated on rigging. I have read about winching techniques online, some from this site, but I admit I have much to learn. A winching class with a knowledgeable instructor would be the ultimate I'm sure. Having a book I can carry in the truck is probably a great idea too.

I was under the impression that the 1.5 rule was utilized to get a proper rated winch, and then one would still use snatch blocks to reduce the functional load. I guess most people just do straight pulls which necessitates the beefier winch?

When utilizing a winch line extension with a shackle it seems like one, or multiple snatch blocks, would add to the complexity of the setup, as you need to think about how far you can pull before the shackle needs to pass by a snatch block. Maybe I'm overthinking but this seems slightly difficult to work around. Hopefully there is a obvious solution or technique that I'm unaware of

 

[projected]

I use an 8000 lbs winch on a 7000 lb truck. Works great. I only use a snatch block when I feel there is resistance.

Remember that your winch is way stronger with one wrap on the drum than with 3 or 4.

Great to hear about your experience with a 7000 lb truck, and good point on the 3 to 4 wraps. It basically lowers the "gearing" of your winch, like a granny gear on a mountain bike.

 

[Warn Industries]

Our general rule of thumb is 1.5 x Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (not curb weight).

And yes, snatch blocks are a great tool to have! We generally recommend keeping 5 warps on the drum to be safe. Also, remember: your winch's maximum pulling power is on that first wrap on the drum, so for those big, heavy pulls, you'll want to get down to that first layer.

- Andy

 

[projected]

Our general rule of thumb is 1.5 x Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (not curb weight).

And yes, snatch blocks are a great tool to have! We generally recommend keeping 5 warps on the drum to be safe. Also, remember: your winch's maximum pulling power is on that first wrap on the drum, so for those big, heavy pulls, you'll want to get down to that first layer.

- Andy

Thanks Andy. I was using curb weight because my GVWR is 5600 and my truck probably weighs 6500 when loaded now that I have a slide in camper.

 

[mep1811]

Snatch blocks and extension cable you will double your pulling power and be more versatile .

 

[Matt.H]

I use an 8000 lbs winch on a 7000 lb truck. Works great. I only use a snatch block when I feel there is resistance.

Remember that your winch is way stronger with one wrap on the drum than with 3 or 4.

Our general rule of thumb is 1.5 x Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (not curb weight).

And yes, snatch blocks are a great tool to have! We generally recommend keeping 5 warps on the drum to be safe. Also, remember: your winch's maximum pulling power is on that first wrap on the drum, so for those big, heavy pulls, you'll want to get down to that first layer.

- Andy

"wrap" is being used differently here, yes? Layers and wraps are not interchangeable, correct?

Thanks. Not sure if I need a coffee, dictionary or thesaurus.

 

[carbon60]

"wrap" is being used differently here, yes? Layers and wraps are not interchangeable, correct?

Thanks. Not sure if I need a coffee, dictionary or thesaurus.

Heh, yeah.

I guess I probably misused the word in my post: your winch is way stronger with less layers of cable wrapped up.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Andy is the go-to on this.

I want to mention that having more winch is better than less, so it's not going to be a negative (save for space, weight, etc.) to have a 10,000# winch and not need it.

However you need to consider that the mount for your truck is designed for a set of forces and if you can even get a 10K winch to mount where an 8K/9K/9500 does you might have exceeded the capacity of the system such that you can't use the extra anyway.

 

[RedF]

Keep the M8000, especially if you've only needed it once in the last two years. Unless you're going out and sinking it in the mud, you won't need the full pull capacity anyway. Even then, a little work with a shovel, smart rigging and driving while you winch will likely do the job. It's not so much about the tools you use, but how you use them.

 

[projected]

Andy is the go-to on this.

I want to mention that having more winch is better than less, so it's not going to be a negative (save for space, weight, etc.) to have a 10,000# winch and not need it.

However you need to consider that the mount for your truck is designed for a set of forces and if you can even get a 10K winch to mount where an 8K/9K/9500 does you might have exceeded the capacity of the system such that you can't use the extra anyway.

Good points, thanks!

Keep the M8000, especially if you've only needed it once in the last two years. Unless you're going out and sinking it in the mud, you won't need the full pull capacity anyway. Even then, a little work with a shovel, smart rigging and driving while you winch will likely do the job. It's not so much about the tools you use, but how you use them.

Words to live by. If I were to listen to some people I shouldn't even be on the trail with my truck LOL More than once someone in a Jeep has asked me why I'm on a certain trail, telling me they just had body damage up ahead and there is no way I will make it through. Usually these are trails I have done previously so I know there won't be an issue, anyway I digress.....

 

[maktruk]

Good points, thanks!



Words to live by. If I were to listen to some people I shouldn't even be on the trail with my truck LOL More than once someone in a Jeep has asked me why I'm on a certain trail, telling me they just had body damage up ahead and there is no way I will make it through. Usually these are trails I have done previously so I know there won't be an issue, anyway I digress.....

That's pretty common. We hear it all the time...