Thread: Hand vs electric winch: solo travelling

Most recoveries that involve winching, actually only need to move the vehicle a short distance onto stable ground or maxtracks etc. so you would manage with a hand winch.
Even if you managed to roll a vehicle, hand winch would work.
However, using a hand winch is not as easy as an electric, so you need to try it and decide if you can actually manage to move your vehicle, say onto a couple of bricks. If it is difficult, use a pully (snatch block) which will slow you down but double your power.

Hi Landi, I understand what you mean - winching uphill and the winch breaks. Very Dangerous. Money allowing, I would have both. An electric/power winch on the front that could be controlled from the drivers seat and a hand winch for retrievals from the back or side etc.


Tom.

Yeh I understand hand winching is hard work, I've done a practice run before. I guess that doesn't bother me too much as I don't do tracks that get me stuck every half an hour. It's more for that long trip where I might need it once or twice and don't mind putting in a bit of extra time and effort. I've got a good set up with the hand winch: snatch blocks, 20m of synthetic rope, etc etc. Hence why I'm reluctant to put an electric winch on

Sorry I should clarify that obviously the synthetic rope isn't to run through the winch. Just as an extension to run through the snatch block if required

If you don't intend to go on tracks where getting stuck is reasonably likely, i would stick with a hand winch and some maxtraks, if not for weight alone.

Saying that, i have a Tirfor hand winch, pick up my maxtraks next week (with rear wheel harness) and have a winch waiting for me at APT.
Why, no good reason at all except i tend to travel alone , and if it all turns **** i want options. And i was bored one day .

I have no plans of seeking out tracks where i am likely to get stuck.

Get a hand winch.
Use it once in anger & I can guarantee you'll make sure you never get stuck again.

Hi,
Yes, my hand winch has kept me out of more trouble than got me out of trouble.
I did relent last trip and bought a Runva, it is out of the way in the bullbar, not in with luggage storage.
So far, it has only got someone else out of trouble.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Scouse

Get a hand winch.
Use it once in anger & I can guarantee you'll make sure you never get stuck again.

Yep use it once in anger and then buy a electric winch
A electric winch will work longer and faster than you in the heat