Thread: tirfor

You can pick up a warn from any 4WD outlet.

I'm just trying to save you money here, because all a Tirfor will do is teach you to never ever get stuck in a way that you have to ever use a hand winch again.

Sorry, that probably doesn't directly answer your question though.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

... all a Tirfor will do is teach you to never ever get stuck in a way that you have to ever use a hand winch again. ...

Now there's the voice of experience

I have a 4.8t Big Haul. Its good quality IMO

Pics.




I got it from here.. Big Haul Hand Winch - Hand Winches - Winches & Accessories - 4x4 Store Australia


I bought it because I go out alone and I needed the versatility of being able to pull from any direction. Its not the effort required to use it thats the hard bit, Its the winding up of the 19mm steal cable thats the awkward/hard part. Im about to buy an old ride-on mower tyre that will just let me feed the cable into the centre of it, also it will make it easer to store in the car.

Another draw back would be getting stuck on a wet, rocky or muddy (or both) incline and having to set up in those situations. lugging the stuff to your winch point could be dangerous etc. At 20kg (for the winch) 25kg (for the cable) its light.

An Warn is only on my lists of "Wants" not "Needs" at this stage.

I looked around at these a while ago and thought the BigHaul brand ( made in the US ) was the best. Has an alloy case and a bit lighter than a Tirfor.
There are plenty of Chinese copies of the BigHaul, including the ARB Magnum, but not the same quality IMHO.
Places like 4WD Megastore stock the BigHaul around $460 or so
I was using mine today hauling out tree stumps - never used it in the bush but gets plenty of use around home

Get yourself a couple of rated shackles, two tree protectors, 20 metre winch extension strap, and a snatch block to go with it. Then you can set up for a double line pull if needed.

For those that hoard... there was a hand winch comparo done by 4WD monthly in Issue35 2002/01 Pg30. This compared a heap of hand winches and all of them were very very close from what I recall. It wasn't won by Tirfor, and for the life of me I cant recall who did win the comparo... perhaps black rat or something. Sorry, I dont have the magazine anymore to give the results.

Ooops, sorry the Big Haul won that year the best product from $250-500, so I'm assuming it was the Big Haul that won the comparo.

Originally Posted by muddy

Hi all
I am looking at buying a Tirfor good for 5 tonne can someone steer me in the right direction for a good brand,approx price and where to get one from

Thanks
Maurice

Hi,
I've got a Turfor that I don't use, I have a capstan winch on my series 1,
the winch is rated 3500lb verticle and 5000 horizontal pull, it has a new steel cable. If you are still shopping, Email me and I'll send pics and etc.
Papadad kurandabed@tpg.com.au

had a tirfor for years and found it very good....is probably over 20 yrs old.my brother has it at the moment so dont know what model it is.like most good gear look after it & it will last for ever.good for pulling stumps out as well.like slunnie says not as convenient as say a warn but more versitile & very handy.

it has got us out of some very sticky situations

and yes winding up the mudy cable is a pain& then having to unwind it all again & clean it later is just as bad

I agree with Slunnie, the one thing that a hand which will teach you is not to get bogged. I used mine (tirfor about 2.5T) to recover some car wrecks from a state forest as part of a club activity to clean up the place. It was hard going just to get the winch where it was needed, it was draining to crank the handle. I certainly want only to have to use it sparingly.

It is good to be able to use around the place for non 4x4 activities, straightened an old wooden stable by pulling it back into square with the tirfor anchored into the garden.