Winches. How often do you use them?

Submitted: Friday, May 06, 2011 at 11:54
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I know how useful a winch is, but how often do people use them? I've had one fitted to the Hilux for 4 years and never used it. Know I'm outfitting a new tourer and am wondering whether to put one on or not???
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Reply By: SIF4X4 - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:10

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:10
When we were younger and driving to all kinds of places in rough or muddy country the winches got a workout. My current winch has been on for 7 years and used twice to extract a mates 4by from a deep bog. Other times it has been used around my property for fencing and tree work :-)

Even if it doesn't get used that often I would rather have one sitting there just in case. When you have one fitted you may not need it. When you don't have one fitted you will definitely need one...Murphy's Law
AnswerID: 453429

Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:14

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:14
we lived and worked in the bush for 8 years before we fitted one, i simply got it cheap and use our car for a bit of recovery work so "may" need it, i dont think i would bother fitting one to the next car unless i plan on going to places where i know that no one else will be seen for a while ..........
They add a lot of weight, you have electricial changes needed to install them and after having been out bush for some time it seems to give the operator of the vehicle some misguided conception that they can get further in trouble and then get out, by the time you are bogged bad enough to use the winch it is far to wet to go any further so your trip is changed anyway, without a winch you would stop short and save yourself heaps of time in getting out ....
They are a bit like snorkles, just about every car washed off a crossing has a snorkle, without it they would not have attempted to do it, we never had snorkle for 6 years either.
My opinion these days is invest in the best sat phone and ALWAYS record the local numbers of services where you are about to travel in and you will be far better placed for any "problem" you may encounter......
Cheers
Joe
AnswerID: 453430

Reply By: Diesel 'n Dust - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:30

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:30
How often do you get bogged??

lol


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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:38

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:38
My Warn 9000 came with my used vehicle but I've only used it once, and that was just to help with a stump in the garden ! I nearly used it the other day in the outback to help a bloke who was stuck, but it turned out a good push was all he needed (bugger :-o). I'm not into rock crawling or swamp splashing, so IF I was setting up another fourbie, I'd ensure the bullbar was winch compliant, but leave it off the list for now - spend my bickies on other toys.
AnswerID: 453434

Reply By: Mr Pointyhead - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:48

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 12:48
I usually use mine a few times a year. Usually for simple things where rain has made a reasonably tracks extra slipery. Usually not particularly steep of boggy.

I think it depends on the climate where u travel. When I lived in QLD when it was so wet it was so wet you did not go out with tracks flooded etc.

In Vic where i currently live it is wet and miserable for probably half the year, and Tracks can get slipery where a little help from a winch can make all the difference. Similary with the need for a snorkle. In the high country you often do crossings where a snorkle is very good insurance, even though they are not that deep or fast flowing.



AnswerID: 453436

Reply By: Member -Pinko (NSW) - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 13:08

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 13:08
If your stuck and you wait for someone to 'come along' and they have a winch well that will be no problem but if that 'someone' thinks he will endanger his vehicle and may be get into the same predicament as you then you may remain stuck.
Living is a journey,it depends on where you go !
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AnswerID: 453438

Reply By: Siringo - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 13:25

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 13:25
Yeah, I'm still up in the air. I like to be self sufficient, I spent alot of my youth bogged, it's not much fun asking for help sometimes.

I insure my 4by but I don't use the insurance much either.

Anyone used any of the winches with wireless controllers??? Wondering how reliable they are and if you can plug in a 'wired' controller as well??
AnswerID: 453439

Follow Up By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 15:03

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 15:03
The wireless is normaly a added option and doesn't replace the cable controller.

Cheers
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Reply By: Wilko (Parkes NSW) - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 13:54

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 13:54
Hi Siringo,


I've had mine for 5 years and used it once to extract me out of a bog and once to get another persons car out. Ive used it 8 times for other things. Winching a tinny down and up a steep bank at Louth 5 times, winching fallen trees twice and lifting a beast off the ground prior to butchering once.

Ive got mine temp mounted. It attaches any a regular Hayman reese tow bar receiver. I've had one installed on the bullbar so now I can easily winch from front or back. It also doesnt get exposed to mud dust and grime if t was permanently mounted.

Cheers Wilko
AnswerID: 453443

Reply By: Pete Jackman (SA) - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 14:02

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 14:02
I have a tirfor. I have not needed it for myself. The only time I was so badly bogged that some shovel work and reduced tire pressures could not get me out it was back in the garage (I was only 10km from home!)
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Reply By: Siringo - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 14:03

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 14:03
Just a FYI, I replaced my cable winch wire with rope. The cable weighed 15kg's the rope weighed 2kg's. So you can save some weight by going rope.
AnswerID: 453446

Reply By: Member - Doug T (NT) - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 15:20

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 15:20
If you have one and don't use it then that's good, if you don't have one and need one, that's not good.

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Follow Up By: guzzi - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 17:06

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 17:06
Yep,
better to have it and not need it , than need it and not have it.
Take it off and see how soon you'd need it, its the way of things......

The advise on rope vs weight is true.
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Follow Up By: Stu & "Bob" - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 15:22

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 15:22
Agree, better to be looking at it than for it...

.
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Reply By: Motherhen - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 15:44

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 15:44
Ours works - as an insurance - because we have never needed to use it. We don't do any extreme stuff, just touring, but would need to get our big vehicle and heavy caravan out of trouble and not rely on others so we have a Warn winch on the bar.

Motherhen

PS the Max Trax were insurance too - and well worthwhile when needed only once.
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AnswerID: 453452

Reply By: john & fi - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 17:49

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 17:49
Hi,

I've been outfitting the LC for the last 6 months in prep for our big trip around oz and did a lot of research on this exact question a few months ago.

I want to have 'insurance' and be self sufficient if we ever got into trouble but was weighing up the cost & weight of a winch.

I ended up buying a manual winch - it will be hard going to use it if required but then at least you know it'll get you out.

And you can also use it around the garden for stumps, etc.

AnswerID: 453463

Reply By: Member - Scrubby (VIC) - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 17:59

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 17:59
Carried my warn around on the front of the 60 series for 25 years before I needed to use it.
Then last year while crossing the Simpson Desert I needed it, and boy did I need it, bogged for 7 hours, burnt out the solenoids, and stuffed the wire cable.
So you never know when ....... ?????

I have now repaired it and fitted synthetic rope.

Image Could Not Be Found

Scrubby.


AnswerID: 453464

Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 11:29

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 11:29
Hi Scrubby.

What did you use to winch against pls?

Cheers.
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 13:43

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 13:43
Dig a hole and bury a spare.
It must be deep though. Well over the top of the tyre. If it is not deep enough you will just have to do it all over again.


Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhomer
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Follow Up By: Member - Scrubby (VIC) - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 19:11

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 19:11
G`day JB & Peter,
Peter after trying for some time to dig a hole deep enough to stand the spare up in and not succeeding because of a rock like base about two feet down, I then tried a circular hole and laid the spare down in this but that didn`t work either.
My offsider ( seen in pics) got sick of me stuffing about and wandered off disgusted. LOL
Image Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found


We had two vehicles travelling together, both of which were bogged, we gave up on mine for a while and concentrated on the other, a 200 series L/C. Several hours later after a lot of digging and two broken MaxTrax we managed to get it forward of mine but a considerable distance away, using the full length of my winch cable and two snatch straps joined together we just reached it.
I know, it`s not good using snatch straps for winching but hey,we had been at this task for nearly 7 hours and we were willing to try anything.
With both diffs and auxiliary fuel tank etc. resting in the mud there was a lot of strain on the winch, being a single line pull the solenoids over heated and burnt out and the cable had buried itself into the cable on the drum and shredded about 75% of its thickness in several places along its length.
But we got out eventually.

Scrubby
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FollowupID: 726377

Follow Up By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 20:20

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 20:20
Thanks scrubby.

Pretty epic; glad it wasn't me.

Cheers.
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Follow Up By: Tonyfish#58 - Monday, May 09, 2011 at 16:34

Monday, May 09, 2011 at 16:34
Image Could Not Be Found

Yes again in the Simpson 2010 - deep enough is the key - I tried 3 times on this one - I tried to cheat and save time - does not work - do the big hole first up

Cheers Tony
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Reply By: burnsy - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 18:00

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 18:00
I have used mine about 3 times in the last 12 months.
1 to pull a tree out of the way.
2 Pulled my bobcat out of a bog I shouldn't have gotten into.
3 to lift a stay picket out at my cousins place during Easter break.
AnswerID: 453465

Reply By: blue one - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 20:58

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 20:58
In the 10 years I have had a winch I have used it 3 times when I really needed it.

As the Missus and I normally travel alone all I can say is it is worth having one.

Of course I have used it for gardening large trees and the usual chores.

Though when I have been stuck I it has been worth it's weight in gold.

Wouldn't go away without one.

Cheers

Steve
AnswerID: 453485

Reply By: landseka - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 21:04

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 21:04
If you are going to fit a winch, put it on the back of the car. If you get in trouble you can get back out. Not much joy getting pulled further into the crud!
AnswerID: 453487

Follow Up By: Crackles - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 22:53

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 22:53
Clearly if we are driving in a forward direction the majority of the time then thats the way you need to go. Only a pessimist fits a winch to the rear ;-)
As a side issue our work in their wisdom fitted a winch to the rear of a Nissan Patrol in order to save a few dollars by not installing a bull bar. End result was a poorly balanced vehicle that lifts a front wheel at the sight of a bump & locks them up under brakes.
Cheers Craig............
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Follow Up By: River Swaggie - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 13:28

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 13:28
I understand where your coming from Landseks thats why they hav designed a cradle to fit your rear hitch and all you need to do is weld a hitch reciever to your front bullbar...Use anderson plugs front and rear for power and BINGO..

I'd go down this track if i did not have my current setup....

Seen this setup in action and saved us a 40-50 minute travel in mud and slush to pull out backwards as the front was on the edge of a very steep drop...

TIGERZ11 PORTABLE HITCH RECEIVER WINCH CRADLE MOUNT 4x4
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FollowupID: 726334

Follow Up By: landseka - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 17:13

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 17:13
That is the type thing I would have if going serious off-roading again.

Another benefit is there is no need to get the winch wet & muddy unless you actually need to use it, keep it in the back of the ute / car.

Even if you want to proceed onwards as Crackles said, you can pull back out of the bog then find a better way around.

Cheers Neil
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FollowupID: 726351

Follow Up By: Crackles - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 21:54

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 21:54
While in theory the portable electric winches that mount on tow bars may appear convienient, in practice unloading a 20kg winch in a bog hole or on the side of a steep hill & fitting it up is not easy if not dangerous in many circustances. Long power leads & plugs cause power loss so all round they are a poor option & possibly why so few people fit them.
In my experience 90% of the time recoveries would be in a forward direction as when getting stuck you often only just fall short meaning a winch of less than 10 to 15 metres. (Unless of course you're out there looking for trouble in which case it pays to go in a group)
Cheers Craig..............
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FollowupID: 726403

Follow Up By: River Swaggie - Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 17:11

Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 17:11
I can only go on what happened,He carried it out of the rear of his vehicle,obviously already in the cradle ready to go,Removed the bolt in the Patrols hitch and slid the cradle in and the bolt,Hooked it to his Andesron Plug (this car had one in the rear too)....Flicked the switch to Freespool,I ran it up to a tree with a tree protector,probably 20-25 metres out to nearest tree for the recovery angle and the guy that owned the winch was near me with his remote control,and bingo pulled the Nissan Patrol off the side of the track where it needed to be and back into the clay rut's (Bunyip State Forest),there didnt seem to be any loss of power to the winch etc etc...For your own vehicle i would run bigger amperage wires to the rear.It worked in this case and saved a lot of hassle.

Pulled the winch out the hitch and put it back in his car...We were on the downward side of a hill no one would hav driven up or past,hence driving all the way back around...

I would have to think my ARB Recovery gear bag would weigh 15-20 kilo's and its never a prob.
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 17:54

Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 17:54
In an ideal situation like that Swaggie I can see how it would work fine. Now imagine this guy below trying to get that winch out of the back................ or on the side of a steep hill................... or in a deep bog hole. I suppose it's a matter of getting the right recovery equipment to cover the situation we find ourselves in.
Cheers Craig..........

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FollowupID: 726477

Reply By: Crackles - Friday, May 06, 2011 at 23:10

Friday, May 06, 2011 at 23:10
Well I must be the exception as I'd use mine at least 30 to 40 times a year. Clearing trees off High Country tracks, car body retrieval, stump removal, setting up a flying fox for the kids, straining fences, self recovery & by far the most, recovering other vehicles. (And that doesn't include using any of the 6 winches we have at work)
Cheers Craig...............
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Warn Ti 9500lb synthetic rope.
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AnswerID: 453500

Reply By: skulldug - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 10:39

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 10:39
Siringo,

Had my current set up for 7 months. Used it twice to get out of sticky situations and 5 times to winch the caravan out of its sleeping place.

Good value for me.

Skull
AnswerID: 453515

Reply By: Member - Robert R1 (SA) - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 11:43

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 11:43
I have had a Tirfor type winch for 8 years and only got it out of its bag a couple of months ago to pull out a stump in my back yard. It is heavy and has to be stored somewhere but I always take it just in case.


Regards,
Bob
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AnswerID: 453519

Reply By: spudseamus - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 12:12

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 12:12
when i bought my first 4x4 I asked my friend ,who was a very experienced 4x4er at that stage, should I put a winch on ! his advice was --no--- "it only get you in deeper" lol! so i didnt and never had one to this day -- not having one does seem to make you get out of the 4x4 more and have a look at where you are taking the truck into !
AnswerID: 453520

Reply By: Siringo - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 18:37

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 18:37
Thanks for the all the advice folks, much appreciated. I think I will go with a winch and rope, it's a good insurance policy I reckon.

Nice to know what everyone thinks though. ;-)
AnswerID: 453554

Reply By: Hairs - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 18:45

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 18:45
Winches!
Damn, I thought it read Wenches.
Wrong forum.
Dohlt.
:)
AnswerID: 453555

Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl (QLD) - Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 19:17

Saturday, May 07, 2011 at 19:17
Gotch cha he he he he
yep!
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 07:47

Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 07:47
Appologies to those who have seen this before...

My Warn 16.5Ti has 2 power sources, one front and one rear, and a 3.5m extension cord. It can be attached to anywhere on the vehicle (or even somewhwer else). All the ropes are 12.5T capacity.

Theoretically (?) I can put the vehicle back on its wheels if it falls over.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome.
AnswerID: 453590

Follow Up By: River Swaggie - Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 17:13

Sunday, May 08, 2011 at 17:13
Youve got it covered Pete...lol
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FollowupID: 726470

Reply By: lisa z - Monday, May 09, 2011 at 15:28

Monday, May 09, 2011 at 15:28
if you never use your winch,,when you start to trip,,you should to check your winch,press in or out with no load.
AnswerID: 453730

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