Hand Winch?

Anyone have a hand-operated winch they recommend? I don't want to add a lot of weight in the form of a bumper up front but I would like a recovery option! I plan to tow a camper and a hand winch seems like something I could use to get out of many sticky situations!

 

Like a come along? The guys at Donut media had ones of those on the Low Price Tacoma

https://youtu.be/M0z0rME6CPA?si=vXmUkDCayBZMbBX8

 

Interesting take. I guess I am looking at it more of a (Oh Crap) than being a true off roader that would need it often! Thoughts to think through!

 

One can use a hi-lift jack in the same capacity as one of these come-alongs. Just need to attach some static recovery ropes between your truck, the jack, and something sturdy (please use a tree saver) and start cranking. I'd recommend any quality brand 60in hi-lift. Plus you get the added bonus of having a spare jack. Just please don't store this thing on the outside of your truck, keep it in the bed or something unless you want it stolen. Same goes for traction boards and whatever other recovery gear you may need.

 

Nice plan, I like the dual use aspect. I happen to know one of the guys who started Deadman Offroad ( https://www.deadmanoffroad.com/ ) I could get a decent tree hugger from him!

 

Good deal! I'll have to check them out.

 

I think the know How to look and know your going to need help to get out is even better.

In a emergency I have use 2 or 3 different 2" ratchet straps to self recovery it was a good 8 hours of constant work or longer.

 

The morepower puller is like an overbuilt come-along. With synthetic line, it's fairly easy to handle (and reduced risk of damage if it snaps under load).

Actual handwinches that you might actually pull a heavy load without wanting to commit sudoku while using are into the same price range as a decent winch. 4000lb hand winches exist, but theyre not super light, and realistically you're going to need more line (again, going to suggest the expense of synthetic), and several pulleys to reduce the load your winch experiences (and you, by extension).

And you still need to look at upgrading your recovery points.

 

Yes a come along works just get a 4 ton or 8000lb one and realize they only pull 6-8 ft at a time without a reset.
Easy to pull out from rear also if you hit a deep mud hole.
Good if sliding sideways on slippery stuff to stop.
Carry the tree strap and a hardened crowbar or rod for no tree locations and a 4 lb mini sledge.
I also have a 25' aircraft braided cable with ring and hook to extend. Then of course standard big yellow tow strap if another truck around.

If you plan on Moab or Ouray rock crawling/trails up stuff that is highly rated a winch would be easier - or not if you use more caution on picking trails and lines.
Then if deep woods old trails and cutting/dragging trees out a winch is nice. But again how often.
Then front weight, bumper, and cost. So after many trucks and 40 years I used my come along about 4 times.
So depends on what you are going to try. But cheap insurance for the unplanned mess you could get in.

 

There are a number of previous threads on this section, and a number of different alternatives. If you are worried about weight, but cost is not a huge concern, get this in the 3 ton rating:

https://harringtonhoists.com/lever-hoists/lb

Get this to take out the slack before cranking:
https://colemans.com/u-s-g-i-all-purpose-rugged-ratchet-strap-2-pack

 

Another option is a tirfor wire puller. I have one. I had to use it. It sucks much less than a comealong. But they're pricey.

 

I had read you can't run the cable around a pully with a tirfor. I suppose you could use a section of synthetic line in between with a pully though. I looked pretty hard at getting one once, but the size was too much to fit in my bed with other gear.

 

Not sure why you couldn't use snatch blocks/pulleys with a tirfor, rigging would be similar to any other comealong pull. Perhaps they say not to for liability reasons, as with enough line and blocks you could move or lift weights greatly outside the ratings of the tirfor. But that could be done with an ATV winch and the same...

 

^ On a related note; do not discount the qty and cost of quality rigging... Certainly you do not want unknown quality [imported/Amazon/Horror Freight] in this application... I would dare use only certified kit from a known rigging supplier.

I ended up spending ~ 2x as much on [MIA] shackles, straps and chain as I did on the Hi-Lift. (An entry level [HF] winch on sale would have been maybe only $100 or $200 more.)

FWIW: I bought in based on a need taking down a tree in a precarious location with very little margin of error. The $300 ish I spent on the whole kit was half what a tree guy would charge... The job got done and in my head I now have a complete Hi-Lift kit.