You’ve heard of a winch and the term ‘winching’ when reading up or talking about off-roading. What is a winch, how do you use it, and how can you choose the best winch? In this article, we will take you through how to use a winch, recovery tips, and will provide you with a holistic outlook on the topic.
Looking to buy a winch, winch parts, or recovery equipment? If so, just visit 4WP’s dedicated section for Winches & Recovery to find a broad range to suit every need and budget. So let’s get into what parts make up a winch, followed by how to use a winch and selecting the best winches.
What Parts Make Up a Winch?
A winch consists of a motor, integrated solenoid, free spool clutch, geartrain, internal brake, winch drum, and winch cable. There may be more components depending on the specific winch. Let us take you through each element.
Motor – this can either be electrically powered or hydraulic. Electrically powered winches are more common. However, your vehicle’s battery may need to be upgraded to handle them, and it’s a good idea to keep your engine running so that the battery is kept topped up. Hydraulic winches use a pump, and typically, they may take power from your vehicle’s power steering pump and require the engine to be running as a result. If your car has electric power steering, you may need to install a hydraulic pump for the winch.
Integrated Solenoid – These are required to control the direction of the winch, as a winch must spin in both directions.
Freespool Clutch – This enables engaging and disengaging the drum from the powertrain, thus allowing you to spool out the winch quickly by hand when required.
Geartrain – Since motors tend to spin at a fast speed, an internal gear train reduces the rotational speed and correspondingly increases the torque as a result. When winching, torque, not speed, is important.
Internal Brake – This is a crucial part, as it holds the cable in place when the winch is stopped, thus reducing the risk of your load slipping away when you take your finger off the controller.
Winch Drum – The winch cable is wrapped around the winch drum in a neat formation. The drum rotates both ways, allowing the line to be spooled in or out at will.
Winch Cable – Steel cables or synthetic? Steel is sturdy, cheaper, and has been around for ages, despite being prone to rust. Synthetic cables are a newer technology, lighter in weight, and not prone to rust.
How to Use a Winch When Necessary
Here’s a refresher for you to quickly get into winching, or brush up with a more comprehensive look at how to use a winch.
Figure out what you’re winching to: You need a large and immovable object to winch your vehicle to. This can be a sturdy tree, large rock, or even another off-roader, although you should ensure that it’s larger and heavier than yours and adequately held in place via the brakes, chocks, and any other measures required.
Attach the cable as low as possible: Attach the winch cable to the rock or tree as low as possible to maximize leverage and ensure it doesn’t get pulled out of the ground. If you’re on sandy or muddy ground, an anchor point may be required.
Aim for a straight pull: A straight pull is a straight line between your vehicle and what you’re winching to. A straight pull maximizes efficiency. You should also ensure that your winch cable is not rubbing against the ground, or any other rocks and trees on the trail, as this can cause it to fray and break.
Treat it with respect: A tensioned winch cable is extremely dangerous. Ensure that nobody is standing in the path of the cable when you start taking up the slack and winching. Everyone should take cover behind the vehicle or other rocks and trees. A winch cable snapping can easily kill a person if it impacts their head or break a shin bone if it hits. It can also damage your vehicle’s windows if it hits them. You can use a winch cable weight to pull the cable straight down to the ground in the event of a break, minimizing damage.
Wear gloves: Winch cables can be rough on your hands, especially steel cables that have frayed and rusted over time. It’s always best to have a pair of gloves on hand when winching.
Where to Find the Best Winches
Where can you find the best winches? Why, right here in the dedicated Winch and Recovery section. There’s electric recovery winches and hydraulic recovery winches to choose, from brands such as Warn, Smittybilt, Rugged Ridge, Rough Country, and DV8 Offroad. Complement your new winch with some Winch Accessories such as accessory kits, anchors, drum supports, straps, snatch blocks, controllers, and of course, cables, among other things.
If you’re installing a winch on your Jeep or other off-roader, you need to ensure that it’s properly mounted, especially if it’s a bumper-mounted winch. An improperly mounted winch can literally rip off your vehicle’s front end and bumper. Thankfully, we carry a range of Bumper and Winch Mounting Kits for you to choose from. If you’re unsure of what’s best for you, our friendly experts can advise on what’s best for your vehicle and requirement.
Winches And More From 4 Wheel Parts
If you’re looking for the best winches, winching accessories, and everything off-road related, it’s hard to ignore 4 Wheel Parts for sheer all-inclusive value. We carry thousands of products, representing hundreds of the world’s best brands, and you can view it all via our website, or visit one of our 100+ stores across the nation.
4 Wheel Parts offers a price matching policy, friendly expert advice, and all applicable warranties, ensuring your experience is as hassle-free as possible. Choose 4 Wheel Parts, and you’ll never need to shop around again.
2