Choosing a Winch

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Now that I have a 4x4, I figure a winch would be a really good idea, since I may do some trail trudging and who knows what else. Nothing too major, but still, you never know when you might have to pull a F*rd out of a ditch. #ad


So I'm trying to decide how big of a winch I need. I have a Superwinch S4500 with remote control and roller fairlead sitting in my garage, brand new and never used. Bought it a year ago with the intention of mounting it on my car trailer, but never did. Now I may sell it to get something bigger for the truck.

I realize that a rating of, say, 4500 lbs. in the case of my current winch, is for dragging an object that large. Put wheels on what you want to drag and it goes up. I seem to recall the instruction manual saying something about a rolling weight of like 18,000 lbs. could be pulled with this winch.

My question is this: When you're in a ditch (major incline) or up to your wheel wells in mud, how much does that change? Basically, I'm trying to figure out what I need to pull my truck with the Lance camper on it out of a pinch if needed... figuring on a truck weighing about 11,000 lbs.

Rob

 

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Rob, I'd go for a 12,000 Warn, and a snatch block. I personally run a Warn 8274 on my Blazer. This is the older upright design, and is supposed to be one of the stronger 8000 lb. models. However, I would like to eventually get a 12,000 as there have been times when the 8274 wasn't enough. The Blazer probably weighs around 5-6000 lbs. With a truck as heavy as your, I'd definitly get the 12,000. Other than the price, the biggest drawback to a larger winch is that as the rating goes up, the line speed goes down.

Pete

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

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I was afraid you were going to say that. #ad


Okay... anywhere I can get that beast for less than the $1095 price that 4wheelparts.com wants for it?

Yikes. It'll be a while before I get it...

Thanks!

Rob

 

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Rob,

Definitely the Warn12000. I got mine at http://www.desertrat.com/ . They had the best price at the time. I know that I paid less than $1k.

Berserker

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99 2500 QC LB 4x4 Auto, Laramie SLT, driftwood. Cummins 24v w/ 275 HP injectors & Banks Stinger Plus kit, EGT and Boost gauges on A-Pillar mount, Prime-Location fuel filter kit, MagHytec Diff and Trans covers, EZ Change oil drain plug, BFG 33x12. 50x16. 50, Procomp 2” stage II lift-kit, Rhino liner, Smittybilt nerf bars, Warn chrome Transformer brush guard w/Warn12000 winch, Tow Hooks, Xenon fender flares & Abbott Electronic Ratio Adapter. DTT's Valve Body & Torque Converter.

 

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Rob,

Me too. I've done a lot of stupid things with my truck (in addition to hanging all kinds of heavy crap on it) and my Warn has saved my bacon many, many times. It is a very easy install, particularly on a Warn brush guard and winch receiver (DUH!), but these are heavy trucks and there is no point in trying to save a couple hundred bucks trying get by with an underpowered winch. When you need a winch, you flat want it to work!

I've used my Warn (with snatch block, chain, recovery straps) to move trees out of roadways, boulders/stumps on our farm, and to pull lots of folks out of bad situations. With the Warn, a snatch block, and a "Danforth anchor" you can get your truck out of just about anything. I bought the Warn kit that is available with the winch. It is comprised of a red nylon bag which stores a length of heavy chain, a heavy-duty recovery strap, high quality snatch block and heavy leather gloves. The gloves are a must if you're handling that braided steel rope much. The kit sells for less than you can buy the individual components, separately, and stows nicely under the rear seat.

I bought (typical rationalization) the winch by justifying it with the "sure knowledge" (yeah, right!) that It'd pay for itself, quickly, 'cause I'd charge everybody who needed to be pulled out of ditches, etc. (A "reasonable" fee, naturally. #ad
)

I've found, though, that I've never had the heart to charge anyone for the help they need. You probably won't either. On the other hand, you feel like a "hero" for a long while, afterward, and that's worth something, I guess. #ad


Happy winching, bro!

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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), "Twister Turbo," Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson "Classic" rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake. Northwest Custom mudflaps, front/rear, and stainless rocker panels.

 

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The rule on winches is to get one rated to pull 1 and a half times the weight of the loaded vehicle. I have an 8274 on my defender and it rules but is not strong enough for a full size pickup. IMO the best heavy duty winch is the superwinch husky 10000. It's a worm and roller gear design with no mechanical brake mechanism to possibly fail. The brake is inherent in the worm and roller design. Mounting the husky can be difficult as it's fairly big and i don't think it can lie on it's back like a planetary winch.

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2001 3500 QC 4X4 black sport, ETH & everything else except 4. 10s

 

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I used a Ramsey REP8000. It worked great on my F250. That being said, I am now going to go to a PTO operated hydraulic winch. Something along the lines of 10,000 pounds. With my electric you get around 1 to 1. 5 fpm at load. With hydraulic, you get 40-50 fpm at load. Much nicer, I think. Should you decide on electric, I personally like Ramsey. But whatever the make you will need at LEAST 10,000 lbs. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line.

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1999 2500 ISB QC SLT (No Leather!), 4x4, 5sp, 4:10, 275inj. , PE, 4"exhaust, Pac-Brake, A-Pillar gauge pod w/boost and pyro, Line-X, V-1, lights, siren, lic. plt. frame that says "Diesel Fumes Make Me Horny!", and much more goofy stuff. (Too much to be listed. )

 

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How costly are the Ramsey electrics and the PTO-based winches? I'm still seeing the Warn 12k unit for $1100 (even at Desert Rat).

For something that might get used once a year at most, that's a lot of cash to dump into one.

Rob

 

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Rob,

I've seen the Ramsey RE12000 at Harbor Frieght for under $900. A mount will run about $600 (I just remounted my RE10000 from my Ramcharger to my Ram). The Ramsey RE serise is a very stonge winch. It does have the down side of being a bit slow but it will pull.

Kevin

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2001 2500 QC LWB 4x4 6-speed loaded except leather, Jake E-Brake, Line-X, Stan's Headers 4" exhaust, Ramsey RE10K

 

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Check out Mile Marker. www.milemarker.com I don't personally know much about them except from their adds. It is a hydralic winch that runs off your power steering pump. They claim that the Army tested their winch and it pulled a 8600lb. humv up a 60% grade(?) 70 ft. w/o stopping in winter. Anyway, looks interesting.

 

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I think the mile marker can burn up the power steering pump really quick if used hard. I remember a test in one of the 4wd mags where they had to put on a couple new pumps on their test jeep. I think installing an oil cooler in the system may help.

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2001 3500 QC 4X4 black sport, ETH & everything else except 4. 10s

 

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I looked really hard at the Ramsey winch. The problem is that your engine has to be running for it to work. I chose electric because I wasn't afraid of losing both batteries.

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99 2500 QC LB 4x4 Auto, Laramie SLT, driftwood. Cummins 24v w/ 275 HP injectors & Banks Stinger Plus kit, EGT and Boost gauges on A-Pillar mount, Prime-Location fuel filter kit, MagHytec Diff and Trans covers, EZ Change oil drain plug, BFG 33x12. 50x16. 50, Procomp 2” stage II lift-kit, Rhino liner, Smittybilt nerf bars, Warn chrome Transformer brush guard w/Warn12000 winch, Tow Hooks, Xenon fender flares & Abbott Electronic Ratio Adapter. DTT's Valve Body & Torque Converter.

 

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RobG, I would definetly go with atleast a 12000 lbs winch as they say if you work it hard you should have the winch sized at 1. 5 to 2 times large capacity than your GVW. Since you say you will be at around 11,000 lbs you will also want a snatch block as it winches in slower, but it doubles the pulling power, hence your 12000 lbs winch has 24000 lbs pull power. I have a Warn winch on my Jeep and it had save my bacon a few times as well as never let me down when needed. The only problem I see with Warn is cost as they are about the most expensive that I have seen. Another good winch is a Superwinch.

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2001 2500HD Quad Cab SLT SB 4x4, HO Cummins, 6-speed, 3. 55 gears, LSD, brightwhite/driftwood, 4w ABS, camper and trailer tow packages, HD transfer case, snow plow prep, group, cab lights, Isspro Boost and Pyrometer gauges mounted on A-pillar, PE, 4" JRE exhaust, BD exhaust brake. 18000 miles as of 9/15/00.

1980 CJ-5, Modified for off-road use, bobbed fenders, 350 TBI, NP435 trans, 4. 56 gears, Dana 300, Dana 44 front, Dana 60 reverse-cut rear axle, ARB air lockers front and rear, 15/35/15 Super Swamper TSL on 10X15 steel rims, Cobra CB, Warn 9000I winch, nerf bars, 1/4" steel rock crawler bumper front and rear, jerri can/spare tire rack, custom roll cage.

 

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My 9000lbs Warn has never let me down, i have not stalled it yet but I have a snatch block to double the power if needed. The trick is dont bury it to the frame, when you quite moving call it quites and pull out the cable. You will also find that your winch will benefit your buddies more than you. Also throw them a shovel and make them dig out in front of their tires before you pull, that way you are not trying to pull the whole mud hole to you. I definitly wouldn,t get less than an 8000lbs. beyond that bigger is better.

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99 2500 QC SB 4x4 driftwood, 5sp. 3. 55 lsd, 9000lbs Warn winch, 33x12. 5x16. 5 BFG mud terrains, no muffler and 0880 K\N, Autometer gauges, Poweredge

 

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AW Shucks!!
I thought the heading ment I could chose a wench! I "nearly bout" hyperventilated, till I took another looked and learned we were only talking about winches.
Two years ago elk hunting, buddy and I drove about 15 miles from camp to check an area and during the day a real wind storm came up. We had to winch 7 trees out of the road to get beck to camp--all of them too big to move by hand. I have only a warn 8k and wish it were bigger. But is 17 years old and never a problem.

Vaughn

 

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Berserker,

I agree with you 100%! Having to rely on an engine-driven unit eliminates another margin of safety during an emergency.

For my money, nothing beats a Warn 12,000 winch, teamed up with a couple of Optima "Red-Top" batteries.