Hi Bob, Great points. I think a general off road thread, giving all these and more pointers would be great. Like you, I’ve spent a life time off road, in the bush, remote, and grew up off roading and operating heavy equipment, and working in remote locations doing recovery work using winches, helicopters, etc etc professionally for a living.

The only thing Id like to say is, Anything can happen. Better safe than sorry.

I’m my personal experience, I’ve never seen a chain snap back, I’ve broken them many times over the years with heavy equipment (graders, heavy trucks, bull dozers etc etc) but have never seen one snap back violently. They always laid down. They do pull back slightly, but only a few feet. And that is with 10’s of thousands of pounds pulling and snapping it. I have seen chains jump when tension is released hanging equipment from chain falls, but never snap back. The suggestion for a dampener is a good one, I’ve never used or needed one.


I have been in the situation where the winch has been buried, and/or wedged in front and you can’t get at it or move it if you wanted to. Front and back, yes great idea, I agree, just a warning, that’s all. I guess that could be said for the same hard mounted one. If it’s buried, it’s buried. That’s why I suggest a rope tied to the hook on it tied up higher too where you can access it easier than rooting around. Just don’t count on it is all I’m suggesting. that’s why I liked to have a come along and chains to wrap around trees. It was simple technology and it worked quite well for me in tough spots.

I have the same issue on my winch with cable/wire rope. It will not wind nicely unless someone/something keeps tension on it while winding it up and guides it. It’s always a messy looking affair. And has a couple of kinks in it.

Cheers,

 

I doubt anyone will appreciate my suggestion here: . I'm old and I'm cheap, which is why I drive a 40 year old truck where most parts are dirt cheap. For as often as most people actually use winches, I say save the cash and buy a come-along, some good quality tow straps and a good quality pulley or two. In my opinion way more versatile. You can mount them anywhere, use in a number of situations (like pulling a busted vehicle up a ramp onto a flatbed), and you can take it with you in any vehicle you own. Doesnt require much maintenance and you certainly dont have to worry about upgrading your vehicle - unless you want to add a D-ring or something. Just a thought.

 

Pictures of my front hitch ,come in handy moving trailers ,boat etc around yard! TR

 

For the limited use you are contemplating I'd consider a portable winch. Some are hitch mountable, some have two hooks and cables. One static. Some have remote control. They come in various configurations, capacities and prices. You might shop on line for portable winch and see if that's what you think you need. Best thing is it can be locked up in a tool box or the cab. Then it can be used in other situations where you need pulling power. Not just for pulling your truck out of a ditch.

 

looking at getting one as a backup especially with considering a chinesium winch.

 

Wish I could be of more help but I bought it like this. Warn 8274

 

Harbor freight badlands winches are decent for the money. They aren't a warn or SuperWinch, but they do the job. I've used a couple of them on trailers and they've never let me down.


I plan on getting a 9,000lb unit for my bronco. Once they go on sale. Same as you, it will probably never be used in any dire situation.

As the others have said, charging systems are critical to electric winch performance. Upgrade your alternator and battery. A dual purpose starting/deep cycle battery is best. (Optima yellow)

Other than that, keep a ****** block, straps & shackles in the truck

 

Just repeating what I said earlier since everyone else seems to be belaboring the other perspective...

Yes, a high amp alternator and at least a good dual-purpose battery if not dual batteries with an isolator is best.

But, a 60 amp alternator and whatever battery you have in it now are going to be fine for the limited use you're talking about.

If you don't trust the battery completely (and I wouldn't without dual batteries) then never winch without the engine running. That's good advice even with dual batteries (because the higher voltage from the alternator will let the motor make the same power with less current so it will run cooler). But it's essential with a marginal battery.

And keep an eye (or ear, or hand) on the battery status. If the voltage is dropping, or if the winch is slowing down (probably pretty late at that point, but better late than never) or if the winch motor or power leads are getting hot, stop winching for a while and let stuff cool off while the marginal alternator does its job. Again, these are things you should be doing even with a good battery and alternator, but you won't have as much time with a marginal system before you need to let it take a break.

I've only had my winch for about 3 years, and I'm not a real extreme off-roader (but that sounds like you might be similar to me). The longest hard pull I've done with my winch so far is about 5 feet and under 15 seconds. Would a 200 amp alternator and dual batteries make my winch more effective? Sure. But I don't need all of that for pulls like that. And if I do need to do a 100 foot pull through thick mud? My setup will work. It'll just take a while.

 

Sounds like I'm on the same page as you. There is the winch duty cycle anyway, so you gotta stop at some point.
Let the battery catch up while letting winch cool down.
@Black Ford XLT is your truck lifted any and how much clearance from the ground to the bottom of your hitch? appreciate the picture, it's exactly what I was hoping to pull off.
@61uni is the bumper cut where it mounts or just drilled thru? I see it looks flush mounted on the top, but looks notched where it is mounting on the bottom? Do you ever take it off?