Advise on winch for tractor

[1savoy]

Cory2,

You may want to check out www.pullpal.com These are an anchoring system the truck guys have used for years. I have thought about adding a winch for the same reasons you are. I would personally install the winch in the front. A rolling load does not require a very high line pull, but the suction from mud does. I would think you will want a winch with a rating 1.5 times the weight of your 4020. This should put you in the 15,000 lb range. You can also use a snatch block to double your line pull, but cut your line speed in half. You may want to check out Warn, Ramsey, Superwinch, and MileMarker to name a few. Sorry to ramble and good luck.

Russ

 

[sandman2234]

I agree that a margin is needed for a stuck tractor, but i am wondering if it is needed since you will be driving the wheels with the tractor. If the tractor is dead, or broke, then you will need every bit of at least 1.5 times the weight.
However, a winch of that size isn't cheap, unless you find a used/not abused one. A PTO winch, with a hydraulic motor might be a better option, since they are will do a better job for less money. Plus, the electric motor has a duty cycle that you will ignore when you are faced with a stuck tractor, fading daylight, rising water, sinking tractor, etc, and end up frying the electric motor, stranding you and your tractor for hours while you go find another motor, or the neighbor you didn't want to bother.
Mounting a PTO winch of any size on the tractor could be interesting, because they tend to have some serious pull, and need to be anchored well.
The one I have sitting in the garage is a 20 ton Bradenton. Check out dead wreckers and surplus Military vehicles for them. Mine has forward/reverse on it, but most don't. Shouldn't matter if you use the right valve. Remember that unless plumbed correctly, a hydraulic motor will free-wheel when you stop pulling. (Think of stuck in a ditch, and halfway up the side, you get off to pick up your hat) The tractor will roll!! Use the correct valves to stop all movement.
David from jax

 

[RobJ]

WEll I've gotten a few 4020's and 4230's stuck in my life. Much to my Grandaddys disappointment. It usually only takes about 2-3 turns of the wheels to get down to the axles. Then you are talking about a 2 foot drop off rut. Of course the belly is dragging. With a 10,000 tractor you need plenty of power. A hydraulic is the only way to go. Might be able to rig a front and rear using the quick disconnects. Electric? don't know about that one. Of course I'd still steer clear of any trouble (something I couldn't do as a teen) and call the neighbor if needed. Of course a tractor is not always the best, my Uncle got 3 stuck in a row his first year of farming. All 4230's.

 

[andrewj]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( WEll I've gotten a few 4020's and 4230's stuck in my life. Much to my Grandaddys disappointment. It usually only takes about 2-3 turns of the wheels to get down to the axles. Then you are talking about a 2 foot drop off rut. Of course the belly is dragging. With a 10,000 tractor you need plenty of power. A hydraulic is the only way to go. Might be able to rig a front and rear using the quick disconnects. Electric? don't know about that one. Of course I'd still steer clear of any trouble (something I couldn't do as a teen) and call the neighbor if needed. Of course a tractor is not always the best, my Uncle got 3 stuck in a row his first year of farming. All 4230's. )</font>

man I would have loved to sit at the thanksgiving table and heard the three tractor stuck story at the expense of uncle!

 

[mrutkaus]

What are the chances that the winch you mounted will be in the right place when you really need it?

That is I once pulled upright an overturned tractor using a portable electric winch (they have them up to a chinese-rated 15,000 lb).

A winch mounted on the front or rear wouldn't have worked...

Mike

 

[greg_g]

I'd personally be afraid what a 15K electric winch would do to the tractor's electrical system. They pull some serious amps, and I doubt the alternator could replenish the battery as fast as a 15K winch would drain it. Have you considered using your drive wheel(s) as a winch? As long as you haven't killed the engine, you've got plenty of built-in engine torque to pull yourself out.

Shouldn't be too hard to fabricate a large pulley with bolt holes to match your rear tire bolt pattern. Truck rims or a dual type tractor rim come to mind. Attach rated rope or chain to the "pulley rim", the other end to your anchor of choice. If it's behind you, reel in the rope/chain in reverse. If it's in front of you, reel in the chain/rope in a forward gear. If it were my project, I'd put a "pulley" on both rears, configure a Y-type chain/rope, and walk out with diff lock engaged.

//greg//

 

[RobJ]

[quoteman I would have loved to sit at the thanksgiving table and heard the three tractor stuck story at the expense of uncle! )</font>

hehe, couldn't of happened to a nicer uncle if you know what I mean... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Same uncle that pull the keys from my Granddaddys tractors so I couldn't take any joy rides. The story is simple, we use to run 3 tractors to plant late soybeans in virgin ground, 1 heavy disc, second lighter disc, then a drag. After that we'd bring the drill in. One gets stuck, hook up, 2 stuck, then 3, then they're walking out. I wasn't working this field and good thing becuase somehow it would have been my fault for sure. Folks said they had never seen my grandaddy so mad, he just drove up, looked at the mess, got in and drove off without saying a word. Man that's almost worse than a beating. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Boondox]

How about a set of double ring chains for more bite? If you're brushhogging you won't care about a little scuffing or a rough ride, and the chains would give you a better margin for getting out of mucky situations.

Pete

 

[RonR]

My two cents:

I'd skip the idea of a winch. Go buy some good heavy chain and/or a tow rope that's plenty heavy for what you need.

Explain to your neighbor that you really appreciate his help. Sweeten this with a promise to reciprocate, plus a nice gift certificate to the finest restaurant around every time you impose.

Tell your neighbor you hope you can get more knowledge on your property so you don't require his help & tractor as often, but that you REALLY appreciate it.

That will be much cheaper and safer than any winch. When you are talking that much weight and that big of winch, a lot of bad things can happen.

Of course, towing with another tractor is not that safe either. But you can pick your poisin.

Best wishes,
ron

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If it's behind you, reel in the rope/chain in reverse. If it's in front of you, reel in the chain/rope in a forward gear )</font>

Hope that tractor has rops....

I think if it were me.. for safety.. I'd put the tractor in reverse.. and loop it over the rim.. and pull out forward... otherwise you risk flipping the tractor up on end.. etc. You want the engine power, against the tow rope to be putting down pressure ont he front of the tractor.

Soundguy