ICI Magnum Front Winch Bumper

Q: What is a winch? Why buy one? How do I know which power of winch to get? Do I need to buy anything else in order to install a winch?
A: Winches are self-recovery devices that attach to your vehicle and use a cable on a spool in order to pull your ride or someone else’s out of treacherous situations. An engine is capable of winding or unwinding the cable to pull or release the load at the end of the cable. Winches can also be mounted to truck beds or trailers in order to assist in loading heavy items such as ATVs or vehicles. There are several different types of winches available. The most common form of winch is electronic. These winches run off of your vehicles battery and use a powerful electric motor to spool up the cable. Electric winches have the distinct advantage of being fully operational even when the vehicle’s engine is not running. Hydraulic winches utilize a pump similar to a power steering pump to churn the spool on the winch. Power take off (PTO) winches use a mechanical drive system that runs off of the vehicle’s drivetrain in order to power the winch. Both of the latter designs require the vehicle’s engine to be running for the winch to operate.

Winches come with different ratings that are based on the maximum weight that they can effectively pull as well as hp. As a general rule of thumb it is a good idea to purchase a winch that can handle at least 150% of your vehicle weight, but 200% will give an even better margin of safety. So if your truck weighs 4000 lbs., a winch rated from 6000- 8000 lbs. should get the job done. Winches with higher hp ratings tend to be stronger and have faster line speed ratings. If you require a fast winch chances are it will also have higher power requirements so you will want to make sure your charging system is up to the task.

When purchasing a winch there are some other things you will need in order to install and use your winch. Many winches will require a special mounting plate in order to securely attach the winch to your vehicle. Improper mounting is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. In addition many winches do not come with a fairlead. A fairlead is the opening that the winch cable feeds through and it is designed to allow the cable to wind properly without fraying or binding. Some winches will also require you to purchase separate wiring kits for installation and a remote control in order to operate the winch from a safe distance. There are numerous other accessories that are highly recommended for safely using winches, for example, a good pair of gloves and safety glasses are always a good idea. Snatch blocks, tow straps and D-rings are also useful accessories that will add versatility to your winch. A good quality winch cover is also an excellent idea to keep moisture and debris from harming your new investment.

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