The best Towing Winches: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

If you don't cut the inner tubes and just use the whole thing you have a much larger rubber band. Use a come along to cock your weapon. Since you're in a mall, use these as projectiles.

When you get out of prison, post about your adventure on /r/tifu.

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-910500-Drill-Winch-capacity/dp/B00SF70SN4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545984112&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=drill+winch&dpPl=1&dpID=419JFpE7UjL&ref=plSrch

Wouldn't trust an ebay winch. For a very similar price point you can get this smittybilt which is pretty well regarded for budget winches.

https://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-97495-XRC-Winch-Capacity/dp/B00JXS3BXI/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=smittybilt+winch&qid=1606879929&sprefix=Smitty&sr=8-3

Awesome if you've got room to get one in. Alternatively, if you have something sturdier than the thing you're trying to pull out (a bigger tree), heavy straps, an old wheel and a come-along will usually do the same thing, just slower.

If you anchor to a tree you want to keep, make sure you put some scrap wood between the strap and the tree to protect the bark. A few chunks of old 2x4 will do the trick.

Winch should keep you fine, it's pretty uncommon to sink in a powder bowl open field, it's the inconsistent drifts and tree wells in the woods that tend to get me in trouble. If ya tractor it good, share the fun here once you're safely back in civilization!

I'm considering trying a 1/2 ton cordless winch this year for those very reasons.

Yeah, I wasn't sure. I saw a video of a prospector splitting a big Boulder with a fire once and always thought it would be fun to try.

My only other potentially useful idea would be to try a big-ass come-along like this anchored to a stout tree and a bunch of chains. Maybe you could get everything for a day from a rentals place for cheap.

I am glad you got out , especially before today/tonight. It’s supposed to be very cold

I haven’t tried these, but doesn’t hurt to take a look. I hope this helps

New. Vehicle Recovery Kit with Strap. Twin Pack by BOG Out. 4x4 Recovery Gear for Offroad Recovery. Turn Your Wheels into a Winch. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WVQ8V19/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QBJBA9Z64Y6JA5Z9K1D5

https://www.bushwinch.com

> Input: 1.5hp @ 3600rpm > > Output: 400 lbs. torque @ 30rpm

Well that can't work because the output power is greater than the input power (assuming you mean 400 lb ft of torque out, which at 30 rpm is 2.3 HP).

The output power must always be lower than the input because energy is always conserved.

Checking out how others have solved your problem is always a good start, here's a battery powered 1,000 lb winch that's weighs 18.6lb:

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-885005-PullzAll-Cordless-Electric/dp/B00437IHOC

Lots of similar products on the market too.

My wife got me these Orcish traction boards for Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/ORCISH-Recovery-Traction-Boards-Tracks/dp/B07MLRCHYN

I've used them 3 times in the past year (both as a shovel in deep snow and as traction boards) and they've worked great. I'm very happy with them.

Pick up traction boards on Amazon. They will help in some tough spots or if you get stuck. https://smile.amazon.com/ORCISH-Recovery-Traction-Boards-Tracks/dp/B07MLRCHYN/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=traction+boards&qid=1589664717&sprefix=traction&sr=8-5

This is essentially just a winch powered by your engine with the lead wrapping around your tires.

I agree though that a standard winch would be easier to use, and they aren't ultra expensive (especially if you don't get a Warn).

One problem with this, is that the cordage would wear out pretty quickly with repeated uses. It would be subjected to a lot more wear than you'd get with a regular synthetic rope winch.

This seems like a stop gap solution as you implied. Its something you throw in the truck just in case. Not something you'd want to go on a trip and use repeatedly.

Edit: Just checked and this is $200 on Amazon. In my opinion I'd almost always choose a winch over this for a 4x4. You could pay $700 for a pretty decent winch and mount, or even less depending on how much you need to pull.

But I think the sweet spot with this is 2 wheel drive cars that just might get stuck in snow storm, or unusually muddy roads. In that case this is something nice to throw into the vehicle, just in case.

https://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Recovery-Strap-Offroad-Recovery/dp/B07WVQ8V19

Maybe you can rig up something like this in the car? https://www.amazon.com/WARN-885005-PullzAll-Cordless-Electric/dp/B00437IHOC/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=pullzall+car+charger&qid=1551388860&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull

9500lb winch for $299 Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch - 9500 lb. Load Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXS3BXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rFk6zb5KA3HR2

This would be such a pita in Florida where the wheels are under mud and I'm sure it would sheer the lugs if you were really stuck. Do yourself a favor and buy two 9500lb winches instead.

This is the model: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXS3BXI

I love it. It was easy to install and it's easy to operate. I haven't had to use it in the few weeks since I've had it... I'll let you know if I have a failure.

Winch 9500lbs $299 waterproof bad ass never had an issue all my 4x4 buddies use them.

Smittybilt 97495 XRC Winch - 9500 lb. Load Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXS3BXI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XC97ybC2JS6D0

Thoughts on the 8000lb Warn vs the 10000lb smitty?

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-26502-M8000-8000-lb-Winch/dp/B000182DYM

I read somewhere that I should go for 10k. Is 8k enough? I'm thinking it'll be pulling me out of mud, and other cars out of snow.

Bumpers are a personal taste, but as far as the winch goes, I would take that money and buy a Warn winch. They have been market leaders forever, and for good reason. Dont want your winch failing when you need it.

This is a great winch. I have one on the front of my JKU Rubicon. It currently has a $75 mail in rebate as well, so if you order online with no tax, it costs less than the smittybilt

Here is the rebate form.

A winch, because I got my car stuck the other day, so hopefully I can get myself out next time

And maybe I'll rescue one of you too.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-2953AT-12-Volt-Portable/dp/B000COTKDM/ref=lp_15737591_1_14?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1437596810&sr=1-14

those winches that mount on cars and accept 12V can pull some crazy weight, think cars.

http://www.amazon.com/WARN-26502-M8000-8000-lb-Winch/dp/B000182DYM

Seen them closer to $550, just the first link I found.

The real proof is when you take them apart, those cheap winches have poorly machined gears, casting flaws, poor lubrication, cheap solenoids, motors that fry way to easily. Is almost like they want to make it look like a winch for show.

Most of the differences with the 8-10k winches are gear ratios. The "more powerful" winches are in reality just geared lower and are slower. The warn winches now have many imported parts, including the motors, but the gears are still cut in Oregon. Plus the quality control has not changed.

They are really easy to rebuild though. I have a 15 year old M6000 that I just completely rebuilt. The old motors are very beefy So I was able to clean the armature and stator with a wire wheel and replace the insulation. Find one that looks rough and functions for 100 bucks and spend a few days taking it apart.

Then there are two key parameters here.

The first is the maximum torque, which in this case is (30 lbs)*(wheel radius). If you have a more advanced block and tackle pulley, you can divide by the mechanical advantage. For example, if no mechanical advantage and a 3" radius wheel, you need a motor rated for 8 ft-lbs. Not hard for a decent motor, but beyond a 'RC car' motor.

The second is a mechanism that can hold on to torque. Most motors either turn or burn. So you need a ratchet mechanism and controls to stop and start the motor when it can turn.

And it just occurs to me. We are trying to come up with a product that already exists: A winch

A ground anchor winch. You can pull yourself out of mud even if there are no trees nearby to attach to. You just pound the anchor into the ground and use the lever to pull it out. This one I linked to is pretty expensive but there are cheaper ones out there.

http://www.amazon.com/PULL-PAL-WINCH-ANCHOR-11000-Heavy-Duty/dp/B004WFX8HQ

Edit: also you could use a huge stake with a traditional winch (much less expensive) http://shop.plummo.com/images/3974/products/500%20anchor.jpg

Also: a couple bags of cat litter to put under your wheels for traction in the mud.

Here is a review of two of them..

The SmityBilt WASP doesn't do so well, but the Pull-Pal does work well.

Depending on how much money you are willing to put into it, you could just get an electric hoist/cable wench with a remote control for under 100 bucks.

Something like this

I bought a superwinch tiger shark and used it to pull a Suburban off the edge of my driveway the second day I had it. Not sure about other winches (this is my first and I just got it) but it worked amazingly well, felt like I could pull two of them up a hill.