Good winch for pulling 2 ton van?

GervisLooper

I read that you should calculate winch weight based on the vehicle weight (2 ton) and add 1.5 for an incline as well as maybe challenging ground or something line that so 4 ton?

Would something like this be ok: https://www.toolstation.com/pull-winch/p98107

Or if you can recommend better quality if that one not advised. Don't mind paying more for better quality as it is something you want to be able to rely on!

I had initially thought about an electric one which could be charged from the existing 12v system in the van but when I saw there were manual ones that also do comparable weights manual seems less faff.

Would a manual one take much much longer though for say 100ft pull? I don't mind a while longer but if it would take hours and hours might have to rethink. A couple of hours ok. Maybe within a day still ok so long as it got the job done and would not plan to be doing it every day.

Mildly_Miffed

Yes, a tirfor will take FAR FAR FAR longer and be MUCH MUCH MUCH more hassle than an electric winch for anything more than a trivial amount of distance.

But let's go back a step... What are you actually wanting to achieve? Why are you thinking you're regularly going to get stuck? Normally, winches are used by the SERIOUS off-road crowd for self-recovery out of serious sticky goop, or by the likes of tree surgeons for moving heavy timber.

If you think you're going to get a (presumably 2wd) van stuck regularly, wouldn't it be sensible to use a more suitable vehicle, or stick to more suitable terrain?

GervisLooper

Mildly_Miffed said:

Yes, a tirfor will take FAR FAR FAR longer and be MUCH MUCH MUCH more hassle than an electric winch for anything more than a trivial amount of distance.

But let's go back a step... What are you actually wanting to achieve? Why are you thinking you're regularly going to get stuck? Normally, winches are used by the SERIOUS off-road crowd for self-recovery out of serious sticky goop, or by the likes of tree surgeons for moving heavy timber.

If you think you're going to get a (presumably 2wd) van stuck regularly, wouldn't it be sensible to use a more suitable vehicle, or stick to more suitable terrain?

Quite simple.

I have a field I own and it is rather boggy. I plan to put down a hardstanding track but I want a backup just in case I came off the track or the slope caused issues or other issue so I wouldn't have to appeal to a third party to bail me out. Electric sounds the better choice then.

I watched a video where they used an atv battery to power an electric one which they said was much better to store and carry around than a normal 12v battery.

Mildly_Miffed

OK, so here's a fairly typical lower-priced 12v 4t winch...
https://www.dragonwinch.co.uk/catalogue/detail.aspx?pid=3230&ps=1&gid=44046&pg=UKMJOGflTHM=
No load - 8m/min, 70A
Full load - 2.3m/min, 390A

Warn are the gold standard.
https://superpowerwinch.co.uk/product/warn-vr-evo-8-8000lb-electric-winch/
Full load - 1.8m/min, 300A

You aren't running those from any kind of standalone battery. You're going to need the engine running on the van, and ideally an uprated alternator and second battery if you're planning on giving them some serious hammer.

tedted

we had a warn on our recovery truck and it had a remote controll which is handy when winching vehicles on.alternator was standard no need for up rated one but a isolater switch is good to have

GervisLooper

Mildly_Miffed said:

OK, so here's a fairly typical lower-priced 12v 4t winch...
https://www.dragonwinch.co.uk/catalogue/detail.aspx?pid=3230&ps=1&gid=44046&pg=UKMJOGflTHM=
No load - 8m/min, 70A
Full load - 2.3m/min, 390A

Warn are the gold standard.
https://superpowerwinch.co.uk/product/warn-vr-evo-8-8000lb-electric-winch/
Full load - 1.8m/min, 300A

You aren't running those from any kind of standalone battery. You're going to need the engine running on the van, and ideally an uprated alternator and second battery if you're planning on giving them some serious hammer.

Ye but in these cases I would have to attach it to the van wouldn't I?

I don't want all the setup and cost attaching to the van, want a separate one.

What are the prices of diesel ones like? Are they loads more like diesel generators are compared to petrol? Don't want to spend loads on something that would only get occasional use.

What does it mean 70a no load? How can it be drawing that in stanby mode! What can be taking such draw if it isn't doing anything? 390a!!!? My leisure batt is only 100a

This guy in the video is using an atv battery to power the winch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ADgOictek

Is that one going to be much smaller than the ones you suggested?

Eldi_Dos

Visit a scrappy and see if they can source you some galvinised cable tray, if you get correct width it can be very useful for traversing boggy patches.

If you plan on having van stationary for a length of time it is not a bad policy to have it sitting on some tray to stop it bedding down, which it will do as you go in and out the vehicle. Tray also has the advantage that grass will grow through slots and help it blend in.

GervisLooper

Eldi_Dos said:

Visit a scrappy and see if they can source you some galvinised cable tray, if you get correct width it can be very useful for traversing boggy patches.

Wouldn't than just spin as soon as it got mud on it?

GervisLooper

Mildly_Miffed said:

OK, so here's a fairly typical lower-priced 12v 4t winch...
https://www.dragonwinch.co.uk/catalogue/detail.aspx?pid=3230&ps=1&gid=44046&pg=UKMJOGflTHM=
No load - 8m/min, 70A
Full load - 2.3m/min, 390A

Warn are the gold standard.
https://superpowerwinch.co.uk/product/warn-vr-evo-8-8000lb-electric-winch/
Full load - 1.8m/min, 300A

You aren't running those from any kind of standalone battery. You're going to need the engine running on the van, and ideally an uprated alternator and second battery if you're planning on giving them some serious hammer.

I am thinking, rather than having on the vehicle, have it placed at the mouth of the entrance (demountable) so it could haul it up.

Hmm 400 smackers for the dragon winch is too much to justify for a 'just in case' item. Was thinking up to about 200-250.

Perhaps as such it is overkill and I would be better to just have a few ton of spare hardcore lying around to put under the tracks? If that would work then fine. I have actually done that for an area I have already layed and worked fine to get me out again but I am just wondering how much more challenging it will be for the van when if is spins and on a slope? Would enough gravel still get it out in that situation?

Eldi_Dos

GervisLooper said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Visit a scrappy and see if they can source you some galvinised cable tray, if you get correct width it can be very useful for traversing boggy patches.

Wouldn't than just spin as soon as it got mud on it?

Only if you had a driver who did not know what they where doing.

paul_c123

If its only for the "just in case" scenario, then these would be a better investment: 
Google "sand ladders". And a decent spade too, to take the harshness out of the slope you would need to drive up, if you got stuck in a hole.