Hand Winch or Electric?

I ended up purchasing a winch compatible bar for my Patrol. I decided against purchasing an electric winch a purchased a Tirfor. For me it was the right decision. My 4wd really gets used (2 trips to Fraser, Double Simpson Crossing, Central Australia trip, Tasmania Trip and heaps of 4WD trips around VIC).

I have used the Tirfor once (Hard work) but peace of mind as I can winch in any direction.

All the people I know that have 4wd's have an electric winch and most of them have only used it once or twice.

Winches look really good on those 4WDs that have excessive lift all round - and are about as useful.

I took a Tirfor on one long trip - I must admit I did not have a fancy storage unit fitted to the vehicle - so it was in the way - heavy & we had to pull it out all the time. We did then get a winch fitted - only used it twice in 3 years & that has never been on a long trip - used it to recovery someone else only - they do add weight to the vehicle and so you may need a heavier pair on springs in the front - but it does get it out of the way. Then again you have to ensure you maintain them as if you do need it & it does not work due to corrision etc well your up the creek. I have seen bars including ARB with winch on the front crack - all that weight up the front bouncing on corrugations etc.

Ralsto,
I have an electric winch in my Patrol I've used it three times twice for my own benefit once for somebody else's. Hand winches are bulky and heavy, they are something elses to store when going on a trip. I like the comfort of having the winch, it's extra maintenance, I unwind it roughly every quarter to check it out, I rewind the wire by tying the winch wire to a power pole out side the house so i get some confidence it will work when I need it to.
If you have one you'll never use it, if you don't have one you'll wish you did one day I suspect. Lot of mula for that one occasion. Looks good anyway...........
My opinions as usual.

After all the good advice to my questions on this forum (look up post 22517), including on benefits of hand winches, we got a second hand Warn Winch and second hand ARB bullbar - i hope we don't need to use it - other than to check it is in good working order periodically. As Willem's travelling companion said, the Turfor is wonderful for keeping you out of the bog - if you've used it once - never again - you won't get bogged! Even my great big muscley son says he wouldn't use a hand winch - too much hard work. He is getting a second hand Warn also; he already has the ARB bullbar which i think cost him over a grand new.

An electric winch is like a first aid kit for your 4x4 . You hope you never have to use it but its great if you get stuck .
Would you buy a computer with no monitor.
Would you marry a woman that cannot cook.
One last warning............ They are very dangerous.

I've had a winch for 6 months and used it today for the first time, twice. I was no more than 1km from home at the time and snatching wasn't a realistic option in either case. Admittedly we were "playing" in muddy creeks which we could have avoided if we had wanted to and a bogging was always on the cards. Personally the piece of mind it gives me is worth the initial investment even if it never gets used again. A hand winch would have sufficed but I'd probably still be there pulling out the Yotas. ;)

Dear Ralsto

Just to add my bit. I have had both. Now I just have a hand winch. Why? I spent several years working out of Alice with a 4WD with an electric winch. Because I took care (because I was on the job, by myself and not playing 4WD) I very rarely got into a situation needing a winch. Generally I got stuck in sand and simply let the tyres down a bit more and drove out. However on those occasions that didn't work I wanted to pull the vehicle back as much as I wanted to pull it forward so the front mounted electric winch was limited in its use. When I was with others we simply used a snatch strap. The vast majority of the time the electric winchjust sat on the front as a solid mass which I was reminded of every time I hit a dip in the road. The wear and tear on the front end and heavier steering is just not worth it 99.99% of the time. I know the tirfors are heavy to cart around and laborious to use (so you have to be reasonably fit) but they are more flexible, can be carried away from the vehicle for other jobs and can be left in the garage when not out bush. Furthermore they are cheaper, you don't need to worry about wiring them up and replacing the front springs.

Regards,
Mark

Ralsto,

If you do buy an ARB winch bar please note that they are only designed to take Warn Winches. I have an ARB bar and had trouble fitting my Brawn winch to it

Go the Tirfor. You generally only need an electric winch if you don't know what you're doing or if you go looking for trouble. (Like me) In reality most recoveries are only 10 to 15 metres & although the Tirfor is hard work, it will get you out of most spots.
By having a winch on your car you are far more likely to get stuck simply because you will now take it more places it shouldn't go ;-)
Cheers Craig...
HZJ105 Ramsey 9500lb electric.

Ralsto

I have a Tirfor in my kit, I have not had to use it in recovery since 98 in some mud which we recovered the vehicle from the rear. Something that hasn't been mentioned is that you can use a block to give a 2:1 advantage if the going gets too tough. Obviously the length of the rope is halved but something can always be improvised. I carry a 30m winch ext strap as well.

Allan

Hi there, I have both, and since havin ghte hand winch have used it 5 times, four to winch forward, then went and bouhgt a elec winch after being winched out uphill in the Otways, I would have used my own winch if I had one, elec that is I wouldnt have had a chance, slippery footing, raining cats and dogs, ah well..... I see them as insurance or first aid, you have them but hope you dont need them, mines a premier winch, good and priced reasonably.

All the best

Bonz

Has anyone used a "portable electric winch" (Brawn I think)? I have seen one that can mount up to the tow bar for another option.

Andy.