Hand Winch - Is a Tirfor the only choice?

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

As per title, need a new winch and just wondering what's best?

[Badgermert]

Tirfor winches are very good at what they do, easy to use, reliable and simple to maintain. You can get many different makes now that use the same principle of two jaws gripping a wire rope at much lower prices than the Tirfor however spares,service,LOLER etc may be an issue with some internet versions. Pulling/lifting can be any distance you want as the cable can be made to lenght (standard is about 25m)

If you only need a short pulling distance a LUG-ALL type might be an option. These winches store the wire on a drum inside the winch itself so its all contained and no need to store the wire or thread it when you need to use it. These have a pulley block fitted on the wire so a double capacity pull/lift can be achieved.

[tommer9]

Tirfor are the best.

[scotspine1]

been using the 4800kg 'Jet Rope Hoist' for the last 3 years, been excellent.

[Lorry thompson]

Do you lads use hand winches a lot? And what situations are they great for don't mean sound thick just genuine advice. I've never felt the need for one apart from windblown etc.

[bradstow42]

Do you lads use hand winches a lot? And what situations are they great for don't mean sound thick just genuine advice. I've never felt the need for one apart from windblown etc.

 

I've found them very useful for woodland work to assist directional felling e.g. to avoid a hang-up or fell a tree towards the brash fire to reduce the dragging! And of course for taking down the inevitable hang-up that's too big to do manually.

 

I've used both a Tirfor and the Lugall/Little Mule types. The Tirfor and its ilk have the advantage of "unlimited" cable length and a reversing lever, but are heavy, which is a factor if you've got to carry it any distance. The captive cable variety are usually lighter, but lower WLL (not necessarily a worry) but the cable length is limited. However, we usually extend the cable with a good sized pull rope anyway. Two problems I've experienced with the Little Mule - its possible to put so much tension on that it becomes difficult to operate in reverse to release the tension, and if the cable doesn't rewind well its possible for it to over-wrap itself locking up the drum.

 

Regards, Martin

[Old Mill Tree Care]

I bought a Jet winch six years ago as it was cheaper than a Tirfor. It's worked perfectly all the time so it was great value.

Great for pulling up stumps, assisting dodgy fells, dealing with wind blow, pulling a Transit van off a wet leaf etc etc.

[tommer9]

pulling a Transit van off a wet leaf etc etc.

 

:lol:

[tomtrees]

I got a cheep generic copy 5 ton pull. Very heavy may be smaller would have been enough . I use it for all the above and pulling broken down plant up the trailer. Put the cable in an old tier

[Jonesie]

We sell a lot of these and don't get any complaints.

 

Weblift 1600kg winch inc 20m cable | F R Jones and Son