Winding up spare tyre winch without a spare

**Briar** · 7th September 2023, 11:48 AM

Hear me out, this has been mentioned numerous times and am well aware of the spare winch birds-nesting and jamming with no load. Here is situation. When I tow van on longer trips I run the 18"Moabs. However, they wont fit in the spare spot and I'm not going to deflate them to make them fit and anyway it's a pain to remove the spare when the van is attached.

What I want to do is put spare on platform rack as far forward as possible and not have spare underneath at rear. This will remove about 40-45kg from rear axle load. which will be of benefit when attaching the van. However, I know I need to wind up the spare winch under tension (and lower it later with tension), that's not a problem as I'm happy to lay under vehicle before and after trip if needed.

I am asking (as long as I keep tension on winch, can I wind the winch all the way up or do I need to get some lightweight wheel or rubber block (or something) to keep tension on winch. Don't want to find I have a birds-nest after the trip. Even if I have to put something as a "spacer" to keep tension on winch would be ok. I'd rather 10kg there rather than 35kg. I was almost thinking of using a wheelbarrow tyre and cutting out the centre of the rim enough to make the boss big enough to get the spring thingy through. Of course I'd have to hold it for tension winding it both ways and that would only weigh a couple of kilos.

Anyway just an idea and had anyone done something like this? If I was very remote and needed 2 spares for the vehicle, it's not a problem as I carry a 19" spare for D4 on caravan and would move it to car if van left someone while travelling remote. The 19" would then go in normal spare location.

Thanks
Trevor

**BradC** · 7th September 2023, 11:53 AM

I wound mine up using my compressor as a weight all the way to the top so the wire was "taut". I drove around for 4 days like that before I hooked the compressor on again to wind it back down. I figure as long as there is some tension on the wire it's not going to "birds nest" inside the winch.

One anecdotal data point for you.

**ytt105** · 7th September 2023, 03:12 PM

Why not remove the winch completely. I think there are only 4 bolts holding it in.

Regards
Trevor

**101RRS** · 7th September 2023, 03:20 PM

Dont over think things - just wind the winch in with someone hanging onto it until the hook is up. If the winch starts to tighten up then stop and unwind until loose then continue - no big issue - never ever force the winch.

**envee** · 8th September 2023, 07:28 PM

Wound mine all the way up last week when I spotted something in one of the front tyres and swapped it out for the spare. Just got the co-driver to wind while I kept weight on it. Worked fine when I swapped them back over. The oblect in my tyre turned out to be a tap washer of all things,

didn't go all the way through fortunately.

**BradC** · 8th September 2023, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by envee

The oblect in my tyre turned out to be a tap washer of all things,

didn't go all the way through fortunately.

At least it wasn't a leaky washer.

**RANDLOVER** · 9th September 2023, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Briar

.......

I am asking (as long as I keep tension on winch, can I wind the winch all the way up or do I need to get some lightweight wheel or rubber block (or something) to keep tension on winch. Don't want to find I have a birds-nest after the trip. Even if I have to put something as a "spacer" to keep tension on winch would be ok. I'd rather 10kg there rather than 35kg. I was almost thinking of using a wheelbarrow tyre and cutting out the centre of the rim enough to make the boss big enough to get the spring thingy through. Of course I'd have to hold it for tension winding it both ways and that would only weigh a couple of kilos...

I think the OP is asking about keeping tension on the winch cable when it is wound all the way up, and to this end I think there is a spring in the tubular section that hangs below the tee bar that holds the rim up.

**matti4556** · 16th September 2023, 03:34 PM

I leave it unwound and tie the hub bracket up using a good thick zip tie or 2 with tension on it. Been doing that on and off for years with no issues. Hope this gives you a less stressful option.

**PeterOZ** · 20th September 2023, 07:32 AM

I tie a brick to it and wind it up / down. Works with no dramas.

**ATH** · 26th September 2023, 08:09 AM

I'm sure I just wound mine up with no weight on it at all and it's been fine since. I checked it recently when under there looking around prior to getting it ready for sale and it's still tight.
AlanH.

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