Hand Winches - Confused - Need Advice

Davidman

Davidman

5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Hi All,

I am relatively new to this site, but have found it both interesting and informative. I am hoping that the members can assist me in choosing a hand winch. I have a 96 NJ Pajero LWB with appropriate recovery points both front and rear. After speaking with a lot of different people, I am now confused about hand winches. Have been told not to get one, regardless of rating, that is alloy, steel is best. Have been told not to get one rated under about 4500Kg. Have been told that most hand winches are imports and ' useless '. All I am looking for is something that will get me mobile again when all else fails. I obviously dont want something that will snap shear pins as soon as any pressure is applied, and dont want something that will bend or twist out of shape and fail.

I am hoping you guys out there have experienced different hand winches and can steer me in the right direction.

Thanks

Davidman
 
goldrush

goldrush

Moderator
Stick with the better known brands. Cheap usually means crap. Also the most important thing is to be trained in the use of the winch. It may look simple but if you don't know what you're doing it can all go to hell real quick. A busted truck or even worse, a person hurt or killed, is not worth it. Do a course or join a club.

Just my opinion.

Goldrush
 
BUSHNUT

BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
I have a Big Haul, I had to get something when I off loaded my old 60 series which had a PTO unit on the front and it has served me well. I have lent it to the motley crew for trips away that I haven't been able to go on and havent sheared a pin yet on it.

I have used it mainly for helping to get tree roots out, I think I used it onc e to get my previous vehicle ( GQ patrol )off a lowboy before I gave it a 2" lift .

Havent had to use it on BSH NUT yet.

Used it to put Fleet'ys Discovery upright after he put it on its side on the Burgoines track a few years ago, that was a pull from the side , cable attached to the chassis rail, it took two of us on the handle to do it, didn't shear a pin then , so I reckon that speaks for itself.

Tirfor were the original have the name, but you pay for it .

Thats the only input I can give you .

Shear pins are there as a safety measure so you dont snap a cable and take yours or someone elses head off.

Always put a bag, tarp or blanket halfway down the cable as a safety measure, use a snatch block to ease any strain on the winch . :p:D;):):rolleyes::cool:
 
Offrdn60

Offrdn60

Member
I have a Blackrat hand winch, used it heaps b4 getting an electric winch. What ever winch you buy set it up at home first so you know how it works. Might be an idea to buy a snatch block and a extention strap to use with the winch. Coz its bloody hard work.

my 2 cents worth.

Nick
 
grit

grit

Member
Well, I'm not sure what use you have in mind for this hand winch, but if you are considering that you need something in excess of 2500kg pulling capacity, you are going to need two blokes to work the handle (refer Bushnut's post above). Instead of simply relying on hearsay & conjecture, it may be worth checking out the Australian standard AS1418.2. If a winch complies with this standard (truthfully: not a 3rd world imitation) and is rated at 2.5 tonnes pulling capacity it should be expected to perform suitably to 'normal' needs. Add a snatch block for the harder stuff & you're set to go.

I have used ARB's hand winch (Alloy housing - so atleast one bloke can carry it up a slippery embankment easily enough) and it has performed impressively (one man). When you start looking at larger hand winches like 4500kg it is no longer a reasonably light, easily portable item, which may have you preferring to do more damage & take more risks trying to get out before resorting to winching.

There is an excellent thread here on winching which lets you calculate the additional ratings required for various factors faced during recoveries. I don't know how to link across threads or I would link this post to it for you.
 
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Nickj

Nickj

5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
Grit

To show a link in your reply, click on the "Insert Link" button just below the smiley above where you write your reply and copy and paste the URL from your explorer address bar into it. You may want to delete the http:// that is tere already.

Nick
 
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4X4

4X4

Moderator
Hi David,

Hand winches originated as lifting devices and are used in the engineering industry for lifting and towing loads in all directions. We have adapted them to suit our 4X4 needs. A hand winch, used properly, is a great asset. There were originally only two reputable makes available,Tirfor and Brano.

The hand winch works by pulling directly on the rope, the pull applied by two pairs of jaws exerting a grip on the rope in proportion to the load lifted or pulled. Any length of rope may be used in a hand winch. The principle may be described as 'hand-to-hand' like a person pulling a rope. While one hand pulls, the other changes position to pull in turn. The two hands represent the two jaws of the hand winch. They grip the wire rope without damaging it and pull it during forward operation and restrain it during reverse operation.

Hand winches are extremely versatile and allow the user to winch sideways, forward or in reverse, however, they are hard work and slow!

Cheers
 
grit

grit

Member
Last time I used a hand winch, it was on a heavy vehicle and the only way out was sideways and in reverse. A front mounted winch would not have got this vehicle out of where he was stuck. A snatch was not an option.
 
grit

grit

Member
Hilux96 said:
yeah, the hi-lift jack works well
Click to expand...

I have heard that they are a bit slower than the Tirfor type handwinch, but I guess it saves having to carry both. I'm guessing you simply use your tow strap which saves all that weight of steel cable we have to carry, but what do you do when you need to keep pulling when you have run out of pull?
 
BUSHNUT

BUSHNUT

Well-Known Member
using a Hi-Lift jack as a winch is a last gasp situation, you can only pull the length of the lift bar, much harder to work as well.

Would only resort to this if you needed to manouver vehicle sideways as well as the direction you are winching to, the other use is to take up when you have to reposition your other winch/cable to another whinching anchor.

I don't think much of the idea of using a tow strap in place of a cable, limited in length for starters !:confused:
 
grit

grit

Member
I'm happy to stick with my hand winch and the 20M heavy steel cable. I'm confident then no matter which way & how far it need to be dragged. I have had to use it in conjunction with the tow strap to get to a decent sized tree anchor (also used trunk protector of-course).
 
P

patrolpassion

New Member
I have a tirfor hand winch and the benefit is being able to pull in any direction and be used on other vehicles as well. They are a bit bulky to carry but are a necessity if u decide to go out on your own 4 a quick trip. I would not buy a cheap brand, u get what u pay for. As far as the labour goes the missus loves hanging off the handle (not). I can only ask
Hope this helps
 
grit

grit

Member
patrolpassion said:
I have a tirfor hand winch and the benefit is being able to pull in any direction and be used on other vehicles as well. They are a bit bulky to carry but are a necessity if u decide to go out on your own 4 a quick trip. I would not buy a cheap brand, u get what u pay for. As far as the labour goes the missus loves hanging off the handle (not). I can only ask
Hope this helps
Click to expand...

I have mentioned previously in this thread how the uses of a hand winch are unique when compared to other methods of recovery. Mine stores into the vehicle without taking up too much real-estate. Cable is in a separate bag that fits under the seat, handle has its spot that would be difficult to fill with any other item, so its only the winch itself that takes up space that might otherwise be utilised.

I place recovery gear at the top of the list of essential items and easy access is a must so after I slide the fridge / freezer in, I ensure that all other items taken on the trip are behind the recovery gear & not in the way of it.
 
S

steven

New Member
yes i love my hand winch it has got my self and a couple of my mates out of sume sticky places its a bit of hard work i know but it beats being stack in tha middle of no where and as a added bounse you get your find 30 for tha day
 
grit

grit

Member
steven said:
yes i love my hand winch it has got my self and a couple of my mates out of sume sticky places its a bit of hard work i know but it beats being stack in tha middle of no where and as a added bounse you get your find 30 for tha day
Click to expand...

I agree. One of the best work-outs your gonna get is on the end of a winch handle!
 
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