Tractor winch.....

ODT · Apr 21, 2008

I'll throw this to the wind and see what y'all have to say.

I've got a customer who recently bought a sizeable chunk of land that includes a bit of swamp/marsh.

He's got a TC40 w/16LA loader, and he's looking to add a winch to the front end 'cause he's afraid of getting stuck and unable to get out.

Best I can figure is to mount an electric winch to the frame, but to ensure the loader crosstube has adequate clearance the mounting will need to hang down nearly to axle level, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

What say ye? How big of a winch might he need (figure the tractor with filled tires at 5300 lbs)?

Does anyone have another solution for mounting?

bigshovel · Apr 21, 2008

Having hunted big game in very remote locations in the western states and Canada,a winch becomes part of daily life for me for about a month every year. I know this for sure: A winch needs to be capable of being easily moved fore and aft of said stuck machine, definately above said buried in mud axles. Capacity should be at least 50 percent greater than weight of vehicle single line pull and I prefer a very slow 256:1 ratio, less stuff breaks going slower in my opinion and less heat is generated on the winch. More than one occasion I had to winch from rear of vehicle and acknowledged that going forward was not in my best interest or personal safety. I use a warn multi mount on front of vehicle and something like this could be rigged for front mounted position on a tractor and then wired to front and rear of tractor. Rear could mounted on a three point reciever type arrangement.

Brad

Treemonkey1000 · Apr 21, 2008

I have seen winches that mount on receiver hitches. Then make a receiver hitch or buy one that connects to your 3 point in the back of the tractor. You would have to run large battery cables back if you use electric. Or there are PTO winches as well that look pretty strong. If he drives in forward and gets stuck then having the winch on the back to pull himself backwards out of the hole seems like a good idea. Along with the FEL pushing you back out.

barneyrb · Apr 21, 2008

I've always wondered about using a hyd winch or using the PTO to drive a winch also. I too have hunted for 40 years and know that the strongest winch I ever had was a konig on a V-8 CJ-5. Has anyone ever done this?

3RRL · Apr 21, 2008

I don't have much winching experience, but I added a Mile Marker Hydraulic winch to my tractor. It's mounted to a platform that has a hitch welded to it, then I stick it into a receiver hitch. I have one on the front and rear so I can switch the winch pretty easily. It has hydraulic hoses which have quick connects that I can plug into my front or rear remotes.
Anyway, here's the thread with details in it if you're interested.
Mile Marker Hydraulic Winch

Treemonkey1000 · Apr 21, 2008

Farmi Skidding Winch

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/86703-how-make-3-point-power.html

A couple of quick links. I even have thought about a gas powered winch so that I don't have to worry about running down the battery if the motor has stalled and mount it on a receiver hitch..

ODT · Apr 22, 2008

Thanks for the replies, folks.

Silly me not running a site search first--shoulda know there would already be threads on here addressing this.

I'll follow up with final resolution once the customer makes a desicion.

studor · Apr 22, 2008

You did say afraid of being stuck in a swamp right?

Having had to winch my way out of too many bog holes and loon crap fields to remember my advice would be to buy a gas powered winch and a big danfoss type anchor. The problem with both PTO winches and electrics is that both rely on the tractor being running. (Sure an electric will run off the battery for some time but not for long!) Unfortunately my typical experience when being well and truly stuck in a swamp is the first thing that happens is whatever you are driving or riding quits. At that point forget you receiver hitches front and back etc -- the best place for a winch at that point is on a vehicle that isn't stuck! With the gas powered winches you can usually get yourself to dry ground by attaching to trees (or the anchor), solve the running problem and carry on -- Just an opinion, I know someone will vouch for their ability to get their super elevated four wheel drive enviro wrecking vehicle out of places an snapping turtle doesn't go -- but -- any fool can be uncomfortable and wading in a swamp to put on winch cables ceased to be my idea of fun the first time I did it.

Probably the best advice however is if you can't walk it don't try driving it with the tractor!

Having said all that I do have a remote control electric winch mounted on a receiver plate with twelve volt plug-ins on my vehicles cause I find it usefull for a whole host of other reasons including recovery of other guys who seem to like to be uncomfortable!

RobJ · Apr 22, 2008

Studor makes some good points...

Both my truck and ATV's have a multi mount winch system that I made. Going forward is not always a good thing. However you can use a front winch and run the cable under and to the rear to winch out if needed. When I bought an 8000# truck winch I went with the Ramsey Permanant magnet model. This model has the same pull but only uses about 220amps. The Warn series wound motor says it better for longer pulls but uses about 450 amps. I don't mind going slower as long as I'm going.

You would also be surprised what a nice high lift jack (or tractor jack) will do for you in pull power. Or even a el cheapo come-along will save your butt.

But notice I didn't mention my tractor. I don't take the tractor anywhere close to where it will get stuck. I did get it stuck once when I went through a ditch and the BH hung me up and I got stuck. But after 1 wheel turn in the mud I went for the truck and pulled it out. No rocking it in the mud only burying it further. That BH was a 500# anchor on a 2000# tractor!!

Good Luck,
Rob

RobJ · Apr 22, 2008

Studor makes some good points...

Both my truck and ATV's have a multi mount winch system that I made. Going forward is not always a good thing. However you can use a front winch and run the cable under and to the rear to winch out if needed. When I bought an 8000# truck winch I went with the Ramsey Permanant magnet model. This model has the same pull but only uses about 220amps. The Warn series wound motor says it better for longer pulls but uses about 450 amps. I don't mind going slower as long as I'm going.

You would also be surprised what a nice high lift jack (or tractor jack) will do for you in pull power. Or even a el cheapo come-along will save your butt.

But notice I didn't mention my tractor. I don't take the tractor anywhere close to where it will get stuck. I did get it stuck once when I went through a ditch and the BH hung me up and I got stuck. But after 1 wheel turn in the mud I went for the truck and pulled it out. No rocking it in the mud only burying it further. That BH was a 500# anchor on a 2000# tractor!!

Good Luck,
Rob