Hand Winch Suggestions
Discussion
Can anyone recommend a decentish hand winch in the £200-£300 bracket.
I am just wanting one to sling in the back of the Landrover - after a rather embarassing incident the other day involving a 110 , a field gate, a burst water pipe and a 20 minute walk to go borrow a tractor for a recovery. (I wasn't driving)
Not wanting to fit a bumper one as I switch between a few landies and want it to be portable.
I am just wanting one to sling in the back of the Landrover - after a rather embarassing incident the other day involving a 110 , a field gate, a burst water pipe and a 20 minute walk to go borrow a tractor for a recovery. (I wasn't driving)
Not wanting to fit a bumper one as I switch between a few landies and want it to be portable.
I have used a variety of winches over the years for arb and recovery work and I'd recommend something like this combined with this. Along with some decent weight tested rope and a bit of practice tying bowlines.
My reasoning being that this kit will get you out of most situations, it is easy to use and packs away nicely in the boot. If you only use it very occasionally then the price is probably right as well. A Tirfor (or similar type)is a good setup but with the cable they are heavy and bulky and are a pain in the arse to clean up and put away (I have a TU16 and 32).
I'd highly recommend those ground anchors as well. I have 3 and have recovered vehicles or winched from them dozens of times and they have always held firm. Not tried the shorter versions (for the sake of saving a few pounds I didn't see the point).
My reasoning being that this kit will get you out of most situations, it is easy to use and packs away nicely in the boot. If you only use it very occasionally then the price is probably right as well. A Tirfor (or similar type)is a good setup but with the cable they are heavy and bulky and are a pain in the arse to clean up and put away (I have a TU16 and 32).
I'd highly recommend those ground anchors as well. I have 3 and have recovered vehicles or winched from them dozens of times and they have always held firm. Not tried the shorter versions (for the sake of saving a few pounds I didn't see the point).
Brilliant thread for me. Relates directly to a very old question/thread of mine to do with when I got stuck on very innocuous-looking grass! A handwinch would definitely have saved the day, whereas what did save the day inevitably led to yet another story of a Landie saving a Landcruiser (although tires and driver-awareness were what was at fault - that stuff under turf can be like chewing-gum - and smooth!).
On the Toolstation winch recommended above - how long is that cable? No details that I can find on their website.
On the Toolstation winch recommended above - how long is that cable? No details that I can find on their website.
richyb said:
I have used a variety of winches over the years for arb and recovery work and I'd recommend something like this
Entered a winch competition a while ago and we though we'd go down a class by using a hand winch- don't worry says co-driver i've got an excellent hand winch0 basically the one above. Horrifically dangerous- no lowering out mech, no double locking, teeth wear very very quickly. By mid morning on Saturday it was scrap.
On the other hand my tirfor was bloody brilliant....
I've got one of these
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
I've never actually used it but it seems a stout bit of kit. Price has gone up considerably in the last few months though I think its still cheaper than a new Tirfor.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...
I've never actually used it but it seems a stout bit of kit. Price has gone up considerably in the last few months though I think its still cheaper than a new Tirfor.
TheHeretic said:
I don't think it is suited for hand winch competitions. The occasions recovery seems to be what it is suited for.
Exactly. Unsurprisingly a £30 winch isn't going to measure up to a £600 tirfor but to get you out of trouble a few times a year it will be fine. Arif110 said:
On the Toolstation winch recommended above - how long is that cable? No details that I can find on their website.
The cable is generally only 3-4 metres long on these types. If you have a long pull then you need to keep re-adjusting but generally I find you only need to pull the vehicle a few metres to get it unstuck. TheHeretic said:
I don't think it is suited for hand winch competitions. The occasions recovery seems to be what it is suited for.
It's not suited to heavy pulling IMO. The cable wraps over itself causing kinks and crushes. I've got an (unused 
) Clarke fake Tirfor as per the link above and it's vastly more capable than the trailer winch above.If you're on a budget get a HiLift winch kit.
TheHeretic said:
I don't think it is suited for hand winch competitions. The occasions recovery seems to be what it is suited for.
and its not even suitable for that if you've only got a couple of hundred quid then for gods sake by a 6ft hi-lift- still dangerous, but only so if you don't take the time out to find how it works.
the forces involved in pulling out a stuck 2 tonne vehicle are huge- even just manouvring one around.
a hi-lift with chain kit will be safer, stronger and quite possibly quicker. it will certainly be more controllable.
Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff