Thread: Runva Hyd winches any good?

Originally Posted by uninformed

Frank, Since you seem to ALWAYS bring up the cable size VS SWL on winches. Could you tell me #1, are you referring to LIFTING? and #2 are these and any 4x4 winch rated for LIFTING?

#1 , NO, #2, No, and the reason I ALWAYS comment is that there are winch sellers out there advertising line pull that is way above the Guaranteed Breaking Strain (GBS) of the cable supplied.
Do you know why these winches are not rated for lifting, I'll bet you have no IDEA why?
I imagine you are thinking there is a different SWL for lifting as opposed to dragging, well your wrong. SWL is just that. A rope/sling/chain/shackle/etc. doesn't know what it is being used for the SWL doesn't change because of use, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

#1 , NO, #2, No, and the reason I ALWAYS comment is that there are winch sellers out there advertising line pull that is way above the Guaranteed Breaking Strain (GBS) of the cable supplied.
Do you know why these winches are not rated for lifting, I'll bet you have no IDEA why?
I imagine you are thinking there is a different SWL for lifting as opposed to dragging, well your wrong. SWL is just that. A rope/sling/chain/shackle/etc. doesn't know what it is being used for the SWL doesn't change because of use, Regards Frank.

Ok then, how about adding some info like the safe working load of cable sizes provided on winches. How many "times" factor is the SWL above the actual braking strain of cable for lifting?

Lets take for example a 10,000lb winch with the standard 3/8th cable.

Also If I have a 10,000lb winch what size cable should I run to be safe at 10,000lb. Will that cable be happy to wrap around my 70 or so mm dia drum?

Originally Posted by uninformed

Ok then, how about adding some info like the safe working load of cable sizes provided on winches. How many "times" factor is the SWL above the actual braking strain of cable for lifting?

Lets take for example a 10,000lb winch with the standard 3/8th cable.

Also If I have a 10,000lb winch what size cable should I run to be safe at 10,000lb. Will that cable be happy to wrap around my 70 or so mm dia drum?

A winch advertised at 10000lb, I assume is the max load it will pull or lift with the min. number of wraps on the drum, therefore at it's max. mechanical advantage.
Now if you lay 50lb GBS fishing line on that spool then the max. it will pull is 50lb before it breaks, regardless of the advertised load rating. My point is that a winch is no better than the cable it is supplied with.
If spooled with 3/8" (10mm) galvanised IWRC (7 strand) then the SWL of THAT WIRE ROPE is 1100kg (2420lb) using a Safety Factor of 5 (GP) i.e. SWL= 1/5 of GBS then the GBS should be 5 x SWL, which is 5500kgs.(12100lbs.).
But this way of working out the SWL and GBS is dubious at best, the correct way would be to KNOW the GBS of the rope supplied and then divide that by the SF of 5 for gen. purpose use, to arrive at the SWL.
I have seen winches advertised on eBay of having 13,000lb working capacity supplied with rope that (by it's advertised dia.) was only around 9,000lbs. GBS.
In my whole rigging career I have never seen a winch cable break, yet if I had a dollar for every winch cable snapped in 4WD recovery I would be rich.
BTW you have not asked why, or the difference between a winch built for a 4WD is not rated for lifting, Regards Frank.

why dont you tell me then

OK, the casing on a 4WD winch is designed to be fitted to and supported by a bulbar or in the portable ones a frame. A winch designed as an overhead winch as in a workshop has the casing designed to support itself off a single attachment point, say to a sliding bogey or set of wheels.
But the main reason is that winches used for lifting have travel limit switches to cut power to stop the hook being wound onto the drum and they also have a positive braking system that will not let the drum rotate when the load is suspended, it should be a failsafe system, unlike the simple braking system on a 4WD winch, Regards Frank.

Finally completed installation of new Runva hyd. winch rated at 15,000lb line pull, it is running off the PTO pump through the relief valve on the Hiab crane via the passenger side outrigger ram. I have installed a 2 way ball tap that either directs fluid to the outrigger ram or to the Winch, the winch stats say that running pressure is 1667lbs. psi., hoses supplied are stamped as rated to 2250psi..
Anyway winch runs smoothly, with no noise or vibration, engine on truck running at around 1000 to 1200 rpm. Hauled a Mercedes car (approx.) 2 tonne up a set of ramps and onto the tray (not a Tilt tray) with no effort at all and no heat generated, so far so good, will update if any problems, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

Finally completed installation of new Runva hyd. winch rated at 15,000lb line pull, it is running off the PTO pump through the relief valve on the Hiab crane via the passenger side outrigger ram. I have installed a 2 way ball tap that either directs fluid to the outrigger ram or to the Winch, the winch stats say that running pressure is 1667lbs. psi., hoses supplied are stamped as rated to 2250psi..
Anyway winch runs smoothly, with no noise or vibration, engine on truck running at around 1000 to 1200 rpm. Hauled a Mercedes car (approx.) 2 tonne up a set of ramps and onto the tray (not a Tilt tray) with no effort at all and no heat generated, so far so good, will update if any problems, Regards Frank.

Good to hear! Thanks for the PM too. I'll be watching with interest how it goes after a bit of work, and if all is still good in April/May then a Runva winch can be the winter project! Cheers again!

Originally Posted by Tank

I've just bought a 15,000lb Runva Hyd. winch for my truck (inter ACCO), haven't finished setting up yet but the construction is solid and the accessories supplied seem to be first class, will let you know how it performs in a day or 2.
My biggest problem is setting up the hydraulics off the PTO pump which powers the 5T. Hiab crane, seems I need to setup a relief valve so as I can by-pass the Hiab setup, you will more than likely have to install a relief valve as well, Regards Frank.
P.S. when buying a winch don't go by the advertised 10,000lb cap. go by the SWL of the cable supplied, in the case of the 10K. you will find that the SWL of the cable is around 1T. BTW I paid $1078 for my Runva 15K winch which includes freight of $99.95 weighs 85kgs. if you want the name of the seller reply here or send a PM.

Most common setup uses a CETOP 3/5 (pending o the flow) solenoid spool valve to control the winch. The valve mounting subplate may or may not have a relief in it, if not then a separate relief will be needed. A simple 3 port selector valve is then used to divert pump flow to either the crane valve or winch valve.


If using a spare spool in the crane valve to control the winch, yes you may well need a separate relief (or 2) to limit the pressure to the winch motor.