Hand Winches

[Beowulf]

It would seem to me that the Tirfor and Black rats are unwieldly to use.

I can't speak to the unwieldlyness but you don't have to worry about the cable over-wrapping and binding as you do with those tools that spool the cable.

From the pics I've seen, you spool out the 60' of cable, hook one end to the vehicle and secure the tool to an anchor, thread the cable into the unit, and wiggle the handle. The cable is pulled through the winch "hand over hand" style. It will also reverse to allow you to slowly drop a vehicle down a steep incline. I don't know if the come-a-long style will let you do that.

-B-

 

[e9999]

black rat only rated at 2000 lbs per Scott's writeup, not a lot....

 

[bjowett]

I have no experience with the Tirfor or Black Rat. They are probably good tools to have..... If I did not have a nice electric winch I may consider one for longer "just barely stuck pulls". In New England, most of the time the vehicle can be extracted from the situation with a pull of minimal distance... say 10'. The MPP works well for that.

 

[Beowulf]

black rat only rated at 2000 lbs per Scott's writeup, not a lot....

That is probably a rating for lifting vertically.

-B-

 

[e9999]

That is probably a rating for lifting vertically.

-B-

yes

 

[aussie75series]

I teach Ambulance Officers 4wd recovery and use both electric and hand winch(Tirfor).I personally own both and without a doubt would buy a tirfor first because: CHEAPER
VERSATILE use forward ,back and side ways not to mention up eg car
motor tree
RATED ask someone what their winch cable is rated to and
show the rating tag.
MOBIL Take it to your new 4x4
SHARE Cost and weight with someone else
DOWN SIDE
SLOW
CAN BE HARD WORK
EASILY STOLEN

 

[aussie75series]

what I've always wondered is how much the wirerope gets "squished" in the tirfor type of device. Must be squeezed somehow to hold the load if it gets through...

The cable dosen't squash because it has a solid wire core where as drum winch cable has a rope core. You need the wire core because the heavier the load the more pressure the palls exert on the cable

 

[e9999]

The cable dosen't squash because it has a solid wire core where as drum winch cable has a rope core. You need the wire core because the heavier the load the more pressure the palls exert on the cable

ah, so you can't use regular wire rope then?

 

[Beowulf]

ah, so you can't use regular wire rope then?

No. The instruction manual with the Tirfor specifically cautions against using anything other than the supplied cable. The cable is a specific diameter and construction; plus it is HEAVY. ~30# for 60' Of course you can use other cable, straps, chains, or whatever in the recovery but you do not want to thread anything else through the tool mechanism.

(I have almost talked myself into keeping the darned thing... )

-B-

 

[78-FJ40]

Get the More Power Puller. The 3-ton unit LIFTS 6000 pounds. It can drag much more then that. It only weighs 27 pounds and the 3-ton unit is only $150.

 

[Grouseman]

Get the More Power Puller. The 3-ton unit LIFTS 6000 pounds. It can drag much more then that. It only weighs 27 pounds and the 3-ton unit is only $150.

Yes that is true. It only comes with 20' of wire though. Guys how could you add say 20' sections of wire for winching out? Does anybody make say a 20-30' section of wire with connectors on each end, etc that you could add to the end of the 20' section of wire.

In other words say the truck is stuck in mud. You have the power puller with 20' of wire, your 40' away from the nearest tree. You could connect your 30' section of wire around the tree and then hook the Power Puller system to the other section of wire.


Steve

 

[e9999]

well, how often do you need to move the vehicle by winch for more than 20'?


plus having a strap and a couple of chain lengths with choker hooks you'd be good to go....


the main issue for us here in the SW is that there aren't any real trees.... and I don't like to strap to rocks uphill of the rig for obvious reasons...

 

[Grouseman]

E9999,

That was the answer I wanted. Strap and chain links with choker hooks.

Thanks Man I am still a rookie on this guys.

Steve

 

[Beowulf]

Strap and chain links with choker hooks.
Thanks Man I am still a rookie on this guys.

Steve,
You should also consider a 100' length (or 2x50') of the synthetic winch rope with eyes on each end. It is much easier to haul around and easier to handle than chain though a heavy 20' chain should be in everyone's recovery kit. Anything longer than 20' becomes another one of those heavy burdens I'm trying to avoid carrying.

-B-

 

[lovetoski]

Wyeth-Scott makes different length choker...

Chokers
(Cable with a loop on each end)(Custom lengths, etc. available)

C05 5' choker made with 5/16 $5.00
C10 10' choker made with 5/16 $7.50
C25 25' choker made with 5/16" cable $15.00
C50 50' choker made with 5/16" cable $27.50
C100 100' choker made with 5/16 $52.50

 

[e9999]

best to have *2* chains with grab hooks, well the kind that hook between links. That way you can adjust lengths, go back and forth between 1 chain and winch etc to keep moving. Can't adjust the length of a strap or wirerope quite as easily...


edit: called it choker hook, I think the correct term is "grab" hook... what I meant is the kind of hook that allows you to grab onto the chain at any location

 

[expat]

Check idustrial and safety sites and stores. The pictures of the "black rat" must be baby tirfors. They do make a bigger, heavier duty one. with a different body style. I used one last summer that was rated at 8,000lbs overhead lifting. No idea of the cost (might be cheaper to get the Warn...). Used would be good though. They do get ripped off of industrial job sites all the time, and may show up a pawn stores...

 

[Adventure Teq]

best to have *2* chains with grab hooks, well the kind that hook between links. That way you can adjust lengths, go back and forth between 1 chain and winch etc to keep moving. Can't adjust the length of a strap or wirerope quite as easily...


edit: called it choker hook, I think the correct term is "grab" hook... what I meant is the kind of hook that allows you to grab onto the chain at any location

Like this.

 

[NMuzj100]

A Delta tow strap chain with the grab hook could be useful when attaching chains to staps.

I would want to use a static stap ( tree saver) rather than a dynamic strap (snatch strap) to winch with. Less chance of the whole works "springing" back into you or your truck.

I have heard very good things about this video but haven't seen it myself.

 

[NMuzj100]

The grab hook in action ...

And this Jackmate lets you use your Hi-Lift as a handwinch using your choker chain.

Photos from https://www.expeditionexchange.com/curt/