What size winch

[Kbpony]

Searched and didn't find any relavant threads. How big of winch is necessary for a Bronco? I will probably never do any serious wheeling where I will need a winch to get out, but I could see needing it to pull the Bronco onto a trailer if it dies along the road someday. If the Bronco weighs about 4000lbs, would a 2000lb winch be sufficient? I don't need to lift the whole truck, just roll it onto a trailer. Any thoughts?

 

[73stallion]

I'd personally go 5k minimum. But if you go 2k, I'd carry a snatch block. Even with a 5k I'd still consider a snatch block in my tool box.

 

[bronconut73]

Winch manufacturers always say to go 1.5 times the weight of your vehicle.
Two best reasons for this is that when dragging your vehicle over rocks, or through sand and mud it takes alot more power to pull it then just basing it on weight.
The other reason is that the weight rating of tbe winch is based on tbe bottom wraps of the cable. So unless you plan to pull almost all of your 90+ feet of cable out your not getting all of the winches advertised strength.


8000 # winches are pretty common for eb's.

 

[Broncitis]

8K is the minimum you will ever normally see on any decently equipped Bronco or vehicle of its size. 9.5K seem to be nearly as or maybe even more popular now.

Do not waste your money on a 2K. Hell, most good 4x4 ATV's now come with 2500-4000# winches!

I had a 3500 mounted on my single trailer and it worked OK. If you just want it for rolling on the trailer, just mount a lighter one on there and then you can load all kinds of stuff with it. I have a new 8K for my 4 car ramp deck trailer that I will get around to mounting one of these days. It is a bit overkill, but that trailer does have a 50' long slopped deck, and if you are trying to drag a vehicle up with a locked wheel with a smaller winch, good luck! Besides, it was one of the econo MileMarker models I got cheap, so for only $250 or $300, why not.

If you mount if on the Bronco, get a 8-9.5K and then you can at least use if if you get stuck.

If you do not have a dedicated trailer, then just get a come along for $30. It will work fine to load onto the trailer. Plus you will not have a puny little 2K winch mounting on your Bronco that will look ridiculous like some mall crawler. ;D

 

[Scoop]

I agree, don't put anything less than an 8K on the Bronco. Anything less should be mounted to the trailer. Don't embarrass your Bronco!

 

[nick50471]

Every Bronco should have a 8274.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Also remember that the rating is the first wrap of wire on the drum. Best case scenario. By the time you have the drum filled with winch line that 8k can only pull 5k

Years ago a friend had a race car and used a trailer. Being the engineer that he was he figured what he needed and decided that a 1500# winch would pull the car onto the trailer. And it did. All the math was correct, it could do it. But it was not happy doing it. Winches don't like long pulls like that. Much better to be over rated and under stressed.

Being seen with anything under 5k would be embarrassing. Sure it may work. But you loose street cred big time. No winch would give better impression then a baby winch. Yea, I know it is a bit juvenile. But when someone looks over a rig to see how well built it is and there is a baby winch attached, and hooked up, and you actually plan to use it (even if it is just trailer loading) the whole build suddenly just lost all respect. An empty winch holder would have a better vibe to it then a little winch.

I know several people who have winches attached to the car haulers. They all start at 8k. the one guy who runs derby cars has a 12k on his trailer.

My last one was for occasional use. Pulled a few trees out of the ground, retrieved a stuck mustang once. That was 8k and felt it was a good choice. 6k would be the absolute minimum and that would have to be a good one at a screaming good deal price.

 

[jw0747]

only using it to pull a dead Bronco onto a trailer, get one of these with built in snatch block.
works like a charm and you get some physical exercise. 2 for 1 deal.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA04002S7862

a good 8,000 lb winch will meet all your needs. 12+ years with mine and it pulls my dead EB onto the trailer with ease.

 

[Kbpony]

Thanks for all the input. Was at one of my customers' place yesterday and asked him about winches. I knew his Dad had been into old Jeeps and Scouts before passing. He asked if I needed a winch, they had one left from a scout. 3500 lb. Superwinch. Price was right, search is done. Will pick up a snatch block for it.

 

[.94 OR]

In one ear and out the other.

 

[rustbucket]

8000lb is about the minimum you want. No, you're not lifting the Bronco in the air, but if you get into some mud, the suction alone will make pulling out that much more difficult. Ever walked in deep mud with rubber boots on?

If you're pulling over rocks, you can get a similar effect. You're not pulling in the same plane as the Bronco needs to go, so you're adding strain to the winch.

Third, as was mentioned above, the load rating is for the first layer of wire. Each subsequent layer will have a lower rating.

 

[Broncitis]

In one ear and out the other.

Yep, that seems to be the case. Oh well.%)

 

[bmc69]

Yep, that seems to be the case. Oh well.%)

LOL. Yup.. ;D

 

[Broncobowsher]

Next time we can just recommend a 500# come-a-long and call it good.

 

[bronconut73]

I'm sorry everybody is ribbing you on this bud.......but the first time you need that winch for something other than pulling the eb on the trailer it will most definitely disappoint you. By the way having to pull 90+ foot of cable so you can get the winches full power and then having to thread the snatch block too will get old and perhaps decrease the safety factor a bit.

But hey I can dig it......it was probably really cheap being a small winch (3500# ATV winch). So my last bit of unrequested advice would be to build a strong mount and run oversize power and ground wires because eventually you will be upgrading to an 8k or 9k. Don't fret though because you can get some killer deals on them too if you shop around.

 

[Casey835]

Northern tool has a sale on there winches right now super winch and warn I believe

 

[Broncitis]

Northern tool has a sale on there winches right now super winch and warn I believe

How much for a 4,000#? I need one for my F-350 crew cab diesel. ;D

 

[pnavarro170]

whats so cool about the 8274 winch ? just wondering, im gonna need a winch down the road.

 

[bmc69]

whats so cool about the 8274 winch ? just wondering, im gonna need a winch down the road.

Cool? I dunno. I do know that it is one of the most capable/reliable winches out there and, the best part, the one with the fastest line speeds. If you do not care about line speed, then there are plenty of cheaper winches to choose from. The 8274 is, uniquely almost, a front mount winch instead of bottom mount...a PITA on many bumpers.

 

[bronconut73]

Cool? I dunno. I do know that it is one of the most capable/reliable winches out there and, the best part, the one with the fastest line speeds. If you do not care about line speed, then there are plenty of cheaper winches to choose from. The 8274 is, uniquely almost, a front mount winch instead of bottom mount...a PITA on many bumpers.

I love the look of the 8274. It is such a classic. Has barely changed at all in 30+ years that I know of. Their specs have been the same forever and those specs still hold up to modern high dollar winches.
You can buy them used and still use them forever. They sell rebuild/restore kits too.

But and this is a big BUT.......they are very tall and will block alot of airflow from the radiator. Also, even used they are expensive. New they are over $1900 bucks. I wish I could but I can't afford the cost or the lack of airflow.