Winch Advice

[WillTimberlake]

Hi all,

 

I'm thinking of putting a winch on the front of my truck. ( Mazda B2500/Ford Ranger).

 

I would like to know which is the best winch/a good winch to use for pulling trees out etc and for green laning etc.

 

I would also like to know how I would fix it to the front? Would I need a bull bar or similar?

 

Last question is, will I need to tell my insurance company that I've got a winch? I know it's a modification but is a winch included?

 

Many thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing your responses/replies.

 

Cheers guys.

[WillTimberlake]

Anyone be able to help?

[monkeybusiness]

I'm not sure if winch mounts are available off the shelf for your truck (if they are then let me know as is like one too!). The ones I have seen mounted to rangers are bespoke. You need to bolt the winch frame to the chassis rails under/behind the bumper (you may need to cut your bumper and or grill to make it fit).

In terms of the winch you are looking at 12v electric as a hydraulic or PTO winch will probably cost more than your truck in parts. They are very easy to bolt in and wire up. I bought an orange electric winchmax cheap as chips jobby new off eBay and am very pleased with it (I took a punt and expected it to be crap but it is actually very very good). I also have a 12v warn 9000i that came fitted to a chipper - this is also a good winch, but honestly no better than the winchmax yet they cost 3x the price!

You will need a good battery on your truck - a winch will quickly destroy a weak battery. Don't bother spending a milllion pounds on expensive fancy wincch batteries, buy the biggest (in terms of amp hours) battery that will fit in your holder from halfords. Get one with a 5 year warranty and keep the receipt - they will swap them without question if or when you cook it.

Get some pics up!

[WillTimberlake]

Thanks for the advice monkey business. I never thought about the battery use age, but very important. I'll have a look into the two winches which you said about. Thanks again

[Hodge]

You. We'd to inform your insurance company, well I did and they do need to know. Some people have an auxiliary battery to power the winch too. Check out super winch, I have one and its awesome, pulls big trees no probs. get it wireless remote and dyneema bow rope instead of wire cable.

[WillTimberlake]

You. We'd to inform your insurance company, well I did and they do need to know. Some people have an auxiliary battery to power the winch too. Check out super winch, I have one and its awesome, pulls big trees no probs. get it wireless remote and dyneema bow rope instead of wire cable.

 

Cheers Hodge. I prefer to be on the right side of the insurance companies, even if I do have to pay a little bit more! Better to be safe than sorry.

 

I'll have a look at the super winch and do some research into it

[Marko]

As even a dealer fitted towbar is considered a notifiable modification I am sure that a winch would also be... especially as it will make the truck more attractive to the naughty people.

 

Mine is mounted in a tray that is pinned through lugs mounted on the vehicle and the electrics on a connector which means it can be safely stored away when not in use and used on multiple vehicles (at the moment it is on a three point linkage on the back of a tractor).

[treequip]

You. We'd to inform your insurance company, well I did and they do need to know. Some people have an auxiliary battery to power the winch too. Check out super winch, I have one and its awesome, pulls big trees no probs. get it wireless remote and dyneema bow rope instead of wire cable.

 

Those fibre ropes are nicer than cable to handle, but they are easy to damage and Dyneema is pants at shock loading (yes I know you shouldn't but....) and its really good at melting if it even sees any friction.

 

Steel cable for me thanks

[Hodge]

I've never had any probs with my dyneema in 7 years of use, I pulled all sorts over with it, winched things up and down, used it for all sorts and its fine. I have not shock loaded it though, if used properly and looked it will last ages and won't rust. Each to thir own.

[david wood]

Having had 3 landies with a winch on each i would truly advise phoning david bowyer at superwinch, great guy and knows his stuff.

 

also good at fixing them when you get too keen!

 

i run 2 batteries and a split charge kit inbetween so when winching you dont hurt starting battery, made mistake first time and had single battery, cue a call to a mate for a jump start.