Winches
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 324
From: Arizona
Winches
I'd like to start a thread about winches. What kind do you have, how was the install, do you have it mounted in a receiver hitch etc? Thinking about one mostly for retrieving a fishing boat on shallow beaches, would want it moveable from front to rear with plug type connectors. I have never owned or installed one.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Ive got the harbor freight 12k on a receiver. I still need to install the plug ins up front and out back, plan on using them for jumper cables when needed too. Ive used the winch so far to direct a tree I cut down and load a couple cars on friends trailers.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
easy
no
i use synthetic rope and just run the rope under my axles to winch stuff from behind my excursion.
I have winched cars onto my trailer, lifted engines out of vehicles, lifted my 6000 lb roll away tool boxe onto a trailers even winched s car out of a snowy ditch and all sorts of other misc stuff from behind the vehicle by running the rope from upfront under the axles. no need for a rear winch mount plus the fact those winch cradles have a low pound rating.
Thread Starter
|
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 324
From: Arizona
Warn 16k
easy
no
i use synthetic rope and just run the rope under my axles to winch stuff from behind my excursion.
I have winched cars onto my trailer, lifted engines out of vehicles, lifted my 6000 lb roll away tool boxe onto a trailers even winched s car out of a snowy ditch and all sorts of other misc stuff from behind the vehicle by running the rope from upfront under the axles. no need for a rear winch mount plus the fact those winch cradles have a low pound rating.
easy
no
i use synthetic rope and just run the rope under my axles to winch stuff from behind my excursion.
I have winched cars onto my trailer, lifted engines out of vehicles, lifted my 6000 lb roll away tool boxe onto a trailers even winched s car out of a snowy ditch and all sorts of other misc stuff from behind the vehicle by running the rope from upfront under the axles. no need for a rear winch mount plus the fact those winch cradles have a low pound rating.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
my rope any many brands of rope have a 10ft long heavy braided fabric sleeve that you can slide up or down the length of rope to any spot you may need chaffing protection. but no I dont typically need to use it for under my axles because every thing is pretty smooth under there. it just depends on the pull direction, a straight pull like need to pull onto my trailer i may run the sleeve so it sits on the trailer edge or if i am lifting from behind i will use it where the rope contacts my tank or bumper. but again that is all pretty smooth compared to a rocky ledge or something similar. if i need to run the rope over something really nasty I have some sections if old fire hose i use for chaff gear. my heavy carhartt jacket works in a pinch as well, have even used a floor mat before. every pull is gonna gave some little twist to it so just figure out what needs to be done to protect the rope. I have broken enough winch line over the years to have figured out what works and what doesn't
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 23
Have a 12000lb one on the front of mine in an ARB winch bar. Synthetic rope. Works well for recoveries of other vehicles. Havent had to recover myself with it yet but can imagine it would be ok.
These things are current hungry so run the biggest gauge wire you can. Especially if you are wanting to use it from thr rear. You could also do a 3rd battery install in the tray to help keep the current up to it if need be
These things are current hungry so run the biggest gauge wire you can. Especially if you are wanting to use it from thr rear. You could also do a 3rd battery install in the tray to help keep the current up to it if need be
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
biggest thing to be careful of running the rope to the rear is not route the rope under your steering tie rod and bend it, and be sure your angle will not contact a brake line. just use a little common sense and once you are all rigged up but before you actually pull stop, step back and look at the entire routing and consider the full pull distance and how the moving objects path will change the angles. never get in a rush winching, take your time and be vigilant. which can be hard sometimes if it is a harry situation.like a upside down vehicle on a wicked step hill. ive seen many time when somebody pulls the vehicle upright and it just keeps rolling down the hill.
Trending Topics
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,123
Likes: 4,725
From: Henderson, NV
@pirate4x4_camo which synthetic rope is that you’re using? Did you lose any length over using wire rope?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 199
Likes: 33
From: Northern California
Something to make sure the OP aware of is that a winch and cradle weighs around 100 pounds+ and is more than a little awkward to carry around especially on uneven/slippery ground. Be sure you're up to the task.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Paul is right, it sucks moving the assembly on flat ground where I have traction, I wouldn’t want to do it on a hill or slick spot. Only reason I did the receiver is my bumper didn’t have a spot for a winch plate and I needed something quick at the time. I’ll probably figure out a way to put a plate behind my bumper that’s ore solid and doesn’t stick out the 1.5 foot the receiver does
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 833
Likes: 4
I'd like to start a thread about winches. What kind do you have, how was the install, do you have it mounted in a receiver hitch etc? Thinking about one mostly for retrieving a fishing boat on shallow beaches, would want it moveable from front to rear with plug type connectors. I have never owned or installed one.
A cheap little harbor freight winch is probably what you need with a small cradle.
If you want to pull the weight of your truck you'll need a really big winch. Typically you size it 1.5x the weight of the vehicle. My truck weighs ~8,000 lbs so I run a 12,000 lb Warn M12. The winch alone, with cable, weighs 136 lbs. A cradle that could handle 12,000 lbs would probably weigh just as much so effectively you'd be carrying the weight of a fat man around your truck if you want it to pull your truck.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 1,455
From: Muskogee, Ok
Have a 20k Ramsey on the 71 F100. Took the whole winch bumper assembly off a while back and the truck gained some height and the armstrong steering was waay easier. Whole thing weighs a good 400# But now the truck looks like all the other boring trucks people in the area have restored. Having that 16" bumper added an attitude to that 4x4 shortbed
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
@pirate4x4_camo which synthetic rope is that you’re using? Did you lose any length over using wire rope?
7/16 synthetic has a tensile rating of 22,000 lbs, 7/16 wire rope is 20,000 lbs
however additional breaking strength isnt the reason you want to use it. first and foremost is safety. synthetic has almost no stretch ( less the 3% ) which means it doesnt store much kinetic energy and that translates into a vastly safer situation when it does break. synthetic rope just falls to the ground with no recoil when it breaks, wire rope on the other hand has a violent recoil that will do severe bodily damage when it whips back after breaking.
second reason to run it is convenience, with wire rope you need to spool it in neatly so it doesnt cross over itself as a kink will damage it, then it frays and the broken strands poke you. ouch, but mostly it ruins the cable. synthetic doesnt care how you reel it in, cross it, smash it even tie it in a knot, it doesnt matter. much less hassle.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 346
From: Northern California
Originally Posted by beef ****;19085428.
A cradle that could handle 12,000 lbs would probably weigh just as much so effectively you'd be carrying the weight of a fat man around your truck if you want it to pull your truck.