Winches and water crossings

New to the site? Introduce yourself, tell us what 4wd(s) you have or your new to 4wding. Ask questions look for tips and hints in here.
Post Reply
User avatar
cainef
Driver/Navigator
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:00 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Winches and water crossings

Post by cainef »

Electric winches.... What happens to them in a deep water crossing?
I always thought electric appliance + water = bad. Like a toaster in the bathtub.

How do you get around this?
User avatar
Jafa
Hard Yaka
Posts: 1307
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Katikati

Post by Jafa »

yes....bad.... lotsa guys seal them up and vent them with a tube,
Just chuck the electric one away and go hydraulic :lol:
'85 Hilux crawler, 3rz, duals, 4.7's, 4.88's, ARB's, 30 spline Longfields, 6 stud SNR4x4 Histeer, Airshocks up front, coiled rear, 40" Iroks.
^^^this shite is all about to change....^^^

021 273 9942
jafa@inspire.net.nz
User avatar
Jungle
Hard Yaka
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Rotorua

Post by Jungle »

Yeah 240 volts AC is bad in the bath tub.

But 12 volts DC works well under water as long as you keep the actual workings of the electric motor and gearbox of the winch reasonably water tight. You'll be surprised how long your head lights and your electric windows work when under water.

Just gotta service your winch a bit more often when using in water.

Cheers
G
User avatar
Jungle
Hard Yaka
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Rotorua

Post by Jungle »

Speaking of water crossings. We just had a work Ford Escape go back to the Ford dealer. Was driven through a ford that was not that deep but the manufacturers in all there brilliance have situated to air intake below the headlight. I reckon they seem to be getting lower every year.

Anyhow it took enough water to blow a hole in the top of a piston. Some what reducing the compression in that cylinder. Funny thing is! Its a petrol. Must be pretty high compression in the V6 petrol.

Moral of the story. Check your intake and don't take pretend 4WD's, 4wding.
User avatar
Jafa
Hard Yaka
Posts: 1307
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Katikati

Post by Jafa »

Lol George, I dont want to know how you know that electric windows work underwater! :lol:
'85 Hilux crawler, 3rz, duals, 4.7's, 4.88's, ARB's, 30 spline Longfields, 6 stud SNR4x4 Histeer, Airshocks up front, coiled rear, 40" Iroks.
^^^this shite is all about to change....^^^

021 273 9942
jafa@inspire.net.nz
User avatar
klompy
Hard Yaka
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Rotorua

Post by klompy »

Yeah theres nothing wrong with electric winchs.If there sized properly and used properly they are by far the best choice.
User avatar
Jungle
Hard Yaka
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Rotorua

Post by Jungle »

I never got any photo's off it but the old girl spent three hours under water in the Waimakariri river one winters afternoon. Lessons learnt. Stay way from dirty rivers and hi lift jacks are great winches when you have nothing else.

Other memories of that night. Bolt the floor down on your landrover. Stops them lifting up and floating away. When swimming off an island in the dark via a rope that was thrown to us, put you cellphone under your beanie. Not in your pocket.

Took three days till the river came down enough to recover the trucks and another two weeks of stripping the vehicle and steam cleaning to get river silt out of everything.

Amazingly the truck still goes.
User avatar
Mud_Plugger
Driver/Navigator
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:00 pm
Location: Temuka, South Canterbury

Post by Mud_Plugger »

Haha

hmm that sounds like a land rover :)

I'll make sure I dont buy a cheap 4x4 from rotorua. thats some big holes your going through in your pic :)

From Roy
Post Reply

Return to “New Members and Beginners”