Winch for my Truck??
- Thread starter trook
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Force is force so if the second truck with a chain and spinning tires can achieve enoough pulling power it can pull you out. That said, a winch will sustain the pull and not cause the impact that jerking on a chain does. If stuck in sticky mud half the problem may be braking the suction and getting the truck to move the first small amount.
Also, think broader. A winch is a tool and like many tools once you have one you will wonder how you ever lived without it. I have hooked the winch line to a tree to insure it fell where I wanted it to go, put a snatch block in the rafters of the barn and lifted a load of steel off the deck of a trailer, etc. Pull smoothly, don't jerk and many things will come out better in the end. Treat it like a tool to. It requires maintenance. Keep the line spooled tight and kink free and the wire rope will last a long time. Exercise it occasionally if you are not using it often to make sure it is lubricated and the electrical contacts are clean. If you don't take care of it, it will let you down when you need it most (Murphy's law).
Also, think broader. A winch is a tool and like many tools once you have one you will wonder how you ever lived without it. I have hooked the winch line to a tree to insure it fell where I wanted it to go, put a snatch block in the rafters of the barn and lifted a load of steel off the deck of a trailer, etc. Pull smoothly, don't jerk and many things will come out better in the end. Treat it like a tool to. It requires maintenance. Keep the line spooled tight and kink free and the wire rope will last a long time. Exercise it occasionally if you are not using it often to make sure it is lubricated and the electrical contacts are clean. If you don't take care of it, it will let you down when you need it most (Murphy's law).
A crane uses a winch. A wrecker uses a winch. The pull is the same except one can be controled much more than the other. The company I used to workfor had 400 ton cranes that were hyd. Some stucks occur when your fifty feet off road in snow or mud. That is alot of chains ,rope,and work. Someone mention that mud does not ,"suck". Put a pair of boots on and go for a walk in 12'' of mud. You will feel the pull that mud has. After further thought do not get a winch. Some people just do not need them.
The force that a second truck can use is limited by its weight and traction.
A winch can be hooked to something less easily moved than another truck, e.g. a tree or the ground via a boat anchor if the nearest tree is 200 ft away and you have a100 ft cable.
Even if you have to resort to using another truck with the winch to pull yours towards you may be able to chock the wheels of that one to prevent pulling it towards your truck.
Either way can be VERY dangerous - - I'm not sure that I trust the wisdom/judgement of people who get stuck, or even contemplate needing a winch in case they get stuck (-:
As in "Why would you even GO there ?"
(-:
Sockwell
Silver Member
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- Coosa County AL
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- Kubota L5740-HSTC,CC/Y EX3200, 1950 8N
I have had several trucks through the years and all have had winches, whether they be Warn or Ramsey. FWIW, you will always use the winch to get other folks out more than yourself. You will become popular.
I'm off road a lot and am usually by myself (hunting). The winch on my last and current truck (F250's) was/is the Warn Power Plant HD. This is Warn's combination winch/air compressor. I seldom use the winch (it's there for insurance), but the air compressor is used all the time. I've used it for airing up tractor, truck, trailer and bike tires, running an impact to change tires, airing up beach floats. Have even used it to blow off the Kubota radiator screen when mowing.
If you're by yourself a lot off road, you also need to look at a winch anchor. I bought a Pull-Pal. Like a lot of folks, I've been stuck before with no tree in sight. Had to walk out to get a buddy, all the while with a useless winch on the front of the truck.
I'm off road a lot and am usually by myself (hunting). The winch on my last and current truck (F250's) was/is the Warn Power Plant HD. This is Warn's combination winch/air compressor. I seldom use the winch (it's there for insurance), but the air compressor is used all the time. I've used it for airing up tractor, truck, trailer and bike tires, running an impact to change tires, airing up beach floats. Have even used it to blow off the Kubota radiator screen when mowing.
If you're by yourself a lot off road, you also need to look at a winch anchor. I bought a Pull-Pal. Like a lot of folks, I've been stuck before with no tree in sight. Had to walk out to get a buddy, all the while with a useless winch on the front of the truck.
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BobRip
Elite Member
There is a lot to learn about getting unstuck. I bought a video called "Getting Unstuck" with Bill Burke and found it very helpful. Patience, planning, and practice are very important. I have found it necessary to lift one end of my tractor to get it unstuck at times. You may need more pull than the weight of the vehicle. I have some swamp and yes I have said to myself "why did I go there". There are areas I have driven over 5 times and the sixth time I got stuck. There are many tools besides a winch that are used.
HCJtractor
Veteran Member
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- Jan 28, 2009
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- upstate South Carolina, Greenville
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- Kubota M6800, Massey Ferguson 240
Another unmentioned advantage of a winch is the ability to redirect the path of pull by using a snatch block. In other words, when using a vehicle to pull out another, you are limited by the direction of travel, whereas with a winch, you can even pull at a right angle by redirecting the force with a block.
My winch became very popular with neighbors. I often used it for removing old shrubbery around houses instead of digging. My neighbor was out trying to dig up a large bush around his home. he has spent a few fruitless hours trying to uproot it. I hooked my winch to it and plucked it out in about a minute. After that, several other neighbors used my off-road landscaping service.
Winches are really useful, but certainly not necessary for most people.
My winch became very popular with neighbors. I often used it for removing old shrubbery around houses instead of digging. My neighbor was out trying to dig up a large bush around his home. he has spent a few fruitless hours trying to uproot it. I hooked my winch to it and plucked it out in about a minute. After that, several other neighbors used my off-road landscaping service.
Winches are really useful, but certainly not necessary for most people.
Mudfarmer
Gold Member
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- Dec 31, 2009
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- Western Washington
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- JD 3005, Kubota B2710, Kubota B2650 (sold the ford 1700 and kubota B7100)
Consider mounting your winch on a two inch receiver plate and put a 2 inch receiver on the front of your truck (in addition to the back). That combination is less expensive than a winch bumper and then you have the option of moving the winch to the back (be sure you have long enough heavy gauge cables to reach the battery) to pull out that way as well. Keep your winch in the toolbox, out of the weather. I've just described my setup - haven't had to use it with the truck, but am always moving it over to my tractor to yard logs out of the tree farm.
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