Towing/Recovery winches,chains,straps,shackles,D-rings

[addicted]

This last winter was pretty sick. Even over here in germany we had 3+ feet of snow up in the area I like to hunt.  That being said, i'm sure i'm not the only one who got into it for a little more than they bargained for and had to be pulled out. This year I have a New rig with less anchor points so i want to be prepaired, not only to stay conservative on my driving, but also to help my buddies out which was often the case.  I'm not putting a new bumper on my cherokee so i'm not going to get a winch so thats out.  I figure this is a good topic for all of us to get prepped.

What is your guy's set up for vehicle recovery?

What is your opinion on tow chains VS straps, etc?

Pics are ALWAYS good.

[Woodchuck]

straps, always straps, they actually multiply pulling force because they will stretch and they rip stuff apart alot less when you have to "bump" it a little to get em started 

[addicted]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2479235/how_to_use_bbq_grill_and_chains_to_extract_a_stuck_tractor_long/

[Special T]

With no winch i'd go for 2 straps a come along a length of chain or cable, and a pair of link tire chains or 2 for the ride.... and a couple of screw in Clevis pins 

[jeepasaurusrex]

What vehicle do you have now?

[JackOfAllTrades]

Pretty sure he's got that pretty Red Grand Cherokee...

On that light vehicle... I'd go with straps and the best com'a long you can get and some good tire chains.. Not cable chains.

-Steve

[jeepasaurusrex]

Get a D-ring hitch adapter for the rear that goes into the receiver hitch.


If its the same model (ZJ) as mine, I could fab up some D-Ring mounts for the front and ship them over.

Or, you could get a front bumper with them built into it like this one, and a winch!

[JackOfAllTrades]

That D' ring adaptor for the rear hitch is a great idea.  Between now and then, find all hook/tie down points on the rig. Add some so you have one on each corner. The center hitch/pull point is not always the best. Being able to pull from any corner would be the best. Depending on the com'a long you get, also get a length of braded cable, (coils really nice and a hundred feet or so should fit under the drivers side back seat. Sto the tire chains for four wheels on the passenger side.). For that cable, get a nice pully/block for that tougher pull. I saw a prototype 4x4 show on TV the other day. They were using a Dacron winch rope on some pretty heavy rigs. Lightweight and no cable splinters. You might search for that stuff. Unlike Nylon, Dacron doesn't stretch. You could still get say a 4-6000 pound permanent magnet winch that will slip into the hitch receiver if you want to spend more money. But, it's a Grand Cherokee, not a CJ or truck. I think before I bought a winch, I'd look into lockers for the differentials. Lockers and chains on the tires will allow you to get that Cherokee into some serious trouble. Remember, it's full time 4x4, so it's not like you can go in 2x.. And get your self out in 4x4.

-Steve

[BLUEBULLS]

what are you guys talking about??? ?Never heard of such a thing, I drive a Toyota

oops, might have just started a chevy vs ford thing

we've always had good luck using barge ropes, you know, the big ole thick ones, you can get a ton of slack and it won't break anything, they actually have a lot of stretch so they somewhat slingshot you.

[jeepasaurusrex]

There is a hitch plug on my Jeep that reads "Remove to pull out Toyotas" 

[jackelope]

I highly recommend a snatch block, a big effing chain and a big effing winch, a couple shovels and a few buddies.
just sayin....

[whacker1]

snatch block

 

[BLUEBULLS]

There is a hitch plug on my Jeep that reads "Remove to pull out Toyotas" 

let me know if you need instructions to get that plug out, I know you've never had to take it out

[ICEMAN]

Welded v lug mud and snow chains would be nice. (Is that a Chevy in the ditch?)

[addicted]

Thanks guys.

the all time 4x4 has a gyroptic whatchamacallitdoohicky that engages when it senses the rear breaking loose, but it also has 4 low where i can lock em up?

[rasbo]

Welded v lug mud and snow chains would be nice. (Is that a Chevy in the ditch?)

yeah ask killbilly

[ICEMAN]

Hey, I talked to Killbilly the other night and he is ready to help bail someone out with his new truck!

[rasbo]

Hey, I talked to Killbilly the other night and he is ready to help bail someone out with his new truck!

hope he has real chains....thats a pretty truck,will it see a dirt road

[toyman2]

if your looking to pull or get pulled id have a good yank/tow strap.
if your looking for self recovery with a comalong i would not use a strap because they stretch alot, id keep chains and or a cable around.
as for a winch you can get a multi mount somthing that plugs into a reciever so you can have it back or front that way you dont have to change any bumpers.
a snatch block really isnt going to do you any good with out some kind of cable and a pulling source. Also you will need a few shackles to connect things together, but make dam sure you dont cheap out on them they are like a missle when they or things break.
checking and or makeing good anchor points before you need them is also a good idea.

[Huntbear]

Good old fashioned block and tackle, tied off to a large stump.  Will get you out every time.

[addicted]

Get a D-ring hitch adapter for the rear that goes into the receiver hitch.


If its the same model (ZJ) as mine, I could fab up some D-Ring mounts for the front and ship them over.

Or, you could get a front bumper with them built into it like this one, and a winch!

holy chit that bumper is nine hundred bucks.    

I clicked on that website and was pleasantly surprised by the WJ selection then i saw that that bumber is close to the cheapest one

[addicted]

you guys got me clicking around and now i'm looking at doing up the whole truck. i was going to try to avoid that with this jeep this time around. 

Without doing any serious weeling i dont think i'll need a winch but then its not always a matter of need is it.

[BC CHASER]

I highly recommend a snatch block, a big effing chain and a big effing winch, a couple shovels and a few buddies.
just sayin....

You should tell them a little more!

[Special T]

I have a cheap Costco/ harbor freight 800lb winch that works pretty good for 300 bucks.... put it on a receiver hitch and set up for front ore rear works great... buddy had same one and had to replace the brushes... went to Romaine Electric and got better brushes like the ones Warn uses he rebuilt him self for like $60 bucks... I'm gona have ot do that soon too but its hard to beat for the money.. 

[addicted]

I have a cheap Costco/ harbor freight 800lb winch that works pretty good for 300 bucks.... put it on a receiver hitch and set up for front ore rear works great... buddy had same one and had to replace the brushes... went to Romaine Electric and got better brushes like the ones Warn uses he rebuilt him self for like $60 bucks... I'm gona have ot do that soon too but its hard to beat for the money.. 

even if 800lbs doesnt get you out of a hole, its a pretty sweet deal as a game recovery winch.

Did he have to replace the brushes because of the over load or are they just cheap.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

shovel, hi lift jack, lug chains and a tarp.  Tarp keeps you from laying in the snow and getting all wet and cold and even more pissed off.

[addicted]

shovel, hi lift jack, lug chains and a tarp.  Tarp keeps you from laying in the snow and getting all wet and cold and even more pissed off.

how often does a high lift jack burry itself 2 feet in the ground?

[jeepasaurusrex]

They sell a nice plastic base you can put under the foot and doesnt really take up any room in your rig. \

[high country]

I use a simpson capstan winch, a couple blocks and a hank of rope. the beauty is the winch goes from a chainsaw to a winch in 2 minutes, weighs 10 pounds and can pull an unlimited distance. the rope seems to be the limiting factor. I use rope that has a 4k wll and add a block to get fancy. I am amazed everytime I use it.

I also have a good selection of electric winches from a xd 8000i to a re 12,000.......slow as mold, but with a 24k lb stall.....something IS going to move.

[Caseyd]

shovel, hi lift jack, lug chains and a tarp.  Tarp keeps you from laying in the snow and getting all wet and cold and even more pissed off.

how often does a high lift jack burry itself 2 feet in the ground?

Thats what a block of wood is for

[jeepasaurusrex]

I have a Warn 8274 (8,000lb) on the front of my CJ7. Best winch ever made by Warn. Fastest line speed also.

[Sportfury]

I use a simpson capstan winch, a couple blocks and a hank of rope. the beauty is the winch goes from a chainsaw to a winch in 2 minutes, weighs 10 pounds and can pull an unlimited distance. the rope seems to be the limiting factor. I use rope that has a 4k wll and add a block to get fancy. I am amazed everytime I use it.

I checked out that capstan winch and it looks pretty awesome http://www.simpsonwinchinc.com/. That is exactly what I needed last year when I got stuck down in the bottom of a canyon while chukar hunting. I want one!

[addicted]

my uncle uses something like that for pulling out elk. 

[addicted]

So what happens when you go past an electric whinches capacity?

Does it simply stop and start burning windings or is there more serious damage?

Lets say, a 2500lb winch and a 3600lb cherokee. i'm not looking to climb trees or anything.

[ICEMAN]

You can multiply the pulling force of a winch with a block, plus you can often use available traction and pulling force of the vehicle in conjunction with the winch. Your winch may only need to provide a bit of assistance to get you out...

[jeepasaurusrex]

A good rule of thumb for selecting a winch is 1.5 times the weight of the of the vehicle. One thing to consider, if your stuck in the mud, the suction from the mud will not allow you to pull your vehicle out with a sub standard winch. Go with a 8,000lb capacity winch (min.) and get it over with. I've used mine for so many more things than getting unstuck. Game recovery, logging (OK, building a really big camp fire ) stretching fence, etc. There are so many uses.

[high country]

another thing to remember is the electric winches are rated at the single layer, as cable wraps over the next layer....power goes down....as much as 15-20% per layer. with that said you just have to monitor the winch and oce you can't keep your hand on the motor, you need to stop and let it cool. if you are at max load and on a steep hill a worm gear winch will hold you, a planetary, like the re series, or the m and xd series will potentially reverse rotate and let you go backwards. I am pretty sure the 8274 will not allow it to spool out, bu I have never had one that tight.

[jeepasaurusrex]

The 8274 has a ratcheting brake on the side that will hold you. The older model had a drum/style brake that required you to hold it with your hand.

[addicted]

For now, I'm going with a BFC(big fu*&ing chain).  I found a tow hook i can attach to the front, but i'll have to take off my cow catcher that the PO put on there.

then a 2.75 inch lift and 31's in the fall 

[high country]

big chains are nice for snatch block set up or for binding a load on a trailer, but they are way hard on parts when you start tugging on them. I have pulled the bumper right off of a blazer once.....dude was bummed.

[toyman2]

the energy a chain carrys will damage alot of stuff or kill a person, a strap carrys energy also but it has no weight to carry the energy.
a chain is a bad idea it also creats a shock load that is not good for anything and is carryed through out everything including the frame of the truck.
about any Warn winch is good and trustworthy, there is a reason that a cheap winch is priced cheap

[Recurve-Elk]

I use a good strong strap.  I think its rated to 30,000lbs.  Besides that, just drive safely.