Winch Selection Advise

chook73 · 14th November 2013, 12:23 PM

Having burnt out a Tigrez11 winch on the weekend and with nothing but trouble with it since new I have decided to look at investing a little more on a new winch given the value of the vehicle I am hanging off the end. It became very clear to me on the weekend that if the winch failed at the wrong time the consequences would be not pretty and putting all of that in the hands of a $550 winch is not worth the savings.

So I find myself thinking about selection criteria for a new winch, I thought I would start a thread not just about which winch is suitable to my application but what to consider when selecting a winch.

1. Electric or Hydraulic? Electric weighs less, easier to install and works if you have stalled the vehicle however they strain the battery have a very short duty cycle and don't like working anywhere near their capacity.

2. Load capacity/speed/high or low mount (should this be 3 points?), I was thinking maybe a high mount however the Warne high mounts are only 8,000lbs, what is the advantage of a high mount over a low mount and what should I be considering for a vehicle that wont get much change from 3,000kg…… Speed isn't a real concern for me as I wont be entering into competitions…..

3. Cable, what if any is the advantage of a SWR? Why are winches still sold with SWR over dyneema? Can SWR just be taken off any winch and replaced with Dyneema or is drum heat a consideration with some winches more than others….?

4. Brand, there of course is always the argument that xyz is better than abc however nowadays a lot of products are made in the same factory and come out with just a different label and price tag. How important is brand nowadays when it comes to winches and which brands are better, obviously there is a big difference between a Warne, Red and Giglepin winches but I would have thought more in the winch than the brand.

5. Build quality, good seals, motor, solenoid & overall quality.

6. Of course at some point price is going to be a concern but it will weigh equally with quality, reliability etc. I have been down the $600 winch road and that did start or end well……..

Ultimately it is a touring vehicle that does weekend trips in the hills, I am not in any hurry and I wont ever enter it into a competition. I am after something that will work when all else has turned south, I would love to hear peoples views on what makes a good winch and what is considered a good winch. Whilst I dont have a budget expectation at the moment its certainly not in the realm of a giglepin winch (unless someone wants to donate one…..)

**wardy1** · 14th November 2013, 01:08 PM

I have a Warn XD 9000 which is now 10 years old. I've redone the grease once since I've owned it and also replaced a motor (poor maintenance by the previous owner). The gearbox has never given any trouble whatsoever.

Hi mounts have a better 'pull' and are less prone to heat build up. they also have a faster line speed (which I know you've said doesn't matter to you). Generally they are regarded as stronger overall and hence the combination of line speed and strength sees them on the comp trucks. They are hellishly expensive too and for the use you have listed, I can't see the value.

I have Dyneema rope on mine and it's been fine.

I use mine a bit like you do.... well maybe a bit more

They are 3 times the price of your Tigerz2 but from what I've seen, probably worth the money.

There should be no reason you cant take the Dyneema of your old winch and put it onto another.

**Tank** · 14th November 2013, 01:14 PM

Wire rope is more durable that Dyneema type rope and it will handle shock loads better, biggest problem is most snatch blocks have too small a diameter and cause kinks and breakages in wire rope.
If you go for wire rope make sure it is at least 11mm in dia. and of 7 strand IWRC design, i.e. the rope has six outer strands and an independent wire rope core, instead of fibre core, this will stop crushing on the winch drum and any snatch blocks used.
Most winches are advertised at the max. load they will pull with just one layer of wire on the drum, so you need to work to the SWL or WLL of the wire rope used, in the case of 11mm IWRC that will be about 1350kgs. (around 3000lbs.) so if you work to the advertised load you will be working close to the breaking strain of the rope (which gets less every time you use it).
So if you see a winch advertised at 9000 to 12000lbs. that is not its SWL or WLL, a winch is no stronger than the cable/rope wound onto the drum, Regards Frank.

**Disco Muppet** · 14th November 2013, 01:17 PM

I too am looking at replacing my Tigerz winch, I've hardly used it and it's had the odd splash of water but nothing major and it's already terribly corroded!
I got a winch because I like to go bush by myself and when the defecation hits the oscillation and you're on your own, that's exactly the moment when you need to have complete confidence in your equipment.
I've been looking at Runva winches, because I can get a good deal locally, and because I've heard lots of positive reviews about them.
If cost was no option it'd be a Warn like Wardy but I haven't got that kind of cash, and if the Runva does the same job then fine by me.
They also do Hydraulic winches

Winch Range « Runva Winches | Your premium supplier of Electric and Hydraulic Winches

Cheers
Muppet

chook73 · 14th November 2013, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by wardy1

They are hellishly expensive too and for the use you have listed, I can't see the value.

Here is hellishly expensive…….. Makes the not so cheap warn look like a tigerz…..

http://smithiengineering.com.au/inde...ete-winch.html

chook73 · 14th November 2013, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

I too am looking at replacing my Tigerz winch, I've hardly used it and it's had the odd splash of water but nothing major and it's already terribly corroded!
I got a winch because I like to go bush by myself and when the defecation hits the oscillation and you're on your own, that's exactly the moment when you need to have complete confidence in your equipment.
I've been looking at Runva winches, because I can get a good deal locally, and because I've heard lots of positive reviews about them.
If cost was no option it'd be a Warn like Wardy but I haven't got that kind of cash, and if the Runva does the same job then fine by me.
They also do Hydraulic winches

Winch Range « Runva Winches | Your premium supplier of Electric and Hydraulic Winches

Cheers
Muppet

I was looking at this one on ebay wondering how a $980 15,000lb hydraulic winch would perform…… going back to Tanks's note however its only got 12mm SWR……

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/15-000LBS...4e61a32&_uhb=1

**Tank** · 14th November 2013, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by chook73

I was looking at this one on ebay wondering how a $980 15,000lb hydraulic winch would perform…… going back to Tanks's note however its only got 12mm SWR……

15 000lbs Hydraulic Winch HWN15000 Runva Brand NEW | eBay

12mm is good, as long as it is 7 strand IWRC, that's around 1600kgs. SWL, Regards Frank.

**mools** · 14th November 2013, 01:47 PM

Similar to Wardy I too have a Warn XD 9000. As I drive a Defender it is used exclusively for recovering other vehicles

. I find it is a comfort knowing I have it available should I need it, for this reason I'm glad its a WARN and not what I perceive to be a cheaper brand. Although I have no basis for it, a bit of me perceives the warn to be a well built and serious bit of kit (I think it comes from having seen the brand attached to agricultural equipment since childhood). I think with winches there would be a vast difference between quality of components and construction which would make a good product a lot better than a not so good product. Having said this I have a replacement solenoid for my winch as the one that comes fitted to the WARN unit is not the best.

I view a winch as emergency equipment, similar to straps, shackles etc. I see the cheap option as a potential false economy - when I need this stuff to work it really has to work.

Would I like a hydraulic winch? You bet. Do I use it enough to justify one - no. Same goes for the high end comp winches e.g. gigglepin - just no point in one they are made for a different market.

I have wire rope on it at the moment but have Dynema rope ordered to replace it because I want to get some weight off the heavily loaded front end. I'm only replacing the WR with synthetic due to the weight. If I could live with the weight longer I'd keep the wire - the mechanical properties of Dynema deteriorate due to aging and especially due to UV exposure.

I think knowing how to rig a pull correctly plus understanding the combined limitations of the equipment involved are just as important as the brand of winch you are attempting to use, although a weak link in the chain should be avoided.

Ian.

**Redback** · 14th November 2013, 01:48 PM

I've had 2 winches, first was an X9 Superwinch, this lasted 6yrs before it was taken off and put on another car, it died on it's first outing, it was at least 5 yrs old when I got it, so pretty good considering no maintence was done by me

My new winch is a VRS 9500 with Dyneema rope, 2 yrs on still good, have used it numerous times and at least 5 or 6 times while the camper was attached on our 2012 High Country trip, no problems, no breaks with the rope, no slow running or signs of struggling after using it for long pulls, has been very good so far.

Here's a link to the info, they are $1045.
VRS V9500S-Product Categories - Winches - VRS Winches - -Opposite Lock Holdings

Baz.

redrovertdi · 14th November 2013, 01:50 PM

For me warne xd9000 bought 2nd hand, stripped it down and cleaned and re greased, i think i paid $500ish, its been well used and the only times its failed to work was due to a poor earth[chassis-as i spray under my car with lanox very regulary it creeps inbetween], i recently replaced the wire cable with another new wire as it gets dragged over rocks and through shail in Glasshouse mountains. Also recently replaced the 4 solinoids with a single solinoid and a cordless remote[way better now with two cordless remotes than a corded remote that wasnt long enough-ie pulling logs 40m away from car with cordless remote at log end instead of stuck at the end of cord near car]. If you buy warne you can get parts. I generally strip and clean the winch once a year.

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