Over sized Winch - Equipment rated to match winch or vehicle GVW?

[jwest7788]

Hello all!

2003 FX4II

I recently started looking for a winch to add to my ranger's capabilities (started hunting a year back and want to feel more confident hitting some known back roads with only one vehicle)

I quickly found a winch second hand online:
http://www.championpowerequipment.co...unt-and-cover/
(Got it for $200CAD, woot)

It's rated way higher than needed (12,000lbs) for my ranger which has caused some questions for me.

For things like shackles, snatch block, a new fairlead (missing the one that comes in the box) and tree saver straps, etc.

Do I need all that equipment rated to match the winch, or is it fine to get ~8000lbs rated accessories due to the fact that the ranger isn't likely to need the full winch rating?

Any cautionary tales I should know about with this over powered winch?

Finally (kind of off topic)
Is it safe to secure the back of my ranger to something (tree, another truck) and winch someone else's vehicle, or am I liable to tear my truck in half? (How much can the frame take safely?)

 

[Curious Hound]

First, a disclaimer. I don't have a lot of hard facts here. But I will give my opinions just in case you find them helpful.

We all know that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. So, that would imply that if all your recovery equipment is rated equal to that 12k winch, you would be in great shape up to a 12k pull.

That just doesn't happen often. The load on your winch while winching is variable.

• How heavy is the vehicle? (including driver and all the stuff you are carrying at the time?
• How stuck is the vehicle? Deep in a mud hole? One or more wheels up against a rock or log that the wheels must climb over??
• Are you winching up-hill? Downhill?
• Are you able to reduce the load on the winch by using a snatch block?
• How many wraps of cable are on the spool while winching?
• etc.

These things are different every time you winch. In most cases, a light truck like a Ranger, without much cargo, maybe just stuck in some mud because of lost traction, isn't anywhere near the load rating of the recovery equipment. Many times we don't know the rating of all the components in our recovery "chain" - a shackle found in the trash, a strap that came from "who knows where", how strong is that tree you tied off on?

My personal theory is "get the best you can afford that seems reasonable for the situations you think you might get into and try to "know" what your equipment is capable of." I, personally, would feel comfortable with anything in the 8k - 12k range of load ratings. Just don't try to winch a heavily loaded truck out of a mud hole, up-hill over boulders using a length of clothesline.

And.... Here is a thread about winches from a few days ago. http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169228

 

[Doofy]

...what he said. Great advice.

 

[RonD]

Yes, +1

Winches are rated empty spool so winch has 12k rating on FIRST layer of cable being wound up on the winch
2nd layer reduces rating by 15-20%
each layer after is about 10% less

This of course is a Ratio "thing" the drum/spool size gets larger as more layers are added, like adding larger tires reduces the ratio of rear axle.
12k rating could be 9,600 on 2nd layer, 8,640 on 3rd layer, 7,776 on 4th, ect....

Winching tips here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/WinchingTips.shtml

Tying off your truck to winch another truck won't break the frame, BUT(big but) it can "tweak it", bend it, so not recommended.
Use pulleys to off set weight differences, and as said in the Winch Tips, never use Park to hold the truck stationary while winching, you will break it or be STUCK IN PARK, neither is a good result
Automatic should be in gear or neutral you can block front tires if they are slipping, only damage would be winch mounting if you exceeded weight limit.

I will also throw a floor mat, blanket or similar over the cable, near center, this will lessen travel distance if cable should break, dampens "recoil" effect when the tension is released.

 

[4x4junkie]

Properly rigged, I don't see an issue tethering your truck to one other vehicle in an attempt to keep yours from being dragged by the winch (I actually dragged a big lifted F-350 crew-cab longbed sideways behind mine one time while trying to winch a stuck Chevy out of some mud). Tying off to a tree however is more likely to tweak the frame since a tree generally isn't going to move.

I recall the higher-rated winches (10,000lb & up) also have much slower line speeds than ones in the 8000-9500lb class.