Thread: Winches

I just got a good deal on a winch bar for my Safari on trademe, my only experience with winches is using my old mans factory one on the Pajero to pull firewood out of the ravine, any reccomendations on brand/capacity etc?



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Talk to the 4WD club guys. They'll rave about a Warn or Superwinch.

I'm running a factory electric winch on my cruiser but I've not heard anyone rave about the cheaper ones. Bottom line is you gets what you pays for. I still carry my Tirfor as backup.

The smart thing will be to shop around and if you've got tradie mates they may be able to swing better discounts at the suppliers.

I've had a 'kingone' 9500lb for a couple of years, it has been good. I did no research, just got what the arb agent recommended. Half the price of a warn. If this one shits itself I'll buy a warn to see what the difference is.

10 000 Pound minimum, 12 000 would be better.
Brand comes down to Budget. Top end you have the likes of Warn, Ramsey, Superwinch,
Then dropping to the likes of Runva, Novawin, Redwinch, OX Winch or COMe up from Australia. Anything else Chinese I would keep away with. Runva can be brilliant or you get a lemon right from the start. I have had 2 good Runva, One stolen, then one replaced to go to a higher speed unit. Sadly the replacement was the lemon. Now running a Novawin 11800 and I'm happy with it.
You need to weigh up what you plan to use it for especially in the way of load, and then buy the best you can for your budget, Often a good Brand winch secondhand can be a better option than a Brand new cheaper brand.

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

10 000 Pound minimum, 12 000 would be better.
Brand comes down to Budget. Top end you have the likes of Warn, Ramsey, Superwinch,
Then dropping to the likes of Runva, Novawin, Redwinch, OX Winch or COMe up from Australia. Anything else Chinese I would keep away with. Runva can be brilliant or you get a lemon right from the start. I have had 2 good Runva, One stolen, then one replaced to go to a higher speed unit. Sadly the replacement was the lemon. Now running a Novawin 11800 and I'm happy with it.
You need to weigh up what you plan to use it for especially in the way of load, and then buy the best you can for your budget, Often a good Brand winch secondhand can be a better option than a Brand new cheaper brand.

Are they quite common to get stolen off of vehicles?

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Anyone who says

I still carry my Tirfor as backup

gets a like in my book - Tirfors are the shit

Originally Posted by JasonW

Are they quite common to get stolen off of vehicles?

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I don't know if they are 'popular' I have 2 mates that have had them pinched, like myself from DOC carparks when on 2-3 day tramps. Everything can be desirable to the wrong asshole I guess. Easy enough to put a deterrent or two inplace to retain ownership of your winch.

And I agree with others, Tirfors are awesome, mine has been invaluable, even for firewood recovery

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

Easy enough to put a deterrent or two inplace to retain ownership of your winch.

Details?

Got a terrain tamer 9500lb seems to do the job, had a wee play at getting stuck and it worked. Don't have a tirfor but use a hi lift jack and chains. Much easier to use that to go backwards a few metres than winch forwards into more crap....

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

I don't know if they are 'popular' I have 2 mates that have had them pinched, like myself from DOC carparks when on 2-3 day tramps. Everything can be desirable to the wrong asshole I guess. Easy enough to put a deterrent or two inplace to retain ownership of your winch.

And I agree with others, Tirfors are awesome, mine has been invaluable, even for firewood recovery

Yeah I might put a shear bolt on then when installing it then drill out the allen key part.

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Where are you using shear bolts?

Originally Posted by MSL

Where are you using shear bolts?

Havent looked at the mounting bracket yet but would look to drill and put one somewhere which wouldnt affect structural integrity to stop someone pinching the winch off the vehicle.

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[QUOTE=223nut;570455]Details? QUOTE]

To get your winch they need access to the four mounting bolts under the winch. I have simply bent a strip of flat steel plate (25x5 I think) and tack welded it over the top of two bolt heads so a spanner or socket can't be used to undo the bolt. Welded strong enough to stay put, but easy enough to grind off when needed. A short piece of snug fitting tube would do the same job, as would a larger pipe cut into half rounds welded over the bolt heads.
Mates just wrap a short length of heavy chain and padlock through their winches and bullbar.

It continues to sicken me that where you or I might rock up to a doc car park with pack and rifle or at least a picnic basket, these sacks of fetid faeces drive around with sockets and spanners. I make a point these days to photograph all vehicles and any individuals lurking about

Hmmm might just do the chain and a decent padlock, don't have a welder so makes most of those ideas a little difficult

I love my tirfor, so versatile. They only get old on about bog number 6 It's amazing how much I use that and a high lift around the house too. I would buy both of these before I bought an electric winch. My preference is for PTO driven winches for reliability because often you'll find an electric winch if it isn't used or checked often they don't go when you need them to.