Thread: Winches - front and rear options

Originally Posted by peter5111

...... why not a Tirfor ? ......

I think you answered your own question.
Having swung on the handle a few times, I'm starting to think there must be a better way.
Having said that, it got me out of trouble every time....eventually.

Not sure if I have the right grasp of what you are after, but warn make a winch cradle that simply fits your towbar. The idea being you have a reese style receiver front and rear and then just move the winch in its cradle to which ever end you need it. A 9000 with plasma won't be light, but would be manageable I would think?
The front receiver would be the same as a normal winch mount bar stress on the car and I again assume that a company like warn wouldn't promote a product to plug into a towbar if it wasn't (reasonably) safe?
The benefit is no winch weight around town, and only one winch required for both ends depending which is required.
Only down side is where to carry it when touring/4wding....on roof...mm heavy...in back, takes up space, on hitch, sticks out a bit....I guess you have to weigh up the pros and cons...

Cheers
Kev.

Originally Posted by bigkevg

Not sure if I have the right grasp of what you are after, but warn make a winch cradle that simply fits your towbar. The idea being you have a reese style receiver front and rear and then just move the winch in its cradle to which ever end you need it. A 9000 with plasma won't be light, but would be manageable I would think?
The front receiver would be the same as a normal winch mount bar stress on the car and I again assume that a company like warn wouldn't promote a product to plug into a towbar if it wasn't (reasonably) safe?
The benefit is no winch weight around town, and only one winch required for both ends depending which is required.
Only down side is where to carry it when touring/4wding....on roof...mm heavy...in back, takes up space, on hitch, sticks out a bit....I guess you have to weigh up the pros and cons...

Cheers
Kev.

Kev. that is exactly what I am trying to set up. Tigerz11 also make a portable receiver hitch winch mount and that is what I'm planning on using. Cheers

I wouldn't trust a std receiver pin either. get some 16mm or 5/8" HT Steel bar and make a new one. The originals will break before tearing out the sides of the receiver. A HT will tear out the hitch first.

Originally Posted by peter5111

To muddy the waters a little, why not a Tirfor ? Winch in any direction you like and generally you are winching somebody else out of trouble, so they get to swing on the handle

I have a winch on the front, and then carry a Hi-Lift Jack with hand winch kit + drag chain.

It's a lot of weight to lug around, but on our last trip we were solo. If the winch on the front died, it would have better than nothing. Also if we rolled it on it's side we could have winched from whatever angle we wanted, including backwards.

Gavin - Something to consider...

The Runva is a 30kg winch (using 30mtr rope), so heavier than an average 9500lb unit.

The tray runs (based on WARN unit) 14kgs

Thats 44kg to lug around.


When you're stuck, thats a nightmare! And can be bloody dangerous!


Carrying it in the vehicle will prove dangerous (and consume valuable space).

Having it mounted will greatly increase weight AND leverage by being further out past the axle than if mounted in the bar (yes it makes a noticeable difference).

Approach and departure angles will also suffer.

On a reality basis, if you are touring and see an area requiring winching it will almost always be forwards... Otherwise it should be a case of "we shouldn't be in there"

Lugging the 30kg on a front winch bar daily will be almost zero effect on the fuel economy.... Fitting a front receiver will add 5-10kg in steel mass anyway.

Plus the 10-15kg of cable to the rear....

In the real world, if you come across a length of track you *must* pass, you will always proceed forwards. If you have alternatives and the track is impassable under normal conditions - most (sensible) people will drive around / wait etc.

I understand your aim, your idea and the concept. Reality is very different.

If you still wanted a rear winch - consider building a fixed cradle / bar and fitting a smaller unit permanently - The weight penalty will be there but not to such detriment as you lose the weight of the factory bar, weight of a cradle - and you gain a solid rear bumper.


Good luck!

Originally Posted by Tombie

Gavin - Something to consider...

The Runva is a 30kg winch (using 30mtr rope), so heavier than an average 9500lb unit.

The tray runs (based on WARN unit) 14kgs

Thats 44kg to lug around.


When you're stuck, thats a nightmare! And can be bloody dangerous!


Carrying it in the vehicle will prove dangerous (and consume valuable space).

Having it mounted will greatly increase weight AND leverage by being further out past the axle than if mounted in the bar (yes it makes a noticeable difference).

Approach and departure angles will also suffer.

On a reality basis, if you are touring and see an area requiring winching it will almost always be forwards... Otherwise it should be a case of "we shouldn't be in there"

Lugging the 30kg on a front winch bar daily will be almost zero effect on the fuel economy.... Fitting a front receiver will add 5-10kg in steel mass anyway.

Plus the 10-15kg of cable to the rear....

In the real world, if you come across a length of track you *must* pass, you will always proceed forwards. If you have alternatives and the track is impassable under normal conditions - most (sensible) people will drive around / wait etc.

I understand your aim, your idea and the concept. Reality is very different.

If you still wanted a rear winch - consider building a fixed cradle / bar and fitting a smaller unit permanently - The weight penalty will be there but not to such detriment as you lose the weight of the factory bar, weight of a cradle - and you gain a solid rear bumper.


Good luck!

Thanks Tombie, clubagreenie and others - all valid points (and all except HD pin were previously considered).
Although I do waver after reading logical posts like this, sometimes you just have to do/try things despite good advice to the contrary. The best laid plans of men and mice. If it doesnt work out, I'll then do a standard front installation.

For what its worth, I never intended to have it set up on either front or rear receiver "just in case" (apart from probably being illegal) and it would hopefully (almost?) always be a case of drag it out when required, and in that scenario there would be others to help lug and slide in 44 kg as i don't plan to travel alone. It would also be shackled down for the relatively rare occassions it would be carried (inside), remembering this is touring, not heavily modded transportation. I have worked out a safe and accessible place to store it (between axles as befits heavy gear). It will still be some time before completion and trial, and before I can report back and you can all say told you so!!

Purely out of interest.

If I need a rearward pull, I will use three of snatch blocks for the purpose. Otherwise, I have a tirfor style hand winch that has been used a few times in anger. The hand winch is pretty easy to use if you use the right technique (push the handle by walking against it, don't try to push/pull with just your arms).

Rearward winching is kind of like here, but on the rear I use a double swing-away block (as opposed to two singles) plus a single to attain greater purchase.

Winch backwards with a front-mounted winch

Ahh, this is what I was looking for:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4tI3HtgdCY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4tI3HtgdCY[/ame]