Winches are a quickly growing product market in the off-road parts industry. With big-name companies like Mile Marker or Warn Winches offering contributions, smaller niche-market companies are beginning to join the fray.
While the general premise of off-road recovery and utility has remained the same, new advancements in winch technology make choosing the right winch more difficult than one might suspect.
Whether it’s a military-grade Mile Marker hydraulic or sophisticated X-series Warn winches, a winch is a complicated piece of equipment, but then, who could expect any differently?
Here, we’ll examine several parts of a winch, considering more technical factors that are normally overlooked when deciding on one to purchase.
The Framework of a Winch
Think of a winch as an individual vehicle with internal components. Here are the interrelated pieces that come together to deliver enough power to pull a few tons out of a jam.
READ MORE :
Keep in mind that items like winch rope, fairleads, or other such universal winch parts are not the focus here, but rather parts that are factors in the makeup of a winch.
Drivetrain
Winches come in different drivetrain configurations, each with its strengths and weaknesses. While there is no do-all universal drivetrain system that can handle anything and everything that comes its way, the good news is it’s hard to make a wrong choice.
Spur Gear: The basic design of a Spur Gear winch dates back to the 1960s yet remains a practical choice today. Spur Gear winches excel at providing dependable winching with a faster line speed than other drivetrain types; however, this comes at the cost of less stability when holding loads, particularly without a strong brake. Here are the three types of drivetrains most commonly found in winches:
Worm Gear: Think of Worm Gear Drivetrains as the opposite of Spur Gear drivetrains. They specialize in holding and lowering heavy loads, making them ideal for industrial and workman applications — you’ll find many tow trucks equipped with Worm Gear drivetrains. On the other hand, the main drawback is their slower pulling speed. Planetary Gear: Planetary Gear drivetrains are like the healthy median between Spur and Worm Gear ones. They offer middle-ground line speed and load holding, enough to handle most situations.
Additionally, Planetary Gear drivetrains have been optimized over the years. Their more compact and lightweight composition makes them the most cost-efficient of the three drivetrain types. On the downside, heat accumulation, particularly in or around the brake components, is an issue with Planetary Gear drivetrains and should be monitored closely during operation. Motor As if different drivetrain types didn’t complicate a purchase decision enough already, a winch motor is also a factor in choosing your winch. Thankfully, there are only two kinds of winch motors to consider.
Permanent Magnetic (PM): Permanent Magnetic motor winches are for those who don’t find themselves in dire recovery situations very often. They produce decent pulling power with more energy efficiency and typically cost less. Much lower capacity models such as Smittybilt, Superwinch, T-Max, and Warn winches offer PM motors. Unfortunately, PM motor winches might not have the steam to get you out of the most difficult and heavy-duty jams. They also don’t hold up well in colder weather and are less tolerant to heat buildup during a strenuous pull. Series Wound (SW): For hardcore off-road enthusiasts needing major pulling power, an SW motor winch is built to handle the toughest recovery jobs and even holds up well in adverse weather. Many high-performance feature-packed Mile Marker and Warn winches come equipped with SW motors. On the other hand, the added performance of an SW motor winch typically makes them more expensive. It sometimes requires upgrades to your battery, alternator, or other electrical components to achieve its true performance potential.
Electric vs. Hydraulic Winches
Ah, the age-old argument of electric versus hydraulic winches. There’s no sense in getting worked up over which is better since both are fine products for getting the job done, and both have limitations. Electric Winches An electric winch is exactly as its name would suggest: it is electrically powered by a vehicle’s battery. As a result, its duty cycle is limited by the amount of juice in your battery. Often, it is wise to run your engine while operating an electric winch to prevent your battery from fully draining. Upgrading your battery, alternator, or other vehicle components may also be good for heavier-duty electrics. A vehicle’s power steering pump powers Hydraulic Winches A hydraulic winch. This means they can have an extended, seemingly endless duty cycle for longer pulls and a persistent flow of pulling power. Particularly for older vehicles, ensuring that your power steering system is in stable and working order is beneficial. Check the fluid, change it if necessary, and test the power steering pressure to ensure maximum performance from your winch. In Closing, There’s a lot to take regarding winches, yet everything discussed in this article is still just a small part of what makes up a winch. But after having an idea of what they are all about, the fun part of shopping for one and putting it to use is now.
