Improvised Winch

[KombiKommando]

Here's an idea....

I can't afford a winch for my self titled adventure van/swamper. I can however, get my hands on a loading strap for container lorries which are designed to hold weights of 5 ton. They come with a massive over engineered ratchet. I reckon it would do as an emergency hand cranked winch if I ever get stuck. Thoughts.......?? Has anyone ever tried it??

 

[Salty Spuds]

Here's an idea....

I can't afford a winch for my self titled adventure van/swamper. I can however, get my hands on a loading strap for container lorries which are designed to hold weights of 5 ton. They come with a massive over engineered ratchet. I reckon it would do as an emergency hand cranked winch if I ever get stuck. Thoughts.......?? Has anyone ever tried it??

I’ve used them previously as makeshift winches. You need 2 though, you can only get a few “cranks” before the ratchet is full. You then have to use the second strap to hold the load whilst you unwind the 1st strap. Repeat as necessary. It’s slow & tedious. Also the 5tonne is the load rating of the strap, not the pulling capacity of the ratchet.

 

[Jean-Louis Bourdon]

might be worth looking at things like that maybe

i thought i wanted an electric winch but sensors, insurance, cost... tempted by something like the handwinch, just in case

 

[Loz]

Neither, farm jacks are heavy and only useful for casting you out of ruts and you don’t want one inside the van if you have an accident.
Steel cables are a hazard.

Considder a demountable winch with a dynema poly rope. Poly ropes are incredibly light and strong and have no kinetic energy when they or the think they are connected to breaks.

 

[Jean-Louis Bourdon]

i've seen post about steel ropes...
i think some people use covers on them to try to reduce kinetic energy if/when they break

do you have links to the types of demountable winches you mentioned Loz?
thanks

 

[Loz]

I made my own for my D2.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I’d go for a towball /towing eye mounted one. I have Anderson connectors at the front & rear of the van for the boat winch.