Posted on 08/11/2006 1:59:35 AM PDT by Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit
By Mick Farmer. A while ago I wrote an article on winches and asked the question as to their viability. In the article, I discussed that unless you were a complete 4wd nutter like myself or working / living in an environment where you are likely to get stuck on a near daily basis then -- pretty much a waste of money. One piece of equipment that is, in my opinion, invaluable is the high-lift jack. There are various makes including "hi-lift", "jack-all", and "black rat" but they all do much the same thing; only some have a higher safe working load than others. This is important to take into consideration if you are driving a heavy 100 series Landcruiser. The good thing about the jack is, not just it's capability of lifting the vehicle high off the ground, but also to be used as a winch, splitting logs and clamping together timber or other material.
In other words, you can use it for more than one task and this can save valuable loading space in your vehicle when planning to go on a long safari. Useful, but dangerous if operated incorrectly! I have heard horror stories of eyes, teeth and digits being lost and operators knocked unconscious because of a "misunderstanding" of how much force is on the jack handle as it is being released. Hi-Lift have their user manual available online.
Safety is the key (as with all recovery equipment). When lifting your vehicle off the ground, you are making it unstable, so generally the jack should only be used in this configuration for recovery when stuck in ruts or soft ground where you need to put some material under the wheels to clear the diff casing / leave springs. Also, unless you have approved jacking points on the vehicle that can accept the jack safely, then it should not be used to change a flat tyre.
For instance, you can buy an adaptor to fit the jack so that it goes into the jacking point on a Land Rover. With other models such as Toyotas you may be looking at having a new bumper / bull bar fitted that has the jacking points incorporated. An example of this would be the TJM bars. These have a T section cut in them that are designed to take a high lift. Don't rely solely on a bit of angle iron welded to the chassis (as they do here). This might be good enough to help lift the vehicle but it does not make it stable enough to change a wheel. When using the jack on soft ground it is advisable to use a base to spread the weight.
You can buy the neoprene ones or you can go and get yourself a good chunk of hardwood from Ndeeba (less expensive, can be used for other things and takes more abuse). If you are a first time user then I would suggest that you learn how to use it correctly before you get stuck. Do some dry runs to familiarise yourself with how it works in a safe environment. This will enable you to get a feel of the tension on the handle as the jack is being released. You could also enrol in a course on how to use it. There is one place in Uganda but the name escapes me for now ...
For use as a hand winch, you will need to buy a few extras to go along with it. You can buy complete kits, which cover all bases and are well worth the investment as the contents can also be used for other things as well. Depending on what size jack you buy, either 4 or 5 foot will depend on the amount of pull you get on the first try. Generally, in my experience, two 3 ft pulls backwards will generally get you out. Again, read the manual (preferably take a course), do some dry runs with the equipment first and don't forget to use the gloves supplied in the kit. Think safety first!
Drive to survive.
Definetly. Many winches on the front of trucks and Jeeps cleared roads throughout the South after the 2004, 2005 hurricane season.
I have simply got to cut down on the OT.
I missed this thread by almost 2 full days!
A Hoist Roll-Off Truck needs a winch. As a matter of fact, this is the best system for loading and hauling construction waste boxes. I guess whether you need a winch or not depends on your mileage. I only state my specific use because of my many years in the trash business. Winches are necessary, EVEN MY WIFE. ;-)
Those winches are very attractive. Do you have a larger photo of the wenches?
Never mind.
Oh, that type of winch.
I have a Sportsman 500 too.I sunk mine in a mudhole to the fenders.I was luckey I had enough cable on my winch to reach the closest tree straight ahead[about 30 some feet].The damn things so heavy,it just kept sinking deeper.Sooner or later,I'm going to put a winch on the rear too.I was in the middle of a swamp by myself,I'd been screwed without one.
Wenches may not be necessary, but they are more fun to be with in the evening than guys.
Thanks for the correction...that's what I meant, but the correct name slipped my mind.
"We call those a "hurt me jack"."
I've heard them called Widow Makers too.
Don't build em like they used to.
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