Venturing off the beaten trail entails a set of problems that only those with previous experience can deal with. It’s nothing like driving on roads, and as a result, many people are caught off guard and end up getting stuck hundreds of kilometres away from civilisation, with no help in sight.
In fact, most people would consider themselves lucky if they had network reception to call someone to assist them, or even if they end up waiting a few hours and are fortunate enough to have another person accidentally pass by. This is especially true if you’re travelling the vast Australian outback. For that reason, it’s important to prepare yourself before your first trip. While there are many off road accessories online that can help you recover a stuck vehicle, nothing beats 4WD winches.
The range of winches is extremely broad nowadays, and choosing the right one is essential to ensuring it provides the value you need when you need it. While there are many different guides on these off road accessories online, most of them are rather basic, so I’ve decided to give you a more in-depth one so that you can make a well-informed decision. This is aimed at casual explorers and off-road rookies, not the hardcore enthusiasts who have been at it for years. However, even a seasoned veteran can learn something, as the technology constantly advances and there are new innovations every year, and brands come and go. Without further ado, let’s delve into the matter.
Winches and Their Importance
Think of buying reliable 4WD winches as a type of insurance. If you venture off the beaten trail, it’s not a matter of whether you’ll get stuck, it’s a matter of when you’ll get stuck. No matter whether you’re driving through mud, snow, sand or rocks, it’s bound to happen at some point. A winch is one accessory that many 4WD owners and off-road enthusiasts often ignore, as it doesn’t provide a performance boost like a suspension or tyre upgrade, for instance. What it does provide, however, is peace of mind, which can be priceless.
Many new 4WD owners generally go out to test their new rig in the roughest terrain they can find, without considering the possibility of getting stuck. It’s exactly this type of circumstance that makes winches indispensable tools. Winches have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years that allow people to move heavy objects that would be impossible to move otherwise. And with the invention of electric winches, they’ve become indispensable tools for off-roaders and people living in rural areas with rough roads.
There’s an old saying that goes “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” which stands true for winches as well. You might not use it every time you venture off the road, but when the need for one arises, you’ll be glad you bought it. Buying the right electric winch for your vehicle and your particular requirements can be difficult for first-time buyers, as they aren’t the most affordable accessories.
Parts of a Winch
Winches are typically bolted to the front of your 4WD and are used when you get stranded and need help getting out from wherever you get stranded in. Most off-roaders mount their winches on a bull bar, which is another important accessory for off-roading. Regardless of where you bolt it, a winch will be comprised of the following components:
- Cable or Rope
- Drum
- Gear Train
- Motor
- Control Box
What to Consider When Buying a Winch?
There are a few important things to consider when choosing a winch for your vehicle. For most people, though, the most important factor is price.
Winch Cost
An obvious factor in every buying decision. As is with most other things, you get what you pay for. While an affordable winch may seem enticing, keep in mind that you’ll be using it in unpleasant situations, so you should avoid poor-quality winches at any cost. However, this doesn’t mean that you should spend thousands of dollars on a winch. There are many options, and most are in the price range between $300 to $1500.
Unfortunately, both $300 and $1500 winch manufacturers will claim that they’re the best out there, and they’ll all have catchy names that will try to convince you they can pull an 18-wheeler. From personal experience, winches that are priced somewhere in-between the $300-1500 range will perform just fine. Bonus points if they’re manufactured by an Australian company with a decent reputation for off-road parts and accessories.
Winch Pull Capacity
Since this is the main purpose of the winch, it’s important for the winch you buy to be capable of pulling you out when you get stuck. In other words, it’s important to know if the winch is strong enough (has enough pull capacity) to pull the weight of your vehicle. The capacity of winches is typically expressed in pounds, or kilograms. The pull capacity of the winch should ideally exceed the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).
However, make sure to take into account the weight of the other accessories and the equipment you’ll be carrying around when travelling. Things like bull bars, water tanks, roof racks, and ski and snowboard equipment can all be heavy and add to the overall weight. For that reason, most experienced off-roaders suggest buying a winch with a pull capacity that’s double the weight of your vehicle’s gross rating.
Cable vs Rope
Steel winch cables are considered more durable, and they won’t wear as fast when used in mud or when dragged over sharp rocks or ground. They’re also cheaper. However, they’re heavier and prone to rust. On the other hand, ropes are made of synthetic materials that are much lighter, and you can fit longer ropes in the spool. While more expensive, synthetic ropes provide a few benefits. Namely, they can be tied and fixed if they snap, float in water, and are very lightweight. The only downside is that they wear down faster, especially when dragged over sharp objects or the ground. They also require more maintenance to ensure longevity.
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