Good winch for pulling 2 ton van?

forgotmyname

GervisLooper said:

Still no hard numbers on what battery bank size would be required to work a winch comfortably? 800a, 5000a, 10000a?

How are they 'normally' installed in vehicles? They are meant for off-roading mostly right so presumably for those weight is at a premium so having huge battery banks would not be desired.

Ok I am just looking up articles on winch batteries. Seems a totally different kettle of fish to leisure or starter batteries and would be several hundred quid.

The electric winch idea seems like a none starter as would be looking at the best part of a grand probably. Pointless for 'just in case' use.

Bewen a while since I have done offroading but I had an 8000lb winch on my Range Rover. A 2nd battery was fitted to the vehicle and the cables to the
winch were thicker than the original battery cables. Even with a 2nd battery the winch would be run for a short period maybe 10/20 seconds and then paused
to make sure the alternator could recharge the battery and prevent heat buildup.

A Pair of 120Ah batteries with an excess of 800CCA each.  A single battery is likely to struggle especially with the distance you maybe looking at pulling the
van.  It's OK saying you only need to pull it back onto the track but you maybe surprised how difficult that can be even if it looks like a small lip from
the soft dirt to the firmer track. Seen cars dragged for some distance with different angles of steering to get back onto the track, usually we needed
to pull the vehicle sideways at the same time.

You soon realise a 2nd or 3rd vehicle is required with snatch block or straps etc.  Probably better using a different vehicle or spending the money making
sure you cannot slide off the track. You can get vans with 4 wheel drive which maybe a better investment?

GervisLooper

Following on from the previous thread, is there a way to do it without having to make a 'proper' track which will require planning permission?

My van is a 1.8 diesel. Knobbly tyres seem like they would help but I am not sure if they would be enough? I certainly wouldn't want to find out by getting stuck mid way with no means of getting out! I can buy those sand ladders too. Would the combination likely manage to get me over? Not ideal for all regular in and out access due to the slow rate of progress of putting them under the wheels bit by bit but if they allowed me to get out of my own steam that would be very valuable.

The bogginess factor is not extreme but not insignificant in places. I would say it is just an overall badly draining field and mostly clay. It is somewhat waterlogged and as soon as the rain comes it just settles for weeks. If walking you would be squelching over quite a lot of it so probably red rag to a bull for tyre spinning without any aids.

The path from point A to B would be down into a dip and then up again so the incline on either side would increase difficulty for the van I imagine.

I may ask for planning permission to run a track but if it could be avoided that would be great. I want to know if there is any chance to be able to drive the van over said terrain without getting stuck or is it hopeless without a proper off-road vehicle? I don't want to throw in the towel with this van though before exploring all options as took me a year or so to build gradually how I like it.

I know there are the grass mats used for event and festival parking but they are insanely expensive, due I guess to the engineering, for what they are. Last time I checked 1m2 coverage cost £25. 76m x 1.8 = 154m2. 154 x £25 = £3870!

Gravel, comparatively, is only £30 or so for a ton which covers 12m2. Now I want to avoid using gravel because then the planning issue comes in again. So that is my last resort option.

Is there some relatively cheap material I could use to make tracks to span that 250ft which I could easily take up again so no permanence to make issues? Would woodchip work, along with the nobble tires, or would that spin?

Any better suggestions?

Someone mentioned in the other thread some metal tracks that mechanics use?

LightFlare

Any particular reason you have to be 250ft onto the field in the first place ?

If you only go 10ft on you can ignore the other 240

Mildly_Miffed

I think I'd start by sorting the drainage of the field... Apart from anything else, it'll make the field much more usable for whatever you need to access the field to do. But if the slope's slippery, it's probably not a drainage issue, since slopes tend to be self-draining.

All-terrain tyres will make a difference, but 2wd and an open diff will always be your limiting factor.

I don't think a ton or two of gravel in the gateway, to give you somewhere solidish to park just inside the gate, will need PP. How much it covers will depend on the depth, of course. Woodchip will do the same job but short term.

tacpot12

Using plywood/OSB sheets or Wooden pallets might work. The pallets will spread the load better, so will be better for any particularly boggy bits. Plywood and OSB sheets that are no longer fit for building use are often sold on eBay.

On the flat bits you can run around to behind the van to pickup sheets that you have crossed and move them to in front of the van.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6583060/good-winch-for-pulling-2-ton-van#latest

Might be better to stick to one thread, so people can see options already given.

born_again

This thread make me think of this. Winch was no good so tractor required..

https://youtu.be/g_2ct1wyUuI?si=rQV6Lf8xCrZqtXxW

laidbackgjr

How frequently are you going to be using the field and risk getting stuck? If it's only occasionally, perhaps the best options is to get friendly with a local farmer with a tractor to pull you out. If it's multiple times a day, just get on with planning permission and put a proper track in.

Frozen_up_north

Like forgotmyname, it's a good few years since I was playing in the mud with a 4x4 (old style Jeep Cherokee). The OP asked about using "better" tyres, unfortunately with 2 wheel drive you are still going to be very limited in capability... with a serious off road 4x4 vehicle, fitted with front and rear differential locks, you only need one wheel with good grip to get you going and all 4 wheels will turn at the same rate regardless of grip.

Even with a suitable vehicle and mud terrain tyres, if you sink to your axles in the mud, you are really stuck!

https://stormjeeps.com/

GervisLooper

Mildly_Miffed said:

I don't think a ton or two of gravel in the gateway, to give you somewhere solidish to park just inside the gate, will need PP. How much it covers will depend on the depth, of course. Woodchip will do the same job but short term.

I already have that. I want to park on the other side. I want to make base over there and be able to drive over there so I don't have to cart things back and forth between the two points which I have to do already as all habitation gear is in van yet work tools and water is on the other side of the field.