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Hand winch? Hand winch?
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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Hand winch?
Hi all..

Does anyone have personal experience/opinions with these cheap hand winches available on ebay etc? See http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-TON-HD-HAND-PULLER-WINCH-TURFER-4-CARAVAN-BOAT-Q52_W0QQitemZ330304150408QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Hom e_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM?hash=item330 304150408&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683 |66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Unfortunately I am on a tight budget. I was originally planning on using a Hi-Lift for emergency winching and also a pair of waffle boards.

Perhaps using the hand winch in combo with a snatch block?

Planning on driving a Land Cruiser 90 (Prado/Colorado) down from UK to South Africa....west coast route.. probably with BFG AT's or MT's fitted.
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  #2  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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I used to have one in Aus about 12 years ago for a couple of years and it was brilliant. Saved my Nissan Patrol and someone elses Toyota Landcruiser 75 ute when we got completely bogged on a beach in Queensland with the tide coming in fast. The positives are they are cheaper, they are more flexible (you can set them up in any direction from your vehicle unlike a powered winch that is fixed to the front or back). The downsides are they are a bit cumbersome, slow to get out and set up compared with a mounted powered winch that you can use quite quickly. Don't know how good a quality the particular ones you are looking at are but as a general concept, really worth doing. I would not rely on a hi-lift - in theory it works but in practise, we snapped the bolts on mine as my 110 was heavily bogged and neither it nor the tree that we were winching off was moving so the weakest point was the highlift. We were quite lucky that no one got hurt when it did snap. I'd try it again if I ended up in a situation but I wouldn't go into it planning that as my recovery solution.
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  #3  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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I'd be inclinded to go for a proper TIRFOR, as they're much more robust than the type in your link above (the chap can't even spell "tirfor" properly in it! and it's not a pukka tirfor either)

I've got a T1600 i got from old sodbury some years back, paid about £30 IIRC.
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  #4  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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As usual I agree with Jim!

If you have the time, keep your eye on Ebay. Tirfor's do crop up from time to time. Try searching in the lifting sections and spelling Tirfor wrong - A sure way to pick up a bargain winch that nobody else spotted

Try to get the cable with it too as these have tapered ends which you have to feed into the winch. As far as i know, you cannot just use standard winch cable.

Hope this helps.

G
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  #5  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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Hi. I'd have to say that these cheap hand which things are not too bad. I know the Tirfor is better, but they are very heavy. These cheap things are 'ok'. Get the best one you can find and DON'T overload it!
Or buy a cheap winch, whiches are prtty cheap now.
Cheers,
Matt
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  #6  
Old 10 Mar 2009
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Tirfor?
I agree with the above posts, this is something you don’t want to skimp on. Things like this, if they fail, have the capacity to cause serious injury. Go for a proper tirfor, way more versatile compared to a fixed winch and so much more reliable.

BTW those can only pull/lift 5 tonnes when they are doubled back so you only get around 4ft of pull. If you want one go for a "proper" lugall which can be had in various sizes. Pretty compact and light due to alloy construction.
There must be loads around as plenty get condemned by insurance companies for pretty minor reasons I.E. new rope required


Personally I detest hi lift jacks, dangerous useless bits of kit in the wrong hands. Look good hanging off the back though which is their main use
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  #7  
Old 11 Mar 2009
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Thanks all for the feedback. Definitely some food for thought.
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Old 11 Mar 2009
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habegger
maybe search for "habegger" too as this is what they are for example called in switzerland. (swiss made of course :-)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WINCH-HABEGGER-3-2-TON-LIFT-ALLOY-HAND-WINCH_W0QQitemZ270355383308QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_L ifting_Moving_Equipment?hash=item270355383308&_trk sid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A1 2|39%3A1|240%3A1318
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  #9  
Old 15 Mar 2009
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tifor copies
Hi all
i didn't read the advert properly and ended up with one of the tifor copies very peeved at the time however for lifting my box on and of the back of my chassis its been fantastic going to take it with me in June to asia.

Gonna ad a couple of pulleys to increase load

Talking of tools someone on the hubb recommended brand austrian I think has any body any ideas need a new socket set before I leave.

Also looking for some one to remake my iveco 40.10 bumper 1000+ from iveco need some one that can bend 60 mm tube.

any info would be welcome

thanks Mark

Mark
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  #10  
Old 15 Mar 2009
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pipe bending
Try Yell.com or failing that call your local sheet metal works and they will know someone for sure.

Graeme
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