winch

[schneiderz]

Hey I have a 2003 ford ranger xl and i wanna put a winch in the bed what would you recommend. I was thinking of a hand winch on the inside of the tailgate but im up for suggestions.

 

[Quartermile]

Is this a winch for loading cargo or a winch to pull yourself out of offroad trouble?

 

[strvger]

if it is to assist loading cargo, don't get the hand winch. get a small electric one rated between 1500 and 2,000 lbs. that should get most anything in there that you could safely carry in the bed. you'll find the hand winch busting your knuckles regularly as you crank it. and the electric ones are so cheap anyway, even with a remote control so it keeps you out of harms way. just run hot line to a weather sealed 12 volt plug and mount it in one of the front corners of the bed so you can plug in the winch, or whatever, whenever you need it. just make sure it is a heavy, well shielded wire to handle the winch motor. and don't forget to ground it to the frame. just my $.02.

 

[schneiderz]

k thanks, i plan on using it to pull me out of trouble when im off road, so if that will still work then ill do that but if not what else would you suggest?

 

[07rangerfx4lv2]

for starters you need an 8000lb winch minimal, you wont crank yourself out of the mud, the cheapest way to mount a winch is just on your 2" reciever and run the wires up front somewhere, this way you can take it out when needed or not,

 

[schneiderz]

k is there anything else i can do besides that

 

[Quartermile]

Yeah, bolt it to the front of the bed and destroy your bed by pulling cable across it. Get your strongest buddy to sit in the back with a rope. Buy a 4x4 so you dont get stuck. Wheel with a buddy with a tow rope

 

[Will]

k is there anything else i can do besides that

Just forget it.

 

[MountainMike]

http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-systems/multi_mount.shtml

Run wires with a plug front and back. Install a custom front receiver. You need at least an 8000 pound winch to move a Ranger, the general rule of thumb is to get a winch twice the vehicles wet weight. There is absolutely no way a hand winch would work, they can barely move small boats. Take a look at the Smittybilt XRC8 winch, good winch at a decent price.