Essential things to know about a 4×4 winch

Travelling alone on off-the-beaten tracks could maximise the capabilities of your 4×4. Pushing the limits of the rig could likely find you in a sticky spot. Recovery techniques used by seasoned 4×4 travellers like recovery tracks or clearing a path work most of the time.

However, there will come a time when the usual techniques will not get you out of trouble. In situations like this, you’ll be grateful that you invested in a 4×4 winch. Yet, understanding the essential things a 4×4 winch can give to you helps you go for a better model or stick to what you have now.

For the uninitiated, a 4×4 winch is a piece of equipment placed in front of the rig. The cranking battery of the rig is the thing used to power the winch.

A 4×4 winch is quite an expensive piece of equipment so doing some serious research ensures getting the right one capable of handling the needs of a fully-loaded rig. It is also recommended to choose a supplier who offers a good back-up and warranty.

With this, understanding the essential functions of the winch means investing in a good one.

Mounting and weight

Weighing anything from 35 to 45kg including a controller is the typical weight of a 9500 to 12000lb winch. The addition of a rope or cable increases the weight of the winch.

Mounting the winch to the front chassis of the vehicle should be secure. A winch-ready bull bar is often the popular mounting place. The overall weight of the winch could compromise the capability of your 4×4. Upgrading to a heavy-duty suspension provides the perfect solution to handle the added weight of the winch.

Pulling power

Pounds are used as the pulling power rate of winches. Choosing a winch means having a rated pulling power to pull out the overall weight including extra equipment weight of your 4×4 out of a bog or up a deep slope.

For instance, a 9500lb winch is the least weight to choose when the overall weight of your 4×4 is 3 tons. Going for a bigger winch weight of 12000lb should be the option with bigger 4×4 models.

Cable

The standard 28 to 30-metre cable length provides enough leverage to reach a point of solid anchorage. It is also capable of doubling back to add more pulling power.

A steel cable is the perfect choice when it is used all day, every day, in very rough conditions. However, while steel cable is tough, it is also very heavy and quite hard on the hands. Choosing steel cable for overland use is overkill.

A plasma or synthetic cable is easier to handle, lightweight, and rust and kink-free. Costing three times more than steel cable is the only cons of the synthetic cable. However, investing in one is good value for money as it can even be rejoined when it breaks in the middle of an operation.

The only thing that can damage the synthetic cable is pulling them over rocky roads.