DMcCready wrote:What do you run? electric? Hydraulic?
Think of it this way.
If you over load an electric. Motor stalls or rope breaks.
If you over load a pto. Shear pin/weak point breaks or rope breaks.
If you over load a hydraulic. Relief pops with zero consequence, try again.
DMcCready wrote:Hows your freespool operated?
Pneumatic is easiest for me, but it's personal. Some cable set ups work well.
DMcCready wrote:Mid Mounted?
Do you want to be able to pull in a full length of rope on a funny angle and not wory about your rope building on one side?
Do you want to be able to pull the rope out easily, ie, do you want it to load on the drum consistently and cleanly?
If yes to these, then you must run a rear/mid mount the winch.
DMcCready wrote:What tricks do you use to help keep the rope layering correctly?
Try to get a meter between your first guide and the drum. (depends how wide your drum is of course). In my shortest set up I had nearly 900 to the first guide and the drum about 450 wide. Always spooled beautifully (speed makes a difference, slow ass elec runs slow and spools nice). Only spooling issues were when we used the "rapid recovery device" and that built a nice pyramid of rope in the middle of the drum (nearly 3 meters per second rope speed though).
Elec, hydro and pto can all be made to freespool nicely, how much effort are you prepared to put in?
If you want a fast anything, then you may pay a weight penalty. (bigger pump, multiple elec motors, bigger drums...)
Elecs are very useable. Completely independend of the drive train, start stop as you please, no lever/valve dance to do. They maybe slower pulling, but if you can set it up and stow it fast, that may make the difference.
Basically, if you have one winch, it prob wants to be elec. (what else will get you back on your wheels when you're upside down).
If you have two winchs, make the second one mechanical (pto/hydro) and good for the hard but less technical pulls (obviously make it as good as you can at everything, but being realistic). Make your elec as quick as poss for the technical pulls.
That is based on my amazing wealth of knowledge coming from never having won an event (though I have used all three winch types in competitions).
Be warned that this advice may well be worth what you paid for it.
Arron.
(aka shortylux, if I can ever get back into my old account)
I thought I would get that answer. Serves me right so I will rephrase... How bout the serious 'Club' trucks What do you do to get through the mud fastest and back to the warm fire and cold beers?
If budget is not a problem. .then hydraulic would be fast but also at a cost..weight is very heavy compared to say electric 8274 modified. . Shit even a modified pto would be lighter. ?
