hand winch advice needed

They are both hard work. I have used Tirfors years ago & have a BLACK RAT now. I think it was about $395 and has worked well on the 2 times I have had to use it. But like I said HADR Work.
You will most likly get answers that say you get what you pay for, but my one works.
Vince

I have had a Tirfor for 20 years. Apparently, when the patent ran out, all and sundry started to copy them (some almost exactly except for the quality). To my mind, they were and still are one of the best hand winches made. . . My thinkintg is probably old fashioned, but with a winch and the inherent dangers of winching I would not trust cheap Chinese copies. With a Tirfor and a snatch block I always reckoned that i could move pretty much anything! And they are certainly more versatile than a bullbar mounted winch , which I have also used extensively.

Marcel, many will tell you that you have already done a stupid thing buying a Landcruiser. Do not believe them for they not not what they say.

I had the same conundrum and wanted a Tirfor. In the end I opted for a BigHaul hand winch which I have used many times and it always works, its several hundreds cheaper than the Tirfor and in my opinion just as durable, and just as hard work.

Go Tirfor- the original and still the best....
and parts like shear pins and gripper teeth will be availale (if needed)..
They are still the preferred unit in underground coal mines - where they get covered in shyt, dirt, mud etc- give em a hose down and all good.

Marcel,

Would have to agree with Bonz.

First about the Landcruiser and about the Tifor.

I have had a Tifor since 1988 and have used quite a lot. When we do driver training we always use a Big Haul. The price difference between the Tifor and the Big Haul is enough to buy most of the other recovery gear that is required to winch.

Both winches work and are similar to set up and I have not had any problems with either. The occasional shake to get rid of any dirt and a complete break down and assemble will keep them good as new.

Wayne

Spend the extra and get the Tirfor - when you get sick of it you will find it sells quicker. You also get the piece of mind that it is the most proven hand winch on the market.

mate if your going to use the hand winch every month buy a tirfor if you reckon you may use once in a year or three buy a magnum or a big haul
i used to have tirfor about 20 years ago top gear used it once now i have a magnum had it 4 years and never had to use it in anger
see you greg

We have a Tirfor - bought second hand - and it has worked on those few occasions when needed. (Hard work on a slope even with Prado; would be more so with fully laden LC100.) But if it were me, I would get the Magnum (seems reputable brand) and put the savings towards thing like a snatch block (pulley) or two, plenty of winch extension straps and maybe a longer winch cable (so you can use two pulleys and not have to reconfigure every few metres).