Thread: Winches

1. As a general rule, the actual winch is not vehicle specific, although often the space to fit the winch on a particular model often limits the choice, as may weight of the winch. The actual drive may well be specific, and while it is usually possible to arrange the drive this may get very difficult if the winch is not designed with that specific thing in mind. This is mainly a concern with PTO winches, and includes problems such as the drive for the winch pointing at a cross member if the winch is in a suitable position, or the drive being on the wrong side or too low or too high etc.

2. Roller fairleads are generally preferred in my view, but unless you are using it heavily, I would not replace a well designed static fairlead.

3. A visual inspection is satisfactory provided you know what you are doing - broken strands, kinks or substantial crushing of the cable are grounds for rejection, as is significant rust (it sounds as if it is old enough to be likely not to be stainless steel). If it meets these criteria I would be inclined to keep it - it is likely to have seen very little use. Most winches are rarely used.

John

Just a couple of points to add to John's post, and thay are all related to the fairleads

If you are going to use a synthetic rope, you need to have a hawse fairlead as they can get caught in the gaps in the corners of the rollers.

The hawse fairleads also protrude less which slightly improves approach/departure angles.

Hawse fairleads are also cheaper. (the std cast steel ones)

Rgds
Pete

Many electric and hydraulic winches used on 4x4 vehicles have the same mounting bolt positions.

But a vehicle specific cradle or bull bar is needed to mount the winch to, e.i. a cradle for a Landcruiser will not fit a Land Rover.

As Pete said, use a hawse fairlead for synthetic rope, but do not use one that has been used with wire rope unless you carefully polish out the grooves that the wire strands have made (these can damage the fibres of the synthetic rope).

There are some special issues with mounting winches to vehicles with SRS air bags.

Toyota brand winches don't fit on Land Rovers very well

(Now some brainiac will pipe up and tell me that Toyota doesn't make winches!)

Mark,
If you tell us what winch you are wanting to fit to what vehicle it will be much easier for people to help with advice.

Dave.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Toyota brand winches don't fit on Land Rovers very well

(Now some brainiac will pipe up and tell me that Toyota doesn't make winches!)

The Toyota PTO for the 40 Series was one of the best winches made a Ramset pin where the shear pin was and you could pull the front off the car.
Literally

My first 4x4 was an FJ 40 and I fitted a Thomas PTO, and as long as the engine was running it too probably would have pulled the front off the vehicle. Was a great winch. Pitty I can't say the same about the vehicle.

Dave.

Back in 1973 a friend who dove a Range Rover out to Aus when he emigrated from the UK, made up his own PTO to fit the LT95 transmission and power a Toyota 40 series PTO winch. The drum and drive mechanism was so well hidden behind and below the original bumper bar you hardly knew the winch was there, let alone that it was a Toyota one.

Diana