Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/119529
pounds winching capacity. Overkill? Not if you think of the mechanics of winching. If the vehicle is stuck, that means the winch has to lift the truck to get over the edge of the hole the tire dug and then pull the weight of the truck to get it out of the situation. But there's more: If the winch cable isn't spooling from the bottom layer on the drum, then its rated capacity is reduced by about 20 percent on each successive outward layer. So, a 10,000-pound-capccity winch would be only pulling around 5K on the top couple layers of line. Hence the need for the bigger winch because you aren't always able to be winching with 70 or 80 feet of cable spooled out. It's better to have a lot more pulling power at your fingertips than too little. ELECTRIC OR HYDRAULIC Of course the type of winch depends on need and application. If you are in forestry, emergency services work, or clearing rightof-ways, where a winch might be used several times a week, a hydraulic winch would be a good choice. Hydraulic winches keep pulling at their rated power no matter duration of the pull and they don't put any drain on the truck's electrical system. They usually aren't affected by water or hot or cold weather. The downside is they are more expensive to buy and install, and they don't work when the engine stops. An electric, on the other hand, is easier to install and costs less, and there's a wide range of makes and models from which to choose. They also work whether the engine is running or not. But electric winches are notorious for overheating under hard, extended pulls and take a toll on the vehicle's battery system if the winch operator doesn't pay close attention to what's going on. As ACCESSORY KITS A winch on your truck is almost worthless without a proper accessory kit. It's akin to having a ratchet without sockets. Every pickup equipped with a heavyduty winch should also have a winch accessory kit that includes tree saver straps, choker chains, shackles, a snatch blocks, winch straps and leather gloves. Notice the items listed above are plural. Most winch accessory kits come with one item each. But heavy-duty winches being used around the jobsite or in the field often require longer, heavier and more difficult pulls than those encountered during a weekend recreational outing. Two 30-foot winch straps, a pair of ten-foot choker chains, a double-sheave snatch block, and three or four shackles in your truck will handle most winching situations. Like the Boy Scout motto says, "Be prepared." JOB SITE TOUGH Engel Coolers are rugged and built to last. They're tough as nails with one-piece roto-molded construction, and with 2-inches of insulation, they're easy on your ice. In fact, Engel Coolers are rated No. 1 when it comes to keeping things colder longer. Step up to an Engel and get a cooler that works as hard as you do. Get the cold hard facts at www.engel-usa.com. Text INFO to 205-289-3781 or visit www.ppmrequest.com ProPickup_v2.indd 1 Untitled-22 1 PP0413_HD Winches_Bumpers.indd 27 propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 27 3/11/13 11:32 AM 3/12/13 9:42 AM 3/12/13 10:33 AM