Thread: D4 Tirfor Winch

Have a look at this link. Hopefully it works. In my previous life I often used a T35 tirfor which was rated at 3000kg lifting and 5000kg pulling. Won't be cheap, but a good bit of kit all the same.
3200kg LIFT 5000kG PULL TIRFOR - Perth, Western Australia - The Rigging Shed

Yes, Tirfor make a larger capacity hand winch but they are a big bit of kit.

As you've said, use a snatch block on the smaller one. I've had a Brano hand winch for years and it's done some fun recoveries in the past. There are a number of different brand Tirfor type winches on the market.

Originally Posted by tonyci

Hello
Seeking some advice do not really want or need a bull bar for the D4, so will need to have a hand winch just in case.
Checked out the ARB hand winch which is rated at 2500kg so would always have to use a snatch block to shift a fully laden D4 safely.
I know hand winches are hard work, we also have a holiday house in the bush so a hand winch would be handy for other applications.
Question is who sells Tirfor winches and can you get models rated over 2500kgs?.
Thanks
Tony

Tirfor cable and winch cable does not like the small snatch blocks available from 4WD stores, the dia. of the wheel is too small to preclude damage to the cable.
You should try to purchase the biggest dia. snatch block you can find at around 10 to 12 inch in dia. and with the correct size groove to suit the dia. of your cable.
Wire cable does not like running over small sheave blocks, it compresses the underneath of the cable (closest to the bottom of the groove) and stretches the outer. This causes kinking and broken wires and eventual failure, check out Bullivants (Google) for your gear, Regards Frank.

We bought a T508 Tirfor about 27 years ago when we had a SWB series 3. It was okay for that vehicle, however we have used it along with a snatch block for recovery of heavier vehicles in the years since. The bigger Tirfors are very big, very heavy and awkward to pack. Along with the cable spool, they really do take up a lot of space. The 516 plus a snatch block would be powerful enough for your needs without going even bigger, and the Brano winches in that size are fairly reasonably priced. The big tirfor (I think it's a T532) is really a piece of industrial gear rather than a 4wd recovery tool.

A Tirfor is perfect.

However, what you're getting confused with are the forces required for a dead weight lift vs a recovery... They are massively different. Remember, you don't need to do a dead weight lift, so one of the smaller sizes will be very capable and even the, you can run through a pulley block to double up.

I've written it up before but a quick 'Google' gives you this rather handy sheet:

Winching and Vehicle Recovery Worksheet- Pangaea Expeditions

HTH

M

The size and weight of these winches is the big issue. I have one but I have never ended up taking it because I just didn't have the space for it. I now have a mounted electric winch. They are also bastards of things to use.

Hi,
I have a Tirfor, never used it for recovery, it is hard work and heavy to set up but it works very well with total control over what ever is being moved.

However I have seen a much better idea with the Power Puller by Wyeth-Scott Co. It is much lighter, smaller, and will handle more weight.



I will get one eventually, but I can't justify the cost while I still have the Tirfor.

cheers

Impressive looking bit of gear…

While having used Tirfors for a LOT of recoveries for both the Land Rover and heavy construction equipment, they still don't seem a viable option unless you have near unlimited packing space.

Having done a recovery in black mud you end up having a heavy and muddy mechanical monstrosity to clean and pack away as well as a muddy cable coil that doesn't really feel like coiling again (even if you use a motorbike tyre for storage. Trowing it on the back of a tray or style side body tub might be OK, but not something I would want to load back into a wagon...

Essential bit of kit if you trek sole across Borneo or the like, but WAY too much effort for social or recreational off road driving IMO.

Cheers,

Lou