Thread: Hand winches?? which one

I would suggest a tifor hand winch as you cannot beat it for duribility and reliability,I have had one for ten years now it has never missed a beat, when it was required to be used. As with anything as long as you look after it, it will last forever.

I have a "green" hand winch from Opposite Lock and it works very well. They can pull harder than an electric winch but are hard work.
Steve.

5t single line pulll but thems Exxy

a 2.5t one + an extention rope and a snatch block is cheaper, and easier to carry.

Since I wont be using mine anytime soon your welcom to borrow my 2.5 tonner

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Hi all,

I'm heading up to Cape York and am thinking of getting a hand winch for those 'just in case' type situations. Are they worth while getting?? and how much tonnage/pounds/kgs should one get if they have a fully loaded defender (no trailer). I've seen those "come-a-long" hand held ones and they seem cheaper than the full block ones.

Does anyone have experience with these or other brands? Part of me thinks that in mid to late august there will be plenty of other 4WD's around if I found trouble, and the extra weight of the block and chain is to much to lug around.

any thoughts would be great.

cheers
jimmy

I would go for 1.5 tonne Tirfor and a good quality snatch block (largest diameter you can get, does less damage to wire rope), if you connect the snatch block to your 4wd and run the wire rope from your Tirfor (which you have anchored to a tree) thru the snatch block and back to your anchor point, you will halve the amount of effort or work that you and the winch have to do, remember that the snatch block has to be moving with the load to get this advantage, regards Frank.

The snatch block does NOT have to be attached to the vehicle - but if you don't you'll need to attach the winch AND the other end of the robe/extension strap to the vehicle and walk along with it. Sometimes it might be a better option.

TJM in burleigh had a special last week might be still going can not remember the name brand but they had steel casing not the cast iron ones

Originally Posted by Tank

.... you will halve the amount of effort or work that you and the winch have to do....

not quite - you halve the load, but double the work required by the operator

pedantic I know!

but pumpin your arms to-and-fro working the winch for twice as long (for the same distance moved) is a reality when using a snatch block, two snatch blocks can help to reduce the load by half again, but that of course increases the work required further.

Another advantage of extra snatch blocks is that you can change the angle of the pull or gain a more safe position to work...

actually,

Work = Force x Distance

You do the same amount of work but by doubling the distance you half the force required.



--Irek