How to choose a winch

Preparing for a car expedition and off-road cross-country trips requires the appropriate level of training and the availability of special tools that allow the car to get out of a difficult situation even on its own. Such a tool is a winch, with the help of which you can not only overcome any, even the most impassable off-road, but also pull out a friend if necessary. All that a car enthusiast needs is to determine the criteria and choose the right winch for his own needs.

Best Car Winch Manufacturers

The production of auto accessories is carried out by many eminent manufacturers. Their products are not only sold in the public domain, but are also installed on SUVs 'from the factory' as a structural element. This state of affairs greatly simplifies the selection and purchase of a winch – functionality, technical parameters and even standard attachment points are often determined by the manufacturer. Products of the following brands can be recommended for purchase:

1. T-Max;

2. Come-Up;

3. Warn;

Many 'jeepers' rightfully consider the products of the above brands to be worthy, they are preferred when preparing cars for a professional off-road. When choosing a specific model, regardless of the goal pursued by the buyer, one should be guided not only by the technical characteristics, but also by the reviews of real buyers that are presented on the Internet.

The principle of operation of winches and their types

The main function of the winch is to move loads in a vertical plane. The mechanism of such a device consists of the following elements:

1. Drum, on which a strong steel cable is wound;

2. A frame designed for attaching the winch to the car;

3. The mechanism that drives the drum;

The principle of operation of the winch is both mechanical and more advanced – hydraulic and electrical, which does not require special costs and physical efforts. Depending on what type of drive this or that winch is equipped with, they are divided into types.

Mechanical winch

The most simple and unpretentious type of device to operate. It is set in motion with the help of muscle strength, and therefore all sorts of control elements and complex mechanisms are absent as a class. Shows efficiency in difficult field conditions and where the operation of other types of winches is limited. Due to the simplicity of the design, it can be installed on almost any type of modern car.

Advantages

• Simple construction;

• The ability to install on all types of cars without exception;

• Inexpensive;

• They function even in the most difficult conditions;

• Unpretentiousness in maintenance and care;

disadvantages

• Require physical fitness to perform functions;

Hydraulic winches

In terms of their functional features, hydraulic winches are much more productive than their mechanical counterparts. They have high power and perfectly cope with the tasks assigned to them. They are integrated into the standard hydraulic system of the vehicle and do not require any physical effort when performing mechanical operations.

Advantages

• High pulling power;

• The ability to perform various technological operations;

• Cost acceptable for many;

• Wide range of work and its smooth adjustment;

disadvantages

• Labor intensity of installation and installation due to the need to integrate it into the standard hydraulics of the car

• Do not work on a muffled engine;

Electric winches

The most common devices with decent functionality and powerful traction. They are built into the vehicle's on-board network and operate on electricity generated by the generator. The traction motor at its core generates up to 4 kilowatts of power, allowing even full-size SUVs and trucks to be pulled. Another inherent advantage is the presence of a remote control that allows you to control the device and its operation from a distance.

Advantages

• High thrust;

• The presence of the remote control allows you to control the device from a distance;

• Work from the standard vehicle electrical system;

• Relative ease of installation and connection;

disadvantages

• Expensive devices;

• Are the cause of current leakage and battery discharge as a result;

• Guidance in the on-board network;

The main criteria for choosing a winch

Winch design

Modern models of this class are available in two types of designs. This parameter correlates with the type of drive, but slightly differs in its features.

1. Drum winches include all kinds of devices. As noted above, the cable is wound on a special drum, which is set in motion by means of one or another mechanism;

2. Lever type winch is a private type of similar mechanisms, compact and easy to install. A small cable drum is also driven here, but the main element is the ratchet, which is driven solely by hand force.

Pulling force

Everything here is quite simple – the higher the pull of one or another winch, the more powerful this device is and the more it is capable of handling large weights. Typically, most amateur models have a pulling force of 3-5 tons. Professional models, hydraulic or electric, can develop traction of 10-15 tons or even more, thus making it possible to cope even with powerful and large-sized equipment, like the GAZ-66 or URAL.

Here, one should also note such a concept as the load capacity index. This parameter denotes the maximum static force that a particular winch model can move from a point. This parameter is measured in pounds (1 pound – 0.45 kilograms) and the larger this parameter, the correspondingly more powerful and prepared this or that winch is. However, for most amateur tasks, as well as for semi-professional jeep trials, excessively powerful winches are not required, models with a load capacity index of 6000-8000 are quite enough.

It should not be forgotten that the more powerful the device, the higher its reliability and durability, as well as the larger the overall dimensions and the thicker the cable. All this directly affects the total weight of the winch and directly affects the functioning of the hydraulics or electrical system of the vehicle. In addition, an overpayment in such a situation is a pleasure very doubtful, since the more powerful the device, the higher its price.

The material from which the cable is made, as well as its length

Modern cables for cars are divided into two conventional categories:

1. Metal cables are well known to all. Powerful and durable, it can handle heavy and bulky loads. The disadvantages of such a load are the tendency to creases, excessive rigidity and very heavy weight;

2. Synthetic rope – a modern analogue of steel, is a weave of thousands of nylon fibers. Such a cable is excellent for everyday use, it is not afraid of moisture and corrosion, it is much softer and more flexible, it is not prone to kinking and does not weigh down the weight of the mechanism. The 'reward' for such advantages is low dynamic strength;

As for the length of the cable, the optimal value is considered to be 20-40 meters. Only in lever models, the length very often can exceed the 50-meter mark, thereby significantly expanding the functionality.

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In the next article we will reveal all the secrets of choosing the right trailer for your car.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.