What gear and how to setup Hi-Lift as winch

[DaveM]

I need to upgrade my kit to include everything I need to use my Hi-Lift as a winch. See below and let me know if I have this correct:

I currently have:
Hi-Lift
3 D rings 3/4" pin (generic type from local hardware)
20' yellow tow strap (I forget the load rating)

What I think I need:
25' of grade 8 chain with hook and choker
10' of grade 8 chain
1 tree strap, maybe 2" x 6'

My typical set up would look like this:
D ring to rear tow point
one end of 25' chain is looped through this ring and chocked off to appropriate length; the other end is hooked to nose of hi lift or to shackle in nose of hi lift
top of hi lift is d ringed to shorter chain which is d ringed to tree strap
The tow strap can be used as an extension if needed (not idea due to streatching)

How does that sound? Am I missing anything? I know there are setups that help you climb the chain wihtout un-hooking but right now Ineed the bare minimum for basic winching.

 

[7wt]

Dave,

First of all, 86 that tow strap. You don't want anything nylon that will stretch in a hand winching system. Not only is it dangerous but the stretch is terribly inefficient. Secondly, I would get some higher end shackles with a 4.7 ton WLL. The hardware store variety aren't really of the best quality.

The biggest thing you said that has me worried is the shackle in the nose bit. That little hole under the nose is only for support of the flat part of the nose it's self. It is not designed to hold a shackle or anything else, forget it's there.

All you need is a section of winch extension line (MasterPull has some on close out that are fantastic deals. Something like $85 for 45' of Amsteel Blue). Then you need around 10' of grade 7 transport chain with grade 7 choker hooks for the fine adjustment of length. Then a couple of 3/4 ton shackles and a tree strap or three.

Here is how it's rigged, One end of a tree strap with a shackle connected to you truck and the other end over the nose of the HiLift. At the end of the jack place another shackle for the bit of chain to loop through. At the other end of the chain is another shackle connected to your winch extension line. Lastly, you winch extension line is connected by a shackle to a tree strap around a tree. You can always use any extra tree straps as parachutes draped over the winch extension line incase something gives.

I have:

3 tree straps and one rigging strap
10' of grade 7 chain
50' of Amsteel winch extension line
4 shackles for good measure
HiLift
and four pairs of gloves.

 

[DaveM]

Thanks for the warning on d-ring in the nose of the Hi-Lift. Is looping chain over the nose ok as well? Or even a d ring in chain over the nose?

I'd love to use synth rope but even on sale it's too much for me right now. I have a very tight budget for this but it would be irresponsible of me to go without some kind of winch as back up.

I’ll nix the tow strap in the setup and get an extra tree saver or maybe extra chain. Is 5/16 grade 7 ok to use for this?

 

[7wt]

I wouldn't put anything metal over the nose, there isn't enough contact area for a safe and trustworthy connection. The loop eye of a tree strap works great though. Decent straps can be had for about $20 (I just bought a few). As far as the chain goes, 5/16 is a little on the small size. People have been using it for years with no problems but it only has a WLL of somewhere in the 4600 lb range. The 3/8th gets you up to the 6600 lb range.

Chain is a lot more than you would think. I recently bought 13' of it and it was $60 shipped. Another option is getting the HiLift winch kit. I can't rember what they go for but they have everything you need to use your jack as a winch except for the extension.

 

[tdesanto]

Have you considered getting the Off-Road Kit from Hi-Lift?

In addition to that, a winch extension or extra chain to run to the anchor point or vehicle and then a length of chain to run to the vehicle or anchor point.

Chain that is probably best matched to the hi-lift is 3/8" grade 70. This has a WLL of 6600 lbs and the hi-lift has a shear pin that's designed to break at 7000 lbs.

If you're considering looping chain through a D shackle, you should research the specs on how tight of a radius the chain should be used in a loop method. I think a clevis hook attached directly to the jack might be better than looping the chain through a D shackle.

 

[DaveM]

As far as I can tell all I get out of the Off Road Kit that I absolutely need is the tree saver. I already have good leather gloves and the rest of it is part of the chain climbing system that makes resets faster but is not necessary to winch. I’d still need chain or winch rope (the primary cost in the set up). I may be stuck here (pun intended)… seriously no money for what I need to make this a proper set up. I’ll price chain this afternoon and see where that leaves me. If I could find 25’ – 50’ of synth rope for less than $60 I’d be set.

 

[CharlieV]

Dave,

Pick up the back issue of Overland Journal with Bruce Elfstrom's Hi-Lift article. I attended his school and had the opportunity to be taught in person, but his article can't be beat. It'll tell you exactly what you should have in your kit, but listen to 7wt, he's also giving you good info.

 

[DaveM]

Dave,

Pick up the back issue of Overland Journal with Bruce Elfstrom's Hi-Lift article. I attended his school and had the opportunity to be taught in person, but his article can't be beat. It'll tell you exactly what you should have in your kit, but listen to 7wt, he's also giving you good info.

Have it at home but forgot it was in there, thanks. Great article and it covers most of what I need to know (very much the same at 7wts info). Besides that it has the best descriptions on how to handle the jack in each situation that I've found so far.

Thanks.

 

[7wt]

I got my info straight from Bruce and the team at OEX. His method makes it pretty easy. I have used the jack as a hand winch in the past with all the wrong junk, namely a tow strap for a winch extension. My old set up did work but it required me to re-rig a whole lot more than I should have. After taking up the stretch in the tow strap, there was only about four inches left to free my truck from the ice it fell through. It's kinda hard to pull yourself back up on top of a 12" drop through when you only have 4" or so of movement out of a 48" jack. Not to mention the safety hazards of working next to a big spring with a lot of weight involved. Bruce's set up is about as simple and refined as you can get with a HiLift.

 

[hman913]

Is Bruce's article available somewhere other than Overland Journal? What size of winch extension rope would be sufficient? 5/16 or 3/8?

 

[teotwaki]

Web resources

Bill Burke: http://www.bb4wa.com/articles/hilift_jack.htm

Offroaders.com: http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/reading/jacking.htm

YouTube:

Official Hi Lift video showing a tow strap being used http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xldBPnzohtI

Links4Jeep Tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOcQHqLx90g