Offroad-Express

Hi all,

I've been looking at hand winch options as they're probably more within my budget and a bit more versatile. One option that I've seen is the use of a hi-jack with chain etc. Looks like an interesting option but I'm wondering if it's a suitable / reliable / safe solution for a heavy LWB Nissan Safari?

Anyone have any experience in this area and can give any recommendations?

Apparently the gross vehicle mass = 2,700kg (I guess more with gear loaded)

From hi-jack manual found on web:
Rated load = 2,113.74 kg
Tested load = 3,175.14 kg
Winching = 2,267.96 kg

Looks like I would be a fair bit over the rated load but hopefully under the tested load, depending on how stuck the truck is and how loaded it is I guess. Would the hi-jack option likely to be a good option?

Outside of winching... looking around the truck I can't see any suitable hi-jack lift points. Perhaps the bull bars and tow bar? Everything else looks a bit soft. Having some of those straps with hooks for lifting via the wheels are probably a good idea. And there might be a hi-lift attachment I can buy to reach further under the chassis to lift from a more suitable point? Any ideas / recommendations in this are would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experience you can share.

Cheers,
Gavin

I have used that technique for very easy recoveries....Nothing like being bellied out.
Its slow but works.....

Calvin

I wouldnt consider it as a primary means of winching but its a usefull tool that might get you out of trouble when your looking at further options once your winch has failed or you need a wee sideways or backwards pull to unhook yourself (or to put yourself back onto your wheels ), buying a budget winch has probably never been better when you look at whats for sale on TM for around the $700 mark with a synthetic rope

gav wrote:Apparently the gross vehicle mass = 2,700kg (I guess more with gear loaded)

From hi-jack manual found on web:
Rated load = 2,113.74 kg
Tested load = 3,175.14 kg
Winching = 2,267.96 kg

Looks like I would be a fair bit over the rated load but hopefully under the tested load, depending on how stuck the truck is and how loaded it is I guess. Would the hi-jack option likely to be a good option?

if your bogged down in deep mud or a soft riverbed you can easily add a few extra tonnes to the pulling load of your 2.7t truck

gav wrote:Outside of winching... looking around the truck I can't see any suitable hi-jack lift points. Perhaps the bull bars and tow bar? Everything else looks a bit soft. Having some of those straps with hooks for lifting via the wheels are probably a good idea. And there might be a hi-lift attachment I can buy to reach further under the chassis to lift from a more suitable point? Any ideas / recommendations in this are would also be appreciated.

the most stable place to lift off is the side bars on your truck, might be time to get some made up if you havent got any, you can lift off the front and rear bars but you tend to find the weight comes off both front or rear wheels and the truck can slide sideways off the jack pretty easily

I use a jack and chain. It works but is slow aqnd can be very hard work, the biggest advantages are that you can winch in any direction, as long as you are not adverse to shovel work it works well

I did it once when the main winch died on a lighter truck. up hill in muddy conditions it was dam hard and very slow. and was overly stress full on jack. dont think it would move a safari succesfully much at all. go buy a turfor style hand winch from supercheap for about $300. up to the job and wont let you down. high lift winch is an only "once all else fails method

supercheap winches are sometime around the $399-$499 mark when they have 25% off sales ... wait for the next sale ....

Jerry wrote:supercheap winches are sometime around the $399-$499 mark when they have 25% off sales ... wait for the next sale ....

How reliable are one of these winches though? are they gonna last long?

if you want a manual winch only one brand sticks out - TIRFOR

Cheers for all the advice guys - very much appreciated!

Hmmm... hi-jack doesn't sound like best option but probably better than nothing.

What sort of ball-park figure are we talking about to get some side bars attached to my truck, anyone have an idea?

I had looked at the odd hand winch that I've seen in Supercheap, but figured the hi-jack might be just as good and a bit more versatile.

The hand winch on Supercheap's website looks a little under rated for my vehicle though:
http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/online-store/products/RIDGE-RYDER-1-600KG-4WD-RECOVERY-WINCH.aspx?pid=103434#Description

The Tirfor winch option certainly looks a bit more up to the job, though a fair bit more expensive:
http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails ... uctID=1133
Will keep my eyes peeled for a deal on one of these!

Getting an electric winch mounted to the vehicle... I assumed this would be quite a costly exercise? Any idea how much this could cost excluding price of the winch itself?

I liked the idea of a hand winch more as hopefully I'll need it rarely and it's a bit more versatile. Could be used for shifting boulders etc. when I'm gold fossicking

keep looking my super winch one is rated at 2500

for something smaller than a tirfor, why not one of these https://www.wyeth-scott.com/index.asp

tweake wrote:for something smaller than a tirfor, why not one of these https://www.wyeth-scott.com/index.asp

personally i dont rate those at all

way to small for a whale and you only get approx 1 metre of pull per set up

as a non powered option a turfer is the only real option second would be the high lift but again it only travels about 1 metre per set up

the turfer will travel the lenght of the rope and if the going gets hard a pully block can always be added

just my 2c worth

i think those are 15m and up to 3 ton i think? rather than the 1 ton 1m pull "4x4 emergency winch"
but they are on the light side. i was looking at them myself for light duty use.

tirfor is far better for distance, but size of them is an issue.
at least an electric winch is stored under the front bar, hand winches take up storage room.

side bars $475 upwards

anyone ever seen or used one of these http://www.bushwinch.com.au/ ?

dunno if they would be much fun hooking up when your stuck in a bog tho and burried 1/2 way up your wheels.. its bad enough having to find the bloody hook points when your stuck in a river - let alone bolt on something to your wheel studs

Swaney wrote:anyone ever seen or used one of these http://www.bushwinch.com.au/ ?

dunno if they would be much fun hooking up when your stuck in a bog tho and burried 1/2 way up your wheels.. its bad enough having to find the bloody hook points when your stuck in a river - let alone bolt on something to your wheel studs

On a farm I used to work on we had a home made version of this system permintly bolted on the tractors in winter on works really well with a diff lock in my opunion

And yes setting them up to use is not pleasent

Interesting idea the bush winch - that's one I haven't seen before! Does look a right faff to rig up though first glance as I figured there'd be some unbolting, bolting back on going on. Apparently not:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDKY1MwDCWE
Even seems to be pulling a whale like mine! Apparently the heavy rope option can take a load of 6,400kg as spread across 2 ropes. Might stay clear of this option unless a few people come out with high praises after using them 1st hand. Not the most versatile option.

One thing I notice that the "The More Power Puller" winch has got over the Tirfor winch is that it looks a bit smaller and is half the weight. Might be an option as I'm hoping I don't have to use it too often in anger!

Pully block is also something I hadn't thought of. I had heard you could increase pulling power using one, but not something I'd claim to fully understand at present - will dig up some YouTube videos up another night out of curiosity.

Side bars don't sound that expensive in the scheme of things then - cheers coxsy.

Thanks again everyone!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=400714878

cheap start if your a manual truck owner