Reality check

[SnakeLogic]

While I'd LIKE to get a fancy winch bumper and shiny new WARN Powerplant, we're expecting our first baby early next year, so I'd feel less than fully responsible spending my money like that.  Also, I only go off road maybe twice a month.  

So my question is, could I make do with a couple sets of Jate rings, a Hi Jack and a Tirfor?  I don't do competitions, so I don't really NEED top end gear.  How versatile is my suggested set-up?  Is the Tirfor really worth the extra money over the cost of, say, the Famous Four hand winch?

Any thoughts?

[pux]

While I'd LIKE to get a fancy winch bumper and shiny new WARN Powerplant, we're expecting our first baby early next year, so I'd feel less than fully responsible spending my money like that.  Also, I only go off road maybe twice a month.  

So my question is, could I make do with a couple sets of Jate rings, a Hi Jack and a Tirfor?  I don't do competitions, so I don't really NEED top end gear.  How versatile is my suggested set-up?  Is the Tirfor really worth the extra money over the cost of, say, the Famous Four hand winch?

Any thoughts?

yes

[Skibum346]

More responsible would be always have someone else with you... and remember... the high lift can be used as a winch in it's own right. If you have one already it saves the cost of an admitadly brilliant Tirfor.

Skibum

[SnakeLogic]

Skibum,

I agree wholeheartedly, but in some cases (one of the places I have to go for work) I have to go alone.  Also, even on play days, the guys I go with all drive Samurais, and might not have enough oomph to pull me clear.

[Budgie]

Tie two together!!  :mrgreen:

You could go for one of the cheaper winches like Champion, KEW/GEW, T-Max or even Bearmach are doing winches at reasonable prices now.  

Over here they are sold for around £300-£400 and T-Max are made in Oz so you should be able to get them with no problems.

[Range Rover Blues]

Don't buy a cheap winch, it'll encourage you to go too far and then bust.  I use a 5' hi lift with the briliant hi-lift winching kit, you also need 5 yards/metres of 10mm chain which is heavy but the set-up works well.

Also don't decry the abilty of a lighter truck to pull you clear, carefully used KERRs will allow you to recover your truck with the Mits.

Here's turtle doing it the hard way.  We recovered both trucks using only Hi-Lifts that afternoon.

You can also use the same technique with a stout rope and 'prusic loops' but that's a bit of an art form in itself, or use a knotted rope but be aware that the knots significantly weaken the rope.

[Skibum346]

Skibum,

I agree wholeheartedly, but in some cases (one of the places I have to go for work) I have to go alone.  Also, even on play days, the guys I go with all drive Samurais, and might not have enough oomph to pull me clear.

Those are fair points and believe me I understand the preference for a winch.

My ideas offer suggestions to ensure you don't stay sat at home frustrated waiting to afford a winch.

It's all down to the cash and time you have available.

You could invest in a decent land anchor (or get someone to knock you one up, I'm sure there are good engineers there as well as here!) to provide a highlift winching point where there aint no trees etc. The benefit is... once you have that kit and know how to use it, it's in the back on standby for the time you discover yer winch is knackered!  :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

Absolutely on that lsst point, i still cary the Hi-Lift and winch kit even though I now have a winch too (never used it in anger).  Sometimes a spare hi-lift is a bonus, if you can lift a stuck wheel out of a hole it's easier to winch.

[winchman]

A genuine Tirfor is rated as a lifting device so has a factor of safety of 5:1, most of the cheap Tirforstyle winches dont.
You can bury a Tirfor in your back garden dig it up next time you need it hit it with a hammer a quick squirt of oil and it will work, they are bomb proof.
More use and cheaper than an electric winch

[Skibum346]

A genuine Tirfor is rated as a lifting device so has a factor of safety of 5:1, most of the cheap Tirforstyle winches dont.
You can bury a Tirfor in your back garden dig it up next time you need it hit it with a hammer a quick squirt of oil and it will work, they are bomb proof.
More use and cheaper than an electric winch

And they're great for that aerobic workout in the middle of a greenlane!

 :lol:  :lol:

[winchman]

My mate once got a piano through a first floor window using a Tirfor and a ladder, it was stunning.

[Sheddy]

Just buy the bumper and the winch now.  If you think it irresponsible to do so, your right..... but you certainly aint never gonna afford it once Junior arrives!