Manual winch

[Hootbro]

As to getting myself unstuck, I will take your advice to heart and depend on the kindness of strangers to help me out.

First rule of being prepared, is to plan under the assumption that nobody is going to be there to save you.

Being a Cheap Charlie on your recovery gear only gets you so many favors on the trail.

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[GA D90]

So I'll chime in. I really don't like being negative. But I just don't think that'll work in the real world.
But you've got the stuff, so put it together and give it a try. If noting else it'll be handy for helping out with chores around the house.

 

[YooperCracker]

I did an experiment, but I don't know how realistic it was. Using a snatch block, I was able to winch the truck while in neutral but with the parking brake full on. This was on level ground.

I looked like the kid in A Christmas Story, with multiple layers of protection, heavy coat,goggles, chainsawing chaps, motorcycle helmet, etc. Safety first!

And yes, it was a workout.

 

[KevinM60]

I did an experiment, but I don't know how realistic it was. Using a snatch block, I was able to winch the truck while in neutral but with the parking brake full on. This was on level ground.

I looked like the kid in A Christmas Story, with multiple layers of protection, heavy coat,goggles, chainsawing chaps, motorcycle helmet, etc. Safety first!

And yes, it was a workout.

Do you have the space in your work area to hook your cable to the winch and pull with your truck instead of cranking the winch?

 

[YooperCracker]

^
I'm not following. But I don't have any work area. My neighbor was kind enough to let me use his drill press to make holes in the receiver extension to mount the winch and to let me use one of his trees as an anchor point.

 

[bd100]

In case someone wants a manual winch with a higher rating:
More Power Puller

 

[YooperCracker]

In case someone wants a manual winch with a higher rating:
More Power Puller

That is an impressive piece of hardware!

 

[charliez]

Be careful as well when you go to unwind it. If there's any pressure pulling back the handle can and will spin violently and you'll get a new meaning to the words crack your knuckles. Ask any boat owner. It always happens when your loading in a rush and it's a cold wet storm blowing in and your knuckles are already freezing blue. That handle will slap you worse than any momma ever thought of slapping.

 

[YooperCracker]

Be careful as well when you go to unwind it. ... That handle will slap you worse than any momma ever thought of slapping.

This! Though, in my experiment, I only had to put significant back pressure on the handle for one revolution of unwinding. Then it was easy to continue to unwind.

 

[YooperCracker]

^
As I said in the initial post, this rig is meant for raising timber frames, not recovery.

I was just wondering if it could be used for recovery in certain instances. Theoretically* it could, using two snatch blocks and having a nearly dead-on approach angle.






*In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice, there is.

 

[biplaneguy]

I had a boat winch like in the first post bolted to the front bumper of my first Jeep, which was a 1975 DJ5 (postal Jeep). It was marginal solution and probably not safe to use, but I was young and broke. It got me unstuck a couple of times.

I remember one time I was alone and got stuck. Both rear wheels were spinning (no 4WD but posi rear). Hooked the winch to a tree, got back in, put it in 1st (it was an automatic), got out and left the sliding door open, went to the front and started cranking, then leapt out of the way when it started moving and jumped in in time to stop it moving before it hit something. Yeah, young and stupid, too.

 

[GA D90]

I respect your effort!
I’m in the being stages of doing something similar.
While back I picked up a HF 5k winch, on a big sale, $150. ! Got some parts like yours, and a 20’ 2g jumper cable set up. This is just as a backup to my front mounted winch, when I’m out alone.
My hope is it’ll work with a snatch block in a pinch…. We’ll see?

 

[Shanewane]

I’ve used snatch blocks before, and they really do help with mechanical advantage. If you’re confident in your winch’s rating and the bolts you’re using, it should be fine, but going with grade 5 or 8 bolts could add an extra layer of security just in case.

I checked out https://tecnotools.com.au/collections/electric-winch for some winch gear a while back and found their equipment pretty reliable. They had good options if you’re thinking about upgrading anything. For your current project, it seems like you’re on the right track.

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