Using ATV winches to winch down a tall cruiser to get outta the garage.

[alex e]

My 40 is too tall with lift and 37s plus cage. I was talking to a dude last night at Sheriff Todd's birthday party, who suggested 1000lb ATV winches mounted underneath body on frame, connect to axles and winch down to compress the suspension, slip under the garage door and then release once outside. Is this a really fancy susbstitute for airing down and then airing up again? I have 79" tall opening and my rig is 79" at windshield top. I figure rollcage with add 5"......opinions?

 

[dgangle]

those 37's are causing more problems, huh?

 

[alex e]

Something tells me yes....

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

im no expert, but wouldn't that mess with your springs and probly wear em out sooner? i would just air down, spend the money that you would on the atv winch and get an on board air compressor to fill your tires back up.

 

[alex e]

That makes sense.....air is free.

 

[TLCHopII]

The theory is sound. Most (if not all) competition rock crawlers have winches, front and rear, for this purpose. They are usually much higher weight rating though.
A "full dress" TLC weighs in the neighbor hood of 4200lbs w/o trail gear & spares. That said, each spring, theoretically, is suspending +1000lbs. Soo, if ya put one winch at each axle the best you could hope for is a small amount of spring compression spring compression. It would really blow to have the little bugger fail half way out of the garage or teh cable snap seriously damaging another more expensive bit.

 

[alex e]

+1 for me, thank you. Take that, DAVE!

 

[Michael Hanson]

Let air out of tires?

 

[craptabulous]

modify the garage .

 

[Michael Hanson]

I cant believe why were talking about this.

 

[alex e]

Hey Hanson you are close. Can you come over and let the air out for me?

 

[nuclearlemon]

i've cut out all the trim over the bay that i park the 40 in and i air down just a bit to get it. pita, yes, but heck of a lot cheaper than two winches.

 

[PhilC64]

I used a stock tire and rim combo from my 62 to get it low enough to get in. I'll do the same thing to get it out.

 

[Degnol]

The theory is sound. Most (if not all) competition rock crawlers have winches, front and rear, for this purpose. They are usually much higher weight rating though.
A "full dress" TLC weighs in the neighbor hood of 4200lbs w/o trail gear & spares. That said, each spring, theoretically, is suspending +1000lbs. Soo, if ya put one winch at each axle the best you could hope for is a small amount of spring compression spring compression. It would really blow to have the little bugger fail half way out of the garage or teh cable snap seriously damaging another more expensive bit.

I have to disagree...sorry Most uses of small winches to lower a rig to get it in a garage door have a block(pulley) mounted on the axel and the winch and bitter end secured to the frame, effectively doubling the pulling power of the winch. In addition, the winch is only used to "squat" the truck long enough to get it through the portal, then released. Maybe your situation is different, but my garage ceiling height is about 3' taller than the door opening.

Ed

 

[Hobbs]

I cant believe why were talking about this.

X2...!

 

[TLCHopII]

It's always the obvious that trips me up! lol

Anyone have a picture of such a set up on a 40 front axle?

 

[Trollhole]

Jesus. Get three nice big ratchet straps. Ratchet it down. Drive in. Then losen them.

 

[alex e]

Even better...

 

[rsc71]

Jesus. Get three nice big ratchet straps. Ratchet it down. Drive in. Then losen them.

thats what i do,plus let air out

 

[Mace]

It works fine,
I have winches front and rear on my 40.

The rear is a Gorilla 3K ATV winch. ~ $85 on Ebay.