Winch Hooks?

[98 SNAKE EATER]

OK, I have a SuperWinch EP9 and recently used it to drag and position a vehicle lift that a flatbed dropped off in front of my shop....

I had to attach the hook to a flat edge on the lift as it really didn't have anywhere else to put it and ended up bending the little spring latch

I bent it back, but the spring is fubar'd (latch stays put, but won't snap like it's supposed to)

No big deal I thought, since I've seen a bunch on the shelves before

So I headed out to the local NorthernTools outlet and found a rack full of them

Thing is, their printed load ratings seemed rather low

The forged 3/8" hook that looked identical to the one my winch came with had a load rating of just 5,500 lbs.

The next size up (which was also zinc coated with a stronger latch) only had a load rating of 6,600 lbs.

Headed over to Ace and they had an even bigger forged 1/2" hook that was painted orange, but only rated at 7,500 lbs.

Now, maybe I'm off base with the numbers, but I've always thought the hook rating should be at least double the winch's max pull rating

Rather than take a chance on sumthin that might be inferior, I figured I'd go online and see what SuperWinch and Warn rate their hooks at, but neither of them list load ratings

I just wanna be sure cause the last thing I want is for it snap and come flying through my windshield

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The ratings are for over head lifts which is lower than the breaking strength by a factor of 4 usually. Look for a USA made hook 3/8 or better and it will be fine for your winch. Transport grade is usually better than regular.

You don't really need that latch thing. They always get twisted up and develop sharp edges that cut your fingers.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Thanx Andrew

I still like having the latch though

I broke the latch off the hook on my Golf Cart's winch and used the hook alone for a while until I had to winch my way out of a deep trench and the hook slipped off the clevis on my winch anchor

Tried driving up while winching and the tension dropped just enough for the hook to slip off

Set the parking brake and as soon as I hopped off to hook it again, the cart slid back down the trench

Besides, I have a pair of leather gloves under the seat that go on everytime I use the winch

 

[spressomon]

As Andy (Cruiserdrew) stated above. Or if you have to have a clasp of some sort this is the one (the red one at the top of the link page; "self locker") I have been using for the past couple years without issue. Ok...I did have one pretty major issue that royally pissed me off right when I needed the damn thing: The rivet pivot froze up. So after I got back home I drilled the sucker out and replaced it with a Grade 8 shouldered bolt and self locking nut and winch hook life has been good ever since.


OKoffroad.com Accessories - Winch Hook

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

A friend of mine has the second one on that page on her FJC, but to keep it from clanking away due to the extra hammerlock link, she has to spool it in between the rollers with the hook sticking straight out

The spring latch is the strongest I've seen so far though

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Check out Towing | Recovery | Repo|Service Truck Equipment and Supplies - AW Direct for more winch hook options...

Nick

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

I just bought a used XD9000 Warn winch in a pristine condition, the only thing missing is the hook

So I was wondering if the link below which shows the Atlas Universal Winch hook is good enough to replace the hook made by Warn that came originally with the XD9000. What do you guys think?


Atlas Universal Winch Hook (3/8 inch) - Greg Smith Equipment Sales, Inc

 

[sirenmoses]

OKoffroad.com Accessories - Winch Hook

Those first couple look a lot like the hooks we use to slingload things underneath helicopters. Prolly okay for pulling out stuck heeps, and other things. ;p