Hand Winches

Thanks AP, your concern is appreciated - i hope your experience wasn't too traumatic.

Winching and rigging is a complicated affair and requires complicated knowledge and preparation, and a respect for the forces at play. Experience can be a good teacher but the problem with it is that the 'test' comes before the lesson :) sometimes with disastrous results.:(

onebob
 
eden said:
OK we need specs. whats the load rating? is there a safety sheer breaking point? how long is the over all length of recovery? come on feed us!
Click to expand...

Hi Eden, re overall length of recovery, intelligent rigging can extend that - i have a drag chain and use it between my hand winch and a tree protector strap (or other anchor point) to be able to adjust the working distance to the vehicle under recovery.
My winch has only 10ft dual line pull (20ft single line). If after the 1st pull i shorten the chain to reposition the winch closer to the anchor point i can pull another 5 > 10ft and so on. At the moment I have extension cables and straps to cover potential winch to load distances of up to 50m.

onebob
 
eden said:
OK we need specs. whats the load rating? is there a safety sheer breaking point? how long is the over all length of recovery? come on feed us!
Click to expand...

Hi Eden, there is a sheer breaking point, no sheer pin like a tirfor type winch but a calibrated handle that bends when the load limit is exceeded. Look back at Carl's post in this thread and in the photo you'll see the bent handle in the winch - but the handle is inverted and reinserted for reuse. I bought an extra handle with my winch.

STOP PRESS. A 50ft choker / extension cable arrived today just in time for Beigewagon's High Country excursion next weekend. Although imported, all up it was still cheaper than i could have got one fabricated locally for... go figure!!

Including the winch cable i now have 110ft of cable (halve that for double line pull) plus a 20m winch extension strap and 5m drag chain to anchor the winch to my tree protection strap. I'm feeling a little more secure when i venture out now !!

onebob
 
carljwnc said:
An idea I've had, and maybe y'all have some input on it; consider storing it with the cable loosely coiled instead of wound up on the spool.
Click to expand...

Supposed to be tightly wound (on electric winches at least) because if loose the cable under tension can wedge itself in amongst the loose cable and jam. Same principle probably applies to this piece of gear.
 
Kevin said:
Supposed to be tightly wound (on electric winches at least) because if loose the cable under tension can wedge itself in amongst the loose cable and jam. Same principle probably applies to this piece of gear.
Click to expand...

That makes some sense. So, when I finally do replace my cable, I should originally wind it up on the spool, nice and neatly, under a load???
 
Kevin said:
Supposed to be tightly wound (on electric winches at least) because if loose the cable under tension can wedge itself in amongst the loose cable and jam. Same principle probably applies to this piece of gear.
Click to expand...
With a hand winch with 'only' 20 metres of cable (so just 10 m if using a pully) it is likely that you run out the entire cable before reeling in.
Therefore,it should be OK to keep it loosly spooled, on the winch, extend it all before doing the recovery, then un-tension it again.
Probably a totally different circumstance with electric winches though.
 
Cheap Solution

I was doing some research, and found that "come alongs" have a high capacity, and are cheap. One at Home Depot was $40usd for a 4 ton model.
The cable length wont be the best, but its easy enough to get a chain to extend. After seeing this, I will be purchasing one very shortly.
 
09fozzie said:
I was doing some research, and found that "come alongs" have a high capacity, and are cheap. One at Home Depot was $40usd for a 4 ton model.
The cable length wont be the best, but its easy enough to get a chain to extend. After seeing this, I will be purchasing one very shortly.
Click to expand...

Try to stay away from chains (danger Will Robinson!!!) get a good snatch strap, or two, and some tree trunk protectors, much safer. Tractor Supply Company is a good source, or a good 4x4 shop.

Another important safety tip for anyone using a cable hand winch; put a 'damper' (or two) on the cable when winching!!! Tie a jacket, towel, heavy rag, something on the cable to slow it down in case it breaks, this can greatly reduce the risk of personal injury and/or vehicle damage.
(Just thought of this and had to get it out, 'important safety tips' can never be repeated too many times:iconwink:)
 
Yes stay away from using a lot of metal I watched some boys trying to pull out a 4x4 truck. They had a 20' strap and 10' of chain. well where they had the hook placed it ripped free and all that chain went through the front and rear windshields of the truck.

Never use a hook
never use a chain

If using a hand wench set it up so the (snap hook replace with a shackle if you can) is at the wench use the block to pull with from there use good quality straps with loops on the ends so there is no metal flying at you if something fails. Use a shackle if have no other way.

AWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING

Nate
 
09fozzie said:
The cable length wont be the best, but its easy enough to get a chain to extend.
Click to expand...
I fully agree with tinknocker07 & carljwnc. Stay away from chains !!
I've heard too many stories about people being seriously hurt & major damage to vehicles when chains have been used. :shake: :cry:

Snatch straps & tow staps are your best alternative, & you can always join them together if needs be. :iconwink:
I did a recovery recently where this was done (4x snatch + 1x tow + 2x tree trunk joined) The total length was approx 59 metres. :eek:

Another one to remember is to keep everyone 2x the distance away (of the recovery length) incase something breaks or does go wrong.
You can never be too safe & it's better to be safe than sorry.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Bargain! The 1.6t unit is a nice size, and has ample capacity for a loaded and bogged Forrie.
 
999152_lg.jpg

Chinese Tirfore? Anybody have any experience with one of these? I need to upgrade my recovery gear from a mini-shovel and a prayer :redface:
Kind of torn between this and the more-power-puller that Carl is fond of. 65 feet of cable is pretty appealing but set up could be a PIA?
 
I would avoid any off brand made in china stuff at all costs. Thier castings are poor. The wire rope which should be stainless steel is sometimes really poos quality. The fasteners can be really below failure rated strength. Just from the picture i do not like it.

At least when buying from a brand name, even if that is made in china, the brand will stand by it.
 
Hilly said:
Bargain! The 1.6t unit is a nice size, and has ample capacity for a loaded and bogged Forrie.
Click to expand...

....well, not quite Hilly - I did some calculations for a 3 ton unit bought after an embarrassing event early in 2010.

IMG_0720.jpg


Based on this recovery chart (US Army i think) but i seen similar here in Aust. whilst serving in the SES.

Picture14.png


The following is related to that situation i found myself in:

Winch specs: 3 ton (6,000 lbs.) double line / 1½ ton (3,000 lbs.) single line - Ratings are based on "dead lift" (lifting an object straight up, not dragging or pulling) The commonly used drag/pull rating ratio is 2:1 (double the dead lift rating)

6,000 US lbs = 2721Kg dead lift (5442Kg drag/pull)

the Forester is 1490Kgs and i was on a 15 > 30 degree upgrade not mired, rolling..

referring to the charts above .....

1490 Kg vehicle
745 Kg (+ 50% vehicle weight for up slope recovery)
491 Kg (+33% vehicle weight for rolling on earthen base)
TOTAL 2746Kg out of the 5442Kg rated pull/drag capacity of the winch.

If i had had a 1.6T Tirfor i'd need a snatch block to effect a double line pull to recover my vehicle. Surprising eh!

onebob
 
Last edited:
onebob said:
Based on this recovery chart (US Army i think) but i seen similar here in Aust. whilst serving in the SES.

Picture14.png
Click to expand...

:exclaim::exclaim::exclaim:I think this may very well be the most valuable bits of information posted on this site:exclaim::exclaim::exclaim: Printed and will be kept in the glove box, Thanks onebob.:yourock:

E.J. said:
Kind of torn between this and the more-power-puller that Carl is fond of. 65 feet of cable is pretty appealing but set up could be a PIA?
Click to expand...

The other thing to keep in mind is the availability of replacement parts. With The More Power Puller you can get anything you need pretty quickly and cheaply. [muttering under breath] Speaking of which, I really need to order up a new cable for mine.[/muttering under breath]
 
Yes - a very useful tool eh!

it comes to light occasionally and is forgotten again - Eastie posted it back in 2008 on this very thread, you'll find it on page 2.

onebob
 
onebob said:
Yes - a very useful tool eh!

it comes to light occasionally and is forgotten again - Eastie posted it back in 2008 on this very thread, you'll find it on page 2.

onebob
Click to expand...

Yup, see it now.:redface: Probably saw it then and meant to get back to it.
 
No sweat mate..... What say you we delete Easties post so that I can take the credit you think I deserve and you'll not be embarrassed :ebiggrin::ebiggrin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top