HELP A WENCH WITH A WINCH

Submitted: Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:44

ThreadID: 51605 Views:3372 Replies:5 FollowUps:13

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ozchic

Hi guys,
We are newbies to 4x4 with a newly purchased 80 series cruiser. We are just starting to get the bug, and with a few trips around Gembrook, we are looking to get more serious.
I am looking to add a winch, but because we are just starting out, don’t want to spend a fortune. Looking at between $400 - $600. I have been checking out ebay and have found a few cheapies from Oz Auctions. The brand I think is Raiden, and it’s a 9500lb with remote for $399.00, there is also a Kew6000 for $395.00. Any advice good or bad would be heaps appreciated. Would this be good enough to get us out of a jam?
Thanks

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Reply By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:49

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:49

For that money go for a Big Haul hand winchLink

with the shackles and other stuff it will be about $500.

More work than an electric winch but you sound fairly young and strong and it will work long after a cheap electric winch has broken.

In the area of winches I am a strong believer in that you get what you pay for.

Mike Harding

AnswerID: 271736

Follow Up By: ozchic - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:32

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:32

thanks for your advice Mike
greatly appreciated

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Reply By: ross - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:55

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:55

I would have a look through this winch comparison and see if you want to go the cheap route.

The problem with chap winches is they will let you down when you need them the most;)

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Follow Up By: ross - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:55

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:55

Site Link

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Follow Up By: ozchic - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:43

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:43

Thanks Ross

The cheap winch reminds me of a few guys I have know
:-)

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Reply By: RobAck - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:59

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 19:59

Welcome to the wonderful world of 4WD ownership and all the opportunities it can offer. With it comes the need to have a very good understanding of what you and your vehicle are capable of. Once you have got those basic driving and recovery skills you will be able to better understand and enjoy your vehicle and where it can take you.

Can I suggest that before you get too carried away with recovery equipment and particularly a winch, that you find a 4WD club and/or get some decent training first. That way you will gain a solid understanding of all aspects of 4WD ownership including the correct ways to drive and recover a vehicle.

A winch by the way is an "advanced" recovery tool and should only be operatedby highly trained and experienced users. Winching is a complex recovery and about as dangerous as most other recovery activities. We see enough people getting into dire straights using snatch straps and exhaust jacks simply by thinking they know what to do and finding they really should have got some training

Consider when making your purchase the following issues:

- who is going to warrant and repair it if it all goes wrong
- does it meet any Australian standards at all
- is it rated, the wiring, the wire rope, etc

I suggest your $600 would be better spent on some training by an approved service provider or 4WD club

Regards

Rob A

AnswerID: 271740

Follow Up By: ozchic - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:33

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:33

Thanks for your reply Rob,
Greatly appreciated.
I understand what you’re saying re experience, my partner is a bull at a gate kinda guy, so maybe I could use a winch to hold him back a little whilst learning what we are doing.

Thanks again

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Follow Up By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:33

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:33

Hi OzChic,

Rob above has made some very good points and his last sentence is really good advice. We have had a winch for over 15 years and only recently used it "for real" and that was to recover someone else. And in that time we have done a lot of driving off the bitumen and in fairly remote areas.

WE held off joining a club and doing club training for a long time - it wasn't until we eventually did some training that we realised how valuable it is. Training can also save you a fair amount by alerting you to things that you really need for the driving you intend doing, and enabling you to avoid buying things that aren't really necessary - at least until you are more experienced.

Whichever way you go, enjoy your driving and the trips that you do.

Val

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

Lifetime Member
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FollowupID: 534789

Follow Up By: ozchic - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:45

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 20:45

Thanks Val
We are looking forward to getting out there.
Your advice is appreciated
I will look around for local clubs, we head out to Gembrook (Vic) a fair bit, and have run into a lot of great ppl already.

:-)

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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 22:18

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 22:18

nothing less than a 10,000 for an 80 and thats with snatch block
probably a 12,000 would be more suitable.
I found this out the hard way

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Follow Up By: KSV. - Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 08:03

Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 08:03

Could you please explain what do you mean by "hard way"?
Cheers
Serg

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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 08:10

Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 08:10

yep ended up on the wrong end of a long walk when the warn 10,000 couldnt pull me out

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Follow Up By: KSV. - Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 12:18

Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 12:18

If you do not mind I still like to ask you elaborate a bit more. In particular how exactly did you stuck? Mud? Slope? Sand?
Cheers.

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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 15:55

Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 15:55

probably simular to conditions in my rig pick. Wet ground around a granite rock turn all the weathered granite into some kind of peat bog but can look fairly firm.
I had an eye out for an old well and strayed off the track. Within 1/2 a second the 80 was bellied out and all 4 wheels just idling.
Although soft the peat bog is still pretty firm making pulling a vehicle out more difficult than sloppy mud or sand.
last time i was bogged like that i used my hi lift to jack up all 4 wheels and used flakes of granite to pack under them and make a path back.
however i didnt have the hi lift on me (never again)

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Follow Up By: KSV. - Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 16:15

Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 16:15

Thnaks for telling. One more question - did you have difflocks?

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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 17:25

Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 17:25

No - they might have helped

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Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 22:57

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 at 22:57

I have a Warn 10,000 forsale. Model. M10000. Not a lucky fats cheap chow effort.

Just been fully serviced and complete (rope, hook, etc). But not going for $600..

Im lookin for $900 if your interested.

AnswerID: 271778