X-Bull 13.5 Winch

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, don't forget about all the junk loaded in the vehicle for a trip. Use that number rather than the empty weight of the truck as the measurement to work off of. Sure there is a margin of error built into the spec of the winch but the added weight is eating into that safety factor.

It's kind of a fuzzy thing too. Dragging a 5k truck in neutral onto a car trailer is different than dragging a dead truck with a flat tire up a rockface which is different than dragging a truck that is helping out of the mud.

But wait, now your buddy just buried his 7k F-150...

And on top of all that, just because you can hang a 13k winch on your bumper that doesn't mean your bumper can take it either.

 

[Curious Hound]

It's kind of a fuzzy thing too. Dragging a 5k truck in neutral onto a car trailer is different than dragging a dead truck with a flat tire up a rockface which is different than dragging a truck that is helping out of the mud.

But wait, now your buddy just stalled in the river

FIFY

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

FIFY

I don't think my winch would have done me much good if I was by myself.

But if I was by myself I would have thought "that's a weird place for a road to end" and turned around.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

Yeah, don't forget about all the junk loaded in the vehicle for a trip. Use that number rather than the empty weight of the truck as the measurement to work off of. Sure there is a margin of error built into the spec of the winch but the added weight is eating into that safety factor.

I always try and use a tree saver and snatch block to double pull when possible too. Most my weight stays in the truck full time. Just the tent and camping tub go in for trip. Everything else is built in. I need to get by and weigh it. The dump will let me drive over their scales for free. Always ask if I owe them anything. She always tells me no I didn't dump anything. I haven't done my truck. But I did do both Sprinter van builds and a few other work builds.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

I don't think my winch would have done me much good if I was by myself.

But if I was by myself I would have thought "that's a weird place for a road to end" and turned around.

I see those crossings and I'm like a kid in the candy store haha. I love that stuff. Your winch would have been fine though. Long as you had enough line to reach an anchor point. There were plenty of trees on the other side. I have a short like 10ft 30k lb tree saver a 7000lb tow rope ( without hooks) left over from the SxSs and a 30ft 30k tow rope. I've had to use the 30 ft as a tree saver/ correct pull agle with snatch block more than once to recover some one.

My winch tray says it rated for a 16.5k straight pull tested.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I see those crossings and I'm like a kid in the candy store haha. I love that stuff. Your winch would have been fine though. Long as you had enough line to reach an anchor point. There were plenty of trees on the other side. I have a short like 10ft 30k lb tree saver a 7000lb tow rope ( without hooks) left over from the SxSs and a 30ft 30k tow rope. I've had to use the 30 ft as a tree saver/ correct pull agle with snatch block more than once to recover some one.

The length was the thing. It would have been an easy pull but getting across the river and beach would have been a decent reach.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

All the overlanders follow advocate short pulls with a cool off period, regardless of the winch brand.

That's how I was taught. I was also taught to raise my hood.

 

[sgtsandman]

I always try and use a tree saver and snatch block to double pull when possible too. Most my weight stays in the truck full time. Just the tent and camping tub go in for trip. Everything else is built in. I need to get by and weigh it. The dump will let me drive over their scales for free. Always ask if I owe them anything. She always tells me no I didn't dump anything. I haven't done my truck. But I did do both Sprinter van builds and a few other work builds.

I did that with the utility trailer. They only charge if you ask for a printout. Once I get the 2019 kitted out, I want to weigh it too, even though I don't have a winch yet. That includes having the fuel can and water containers full. I'll have a good idea before hand but there is a bunch of little stuff like shovels, straps, and so on that aren't accounted for. It all adds up.

 

[sgtsandman]

I see those crossings and I'm like a kid in the candy store haha. I love that stuff. Your winch would have been fine though. Long as you had enough line to reach an anchor point. There were plenty of trees on the other side. I have a short like 10ft 30k lb tree saver a 7000lb tow rope ( without hooks) left over from the SxSs and a 30ft 30k tow rope. I've had to use the 30 ft as a tree saver/ correct pull agle with snatch block more than once to recover some one.

My winch tray says it rated for a 16.5k straight pull tested.

I have a bunch of 20' straps and a tree saver at the moment along with aluminum dog bones to link them all together. I do need to pick up a few shackles yet though. Winching with a farm jack isn't fun and takes forever but it can be done.

 

[Snoranger]

You also have to take layer loss into your calculations. Warn claims about a 15% loss per layer. Their Zeon8 (8000 lb) is rated for:

Layer 1 - 8000 lbs
Layer 2 - 6777 lbs
Layer 3 - 5878 lbs
Layer 4 - 5189 lbs

 

[Uncle Gump]

I have a bunch of 20' straps and a tree saver at the moment along with aluminum dog bones to link them all together. I do need to pick up a few shackles yet though. Winching with a farm jack isn't fun and takes forever but it can be done.

I thought about farm jack winching myself out of trouble for about 17 seconds... then just clicked BUY on my new winch.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You also have to take layer loss into your calculations. Warn claims about a 15% loss per layer. Their Zeon8 (8000 lb) is rated for:

Layer 1 - 8000 lbs
Layer 2 - 6777 lbs
Layer 3 - 5878 lbs
Layer 4 - 5189 lbs

That’s a pretty significant loss and I’d suspect it’s largely true across all winches since they are usually all rated at max pull on the first wrap layer.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I thought about farm jack winching myself out of trouble for about 17 seconds... then just clicked BUY on my new winch.

I’ve tried the come-along method before. Farm Jack may be a little better. Neither is anywhere as nice as a winch, even an underpowered one can do the job with enough back and forth lacing

 

[Snoranger]

That’s a pretty significant loss and I’d suspect it’s largely true across all winches since they are usually all rated at max pull on the first wrap layer.

Yes, 12 to 15% is the rule of thumb for any winch. When calculating a pull you alway estimate on the high side. If you think the vehicle weighs 5800 lbs, it’s 6000. If it’s 12% loss, you use 15%. You alway want that slight safety margin.

 

[sgtsandman]

I thought about farm jack winching myself out of trouble for about 17 seconds... then just clicked BUY on my new winch.

I need a bumper or front receiver first. Money that could go for that is going into the 2019.

The one time I did use that method was on a gravel driveway with a small slope. It wasn't fun and it was a lot of work. Throw a mud trail with a bunch of rocks and ruts, it would be a bad day.