Portable winch idea - Roast me please

[JZiggy]

The idea is to put together a lightweight hitch mount winch setup that I can bring with me on trail rides as a "last resort" recovery tool. At this point I don't have a desire for a bumper mounted winch and would never use it enough to justify that. I have a front and rear hitch.

My old 1st gen had a measly M6000 but I used it with good effect on a number of occasions. This got me thinking -- could I use a smaller ATV winch (~5000 lb rating) with a snatch block? This would allow me to pack a 50lb winch setup rather than a larger 9000lb+ winch that may weight closer to 100lb with the holder included.

Thoughts?

 

[sleepydad]

The idea is to put together a lightweight hitch mount winch setup that I can bring with me on trail rides as a "last resort" recovery tool. At this point I don't have a desire for a bumper mounted winch and would never use it enough to justify that. I have a front and rear hitch.

My old 1st gen had a measly M6000 but I used it with good effect on a number of occasions. This got me thinking -- could I use a smaller ATV winch (~5000 lb rating) with a snatch block? This would allow me to pack a 50lb winch setup rather than a larger 9000lb+ winch that may weight closer to 100lb with the holder included.

Thoughts?

I had a very similar setup on my Honda ATV. had a receiver mounted on the front and I could then plug in the hitch mounted winch. it sucked I hated it. however, it did get me out of some bad spots.

I used to fish some very very very remote lakes and would drag a 12' boat on a trailer to some god awful places. being able to push the trailer sometimes was really great. that is why I had the receiver on my front rack/frame. somebody else gave me the idea of rigging up a winch to also use that same receiver.

once your good and stuck... it sucks to drag it out and wallowing around in the mud hooking it up and running power to it. but like I said it did get me out of some bad hooey.

 

[theesotericone]

Thoughts?

Winch trays are a common thing. Lots of guys run them. There actually pretty handy if you ever need a yank backwards instead of forwards.

You could get away with a smaller winch but I wouldn't count on it for long pulls.

 

[Dropzone]

so a 5K has 50 feet of cable. snatch block makes for a 25' pull
full size winch 100' of cable, 100' available to pull or if you are really stuck snatch block = 50' of pull

is your weight saving gonna be sucked up by carrying more straps or a winch extension cable (spendy $$) to make up for your shorter cable? losing interior room for something that was in a small package on the front of your truck
how heavy is your snatch block?

 

[IBallEngineer]

The idea is to put together a lightweight hitch mount winch setup that I can bring with me on trail rides as a "last resort" recovery tool. At this point I don't have a desire for a bumper mounted winch and would never use it enough to justify that. I have a front and rear hitch.

My old 1st gen had a measly M6000 but I used it with good effect on a number of occasions. This got me thinking -- could I use a smaller ATV winch (~5000 lb rating) with a snatch block? This would allow me to pack a 50lb winch setup rather than a larger 9000lb+ winch that may weight closer to 100lb with the holder included.

Thoughts?

You could do it, but only you know if it would work out. The type of terrain you wheel in, the current capabilities and what kind of risks you take. Personally I think if you are going to carry around a winch and mount, 50 lbs isn't worth the short cable and low power. But I wheel some hard stuff, and usually I'm unsticking somebody else and it requires mega pulling power and odd angles which eat up winch cable. If you know you can find an anchor point 20 feet from where you will be stuck, go for it.

Don't do it if you plan on getting stuck in mud or deep sand.

Do it if you know you could use that winch on something else, in case it doesn't work out.

 

[JZiggy]

Great thoughts and ideas from everyone, thank you!

I'm not much of a risk taker offroad especially if I'm alone. That's part of why I'm thinking a small winch might be enough of an insurance policy. But more consideration is necessary.

Dropzone, good thought about needing more cable to make the winch effective. I already have a 30' tow strap so that's a good start I guess.

I have a Warn snatch block, only weighs a few pounds I think.