Buying guide to choose a winch

Before choosing a winch, it is important to think carefully about the use you want to make of it. Ask yourself the following questions: How often will I use the winch? What will I shoot (car, boat, and trailer, quad)? And here is mechanic base blog will help to choose the best one.

Different types of winches

• There are different types of winches:
• The manual winches
• Electric Winches
• The mechanical winches
• Hydraulic Winches

Manual winches
Among the manual winches, it is possible to distinguish the crank winch from the horizontal manual winch.
The manual winch is the simplest model to use since it works "in traction". It is capable of towing heavy loads weighing up to 500 kg. It can be fixed on a mobile or fixed support.

As for the horizontal manual winch, it is capable of pulling loads of 2 tons. It consists of two latch hooks that are present for security reasons. To tow with this type of winch, however, you will have to use your muscles and your energy.

Electric Winches
The electric winches can be fitted with different commands such as on / off switch or button front / rear. Some models can be controlled with a remote control. Offering more safety than manual winches, this type of winch will give you greater comfort.

As for manual winches, we can distinguish two different electric winches:

• The mobile electric winch: easy to use, it can be attached directly to a towbar of a vehicle for example. This winch has a 12 V or 24 V motor that can be connected to the battery of a car.
• The fixed electric winch: This type of winch is very strong and reliable. Operating with a 12 V motor, the fixed electric winch has a brake that activates automatically.

Mechanical winches
The mechanical winch is one of the most common and old winches on the market. It is possible to pull a support by means of a PTO and cardan transmission.

Hydraulic Winches
Very practical for work requiring towing or towing, hydraulic winches are, as their name suggests, equipped with a hydraulic pump operating with an energy that can be mechanical or electrical.
May the pulling force be with you!

It is in kg or in deca newton (daN) and possibly in ibs that the traction force of a winch can be measured. Be aware that it is always on the first turn of the chain (or cable on the drum) that it is possible to measure the pulling force of the winch. The more rope turns on the drum and the lower the winch force.

The speed of the winches also a factor to take into account because the lower the speed of the winch and the more its strength increases. When choosing, we strongly advise you to look at the reference of traction power. Remember that this reference is only valid for the first round of cable. Also pay attention to the length of the cable (do not hesitate to deploy the cable completely).

Wire rope or synthetic rope?
The wire rope is made up of several strands of carbon steel wire. It is much more robust and resists wear perfectly. Moreover, it is not very expensive.

As for the synthetic rope, it is very light and durable (good durability). Its cost is higher. In addition, it remains more fragile because it proves to be more vulnerable to different friction. Finally, the synthetic rope is quite resistant to heat.
Different reduction mechanisms

Here are the main reduction mechanisms:
• Straight reduction
• Worm reduction
• Planetary reduction
This CMC sheet is coming to an end! You now know how to choose a winch.