Electric Winches

Cheers Damien,

I can assure you that I am bloody close to taking this further. However I will not do so until I know 100% that I won't get the result I deserve.

What really $hits me is that when I spoke the the manager (owner?) today, he sounded like he really had no clue as to how a winch works except that it winds in and out and it can get your car unstuck. He kept going on about my batteries not being fused to each other (I run a dual starting / winching battery setup) and that if they were then this wouldn't have happened - you show me any installation where you put a fuse inline with a winch - actually, show me a 450Amp automotive fuse!

I have an independant auto elecy looking over the winch and car tomorrow to give his opinion.

Regards
David

Ah Grungle, I sympathise with you as i'm sure many others do. We are heading to Cape Melville this year and would be devasted after all the planning not to be able to go. My wife missed out last year due to ill health.
I would also like to see a fuse or circuit breaker available large enough to cope with the current a winch draws. The physical size of a breaker designed to break 450amps A/C is about the size of those 500gm tubs of butter to break 450amps DC it would have to be a larger still and three times the price. Be good though...

As a business owner (electrical contractor): If a client has a problem with my work I want to get it fixed ASAP because
A) I don't want the stress
B) I know what its like to not to be completely happy with work I've paid for
and c) ITS PART OF RUNNING A BUSINESS you have to look after the customer Sometimes mistakes are made and you have to suck it up. Just last week my apprentice put his big hoof through a clients ceiling for the SECOND time- surprisingly expensive mistake. Little bugger but hes learning and i seriously doubt he will do it again anytime soon. Quick call (well rather long winded actually ) to insurance and painters and plasters are on their way.

My point in my own long winded way:
Cause stress to the owner make him want you to go away
Tell him exactly what you want and what you next course of action will be if you don't get it.
Put it in writing
Remember he probably wants to help but doesn't want the expense
If he installs items on vehicles then there is a good chance he has public liabilty insurance

Hope some of this makes sense. It does to me but I'm on my third port. One more and its goodnight

Cheers..hic...
Jim

Hi Jim,

I know all about honest mistakes and trying to please the customer. I manage a store that handles carkit installs as a small part of the business. So far this year we have had to replace a couple of trim/panels due to techs scratching/breaking them. At the end of the day we do it without question but at least my techs know to tell me straight away when they have stuffed up so that I have a solution for the customer before they pick their car up. I also don't fob the customer off and try to make them feel guilty which is what this company is doing to me.

I am getting worried about all the phone calls which is how everyone is communicating with me. I am sure that people will start denying things said and so on however I am clinging to the fact that my insurance company has a repair guarentee which means that things are fixed ASAP if I am not happy with the result.

Have another port for me cause I could sure go one.

Regards
David

It is good to hear that you know how it is to be on the receiving end of a customer complaint as i beleive that will aid you in your quest. It gives you an insight on how to proceed.

I had a port for you and another for me but I am starting to think you should have had your own.... Goodnight

G'day Batboy,

When is Cape Melville for you, we are there in Sept.

Kind regards

G'day Beatit, we are heading from the Gold Coast on 20 July and will be back by 20 August. We won't even be able to wave as you go by but will be able to let you know where to fish are (if we leave any)

We are planning to spend at least 3 weeks in the Melville area and return via Maytown. Hopefully we will find the right way out of Maytown this time!

Cheers Jim

Hope you have a great time and leave some fish! Mind you, I have a reputation of scaring them away - so it probably doesn't matter. We did Maytown in 1994 and we were somewhat green at the time, ended up going down the Cobb & Co track from Laura - this was rough and scary. We also got lost and ended up at a gold mine, the guys there were great and steered us in the right direction. The other thing that remains vivid is the length of time it took us to do that "short" track - took us nearly all day.

I think a good map and GPS would help.

Kind regards

Hi beatit, Due to change of plans we will now be heading to Melville about 24/8/07
leaving from the gold coast. After a trip to the Brisbane camping show we have now sold our camel beachcomer and are awaiting delivery of an Ultimate due in early August.
Our rig is now getting quite distinctive being a gold GU ute with aluminium toolboxs built in, and now towing an ultimate. If you see us say gidday.
I must change my screen name though. Not real cool is it. "Hi i'm batboy from exploreoz you must be Beatit" LOL

Cheers Jim

G'day Jim,

We may cross paths, presuming you're still going for a month. We are planning for a 15 Sept departure from Brisbane, 2 days to Cairns and 2 days to Cape Melville via Laura and Kalpower (overnighting here). I'd say we will beheading in opposite directions. Hope the new trailer goes OK - not much time to apply the personal touch.

Kind regards

Theo

Bummer I think we are actually only away for 4 weeks so I expect we would be in Laura about the same time as you . If not we will probably pass you as you head toward Kalpower. Our intended route is up through the Starke coastal road and out by Kalpower and Lakefield then home via Maytown.
Have a good un

Cheers James

What UHF channel do you use? We will be a convoy of two, Green 80 series towing+tinnie and ours on channel 16 usually

G'day Jim,

We'll most likely have 4 vehicles (my Nissan, Rodeo, very old triton and a current model hilux - all towing trailers). We normally use channel 29.

Kind regards

Theo

Thanks Robin, I really hope that is the case as I just want things to be back to normal.

Regards
David

Thanks Tim - exactly what I was after. I will call tomorrow.

My winch is around 8 years old and since then it has been rebuilt twice - once by an auto elecy and the other by myself. First time was changing vehicles so thought it could use a good service before going onto the Patrol (around 3 years of age). It was still working fine. Second time I rebuilt it myself as a solenoid failed and decided to repaint and regrease the winch and replace the solenoid pack all at the same time. This was around 2 years ago. Apart from the faulty solenoid (which was picked up on a pre-trip inspection done by myself) it has worked faultlessly.

I am familiar with the winch due to the maintenance done so far but know that if the F1 and F2 cables are reversed, the winch will operate in the opposite direction to that intended. However I do not know what would happen if the F1 or F2 are reversed with the Armature.

Regarding your last question, I will just say 'yes' at this stage.

Regards
David

Hi James,

Just arrived back from 3 weeks in the Cape and I can say yes things are all sorted (except for a couple of very minor issues that I will chase up this week).

I had to use the winch once and what a winch it was!!!

Got hopelessly bogged on the North bank of Canal Creek on the OTL in this slop that was above knee deep. Single line pull until it would go no more and then double line pull until out. All up took around 40 minutes to winch out and the winch worked perfectly. It's only an 8000lb Warn and the car and camper was around 2.8T + 2.8T = 5.6T (roughly) hence the need to double line it.

Got some good photo's so will post as soon as I am organised.

Regards
David