Securing a Winch Hook

[revco33]

So I was curious... how are y'all leaving your winch hook when you walk away from your rig overnight? On or off? Is there something that will hold the cable safely? I'm wondering if welding on the hook is an option. Just bouncing the ball off the wall and looking for ideas. I like those Factor 55's, but they are closed end so you can really drop a hitch lock in there. Nor do I feel like drilling out the hook and weakening it. Maybe I'll just sleep in there overnight, every night!!!:hunter:

Edit: Oh and what is stopping some a$$hat from cutting your synthetic rope and just walking with the whole shebang?

 

[atchcraft]

So I was curious... how are y'all leaving your winch hook when you walk away from your rig overnight? On or off? Is there something that will hold the cable safely? I'm wondering if welding on the hook is an option. Just bouncing the ball off the wall and looking for ideas. I like those Factor 55's, but they are closed end so you can really drop a hitch lock in there. Nor do I feel like drilling out the hook and weakening it. Maybe I'll just sleep in there overnight, every night!!!:hunter:

Edit: Oh and what is stopping some a$$hat from cutting your synthetic rope and just walking with the whole shebang?

Most hooks are removable, just leave it off until you need it. Mine is spliced into the rope, but I don’t really have to worry about theft where I live. The bad news is, if someone really wants to take your stuff, they will. The good news is, I don’t think winch hooks are very high on the list of “hot items”.

 

[Jetboy]

Run your winch hook down to your tow loop on the frame rail. Put some tension on it. Done. Most people wouldn't have a clue how to release the tension on it to get it off. And the ones that do already have a winch and probably aren't steeling worthless junk off other peoples' cars.

Someone could steal your rope. It's much more likely to happen if you leave your 4runner at a trailhead then in your driveway. I have read about eco-nuts cutting people's winch rope to be dicks, but I've never heard of it actually happening to someone that it was stolen.

 

[billnourse]

I secure mine with State Farm.

 

[Heavy_GD]

Pull the ultrahook tight to the fairlead and use a lock.

https://factor55.com/product/winch-lock/

 

[Kenstaroni]

you could do a Factor 55 pro link spliced in. Very little room for someone to cut your winch line the way it sits against the fairlead.

 

[MossJenks]

you could do a Factor 55 pro link spliced in. Very little room for someone to cut your winch line the way it sits against the fairlead.

You don't even have to splice in the Prolink. Just take the hook off and attach the Prolink to the eye.

You're on the right track with your original statement though - I personally think The Splicer from Factor 55 is better than the ProLink - one less potential point of failure and it's super simple to resplice synthetic rope.

https://factor55.com/product/new-the-splicer/

Either way on a 4Runner with it sucked up against the fairlead it would be tough to get at. In my case I intalled mine so that I can just reach in from the front and release the clutch so it would still be simple for someone to steel my whole winch rope. But heck, people run around with the whole winch just sitting out in the open on Jeeps. They do get stolen but not very often.

 

[Badmeat]

Factor 55, Smittybilt, or any other similarly manufactured winch thimbles should alleviate any potential theft. Plus closed loop winching is better than using the hook, from a safety perspective.

 

[revco33]

Lol!!! nice

 

[revco33]

Very good information. Thanks for the replies. I have a Ramsey coming in and it's got the steel cable. I don't think anyone would want that, but could see someone wanting a finely machined piece of aluminum just sitting there all shiny on a rope. I wouldn't think it would take very much time at all to stick your arm through a hole and start cutting cord. Now I'm potentially out an expensive cord and a expensive hook. I also live near the beach and there is vagabonds a plenty. I guess the hook is living in the back. :rockthrow:

 

[Badmeat]

Very good information. Thanks for the replies. I have a Ramsey coming in and it's got the steel cable. I don't think anyone would want that, but could see someone wanting a finely machined piece of aluminum just sitting there all shiny on a rope. I wouldn't think it would take very much time at all to stick your arm through a hole and start cutting cord. Now I'm potentially out an expensive cord and a expensive hook. I also live near the beach and there is vagabonds a plenty. I guess the hook is living in the back. :rockthrow:

If your going to be driving around without a hook or thimble on the end of your winch line, holding tension, you’re going to have to let you and respool your entire winch line with tension on it before every use. Otherwise the cable is going to slip down between lower wraps and get pinched.

Get a thimble and all of your potential issues will be solved. No one is going to run off with it when it’s pulled tightly against the fairlead.

Edit: added a photo of my old setup for example.

 

[Jetboy]

I would skip the thimble. It's a solution in search of a problem. When's the last time you saw a crane with a thimble on the end? Hooks are perfectly safe. Come with your winch (and all winches), and have been used for decades. They're a lot faster to hook up in nearly all winching situations. And they're not $$$. There's nothing wrong with having a thimble, hey can be a pain to dink with, but they work fine unless you have a reason you need a quick recovery (like your buddy's truck is upside down in a river), but that's rare too. Don't get confused into believing that you need one for safety.

 

[ADK Explorer]

I solved that problem by not using a hook or thimble. I use a soft shackle that I keep in my recovery gear bag. I tuck the eyelet into the mount plate and pull it out when needed.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2972525-post142.html

 

[Dubiousatbest]

https://www.quadratec.com/p/maximus...13-17-jeep-wrangler-jk-mopar-10th-anniversary

 

[Badmeat]

I would skip the thimble. It's a solution in search of a problem. When's the last time you saw a crane with a thimble on the end? Hooks are perfectly safe. Come with your winch (and all winches), and have been used for decades. They're a lot faster to hook up in nearly all winching situations. And they're not $$$. There's nothing wrong with having a thimble, hey can be a pain to dink with, but they work fine unless you have a reason you need a quick recovery (like your buddy's truck is upside down in a river), but that's rare too. Don't get confused into believing that you need one for safety.

The crane analogy is a poor comparison. Cranes lift things vertically, so unless someone turns off gravity, the line is never going to lose and quickly regain tension.

A lot of winch hooks are not large enough to accept two recovery strap eyelets AND allow the clasp to fully close. All it would take is a quick loss of tension, slip of the tow strap/hook, and you could have a hook and line flying back toward the winch when the line regains tension if the strap isn’t fully seated in the hook.

My thimble was never a pain to dink with. It took one d-ring shackle to hook to another vehicle, tree saver, recovery strap, etc...

Edit: pics for clarification. Turns out the hook that came on my Engo SR10s isn’t even big enough for one eyelet. Strap is a 30’ Smittybilt.

 

[JA50N]

The crane analogy is a poor comparison. Cranes lift things vertically, so unless someone turns off gravity, the line is never going to lose and quickly regain tension.

A lot of winch hooks are not large enough to accept two recovery strap eyelets AND allow the clasp to fully close. All it would take is a quick loss of tension, slip of the tow strap/hook, and you could have a hook and line flying back toward the winch when the line regains tension if the strap isn’t fully seated in the hook.

My thimble was never a pain to dink with. It took one d-ring shackle to hook to another vehicle, tree saver, recovery strap, etc...

Edit: pics for clarification. Turns out the hook that came on my Engo SR10s isn’t even big enough for one eyelet. Strap is a 30’ Smittybilt.

Just use a shackle between the tow strap and hook. You would HAVE to use one with a thimble anyway.

 

[MossJenks]

Just use a shackle between the tow strap and hook. You would HAVE to use one with a thimble anyway.

People sure treasure their $5 hooks around here. One guy's worried about somebody steeling the Chinese POS, other guys rush to it's defense.

At least upgrade the dang hook. Most winches come with garbage.

 

[Jetboy]

The crane analogy is a poor comparison. Cranes lift things vertically, so unless someone turns off gravity, the line is never going to lose and quickly regain tension.

A lot of winch hooks are not large enough to accept two recovery strap eyelets AND allow the clasp to fully close. All it would take is a quick loss of tension, slip of the tow strap/hook, and you could have a hook and line flying back toward the winch when the line regains tension if the strap isn’t fully seated in the hook.

My thimble was never a pain to dink with. It took one d-ring shackle to hook to another vehicle, tree saver, recovery strap, etc...

Edit: pics for clarification. Turns out the hook that came on my Engo SR10s isn’t even big enough for one eyelet. Strap is a 30’ Smittybilt.

By the looks of your gear - it's never been used. Have you ever used a winch? Or a tow strap? Your winch came with a toy hook. I've actually never seen one like that on a winch from the factory. I would upgrade that one too. Even harbor freight winches have decent hooks.

If you don't like the crane - have you ever seen a wrecker with a thimble? An heavy equipment winch? They either have a terminating chain or a hook. The fact is that people who use them regularly use hooks. It's for convenience.

I understand that most new "overlanders" don't have experience with implements, construction, etc. and haven't been around rigging before. So it's natural to be scared of something like a winch. But a hook isn't going to hurt you unless you do something really stupid. And it's a lot more handy for most tasks. There's nothing wrong with a thimble. It's the rotopax of winch accessories. I would not trade a hook for one regardless of whether it was free or not.

 

[Badmeat]

Just use a shackle between the tow strap and hook. You would HAVE to use one with a thimble anyway.

That would provide safe winching, but not the potential for theft that OP is worried about.

By the looks of your gear - it's never been used. Have you ever used a winch? Or a tow strap? Your winch came with a toy hook. I've actually never seen one like that on a winch from the factory. I would upgrade that one too. Even harbor freight winches have decent hooks.

If you don't like the crane - have you ever seen a wrecker with a thimble? An heavy equipment winch? They either have a terminating chain or a hook. The fact is that people who use them regularly use hooks. It's for convenience.

I understand that most new "overlanders" don't have experience with implements, construction, etc. and haven't been around rigging before. So it's natural to be scared of something like a winch. But a hook isn't going to hurt you unless you do something really stupid. And it's a lot more handy for most tasks. There's nothing wrong with a thimble. It's the rotopax of winch accessories. I would not trade a hook for one regardless of whether it was free or not.

Lol this guy. Some people clean their gear after use, or don’t have to use it much because they choose a good line. In the event that there’s an obstruction or the slip of a rig, it gets used as intended. I used a thimble because I didn’t want a winch line pulled against my stock bumper.

 

[Jetboy]

Are you like putting your straps in the washing machine? Mine current one is only a year old and has never seen mud. Just limited trail use as a rock strap when my tree strap is too short. It's never been attached as a tow strap.

This is what a typical winch hook size is like. That's 3/4" bow shackle in there to boot. I kinda looks like maybe they accidentally put an ATV winch hook on there for you.