Winch question?

[jen]

Not real pretty ...its an old electric fence control box that was my grandpa's.  

[jen]

I got lazy and used the #10 awg...Mike had good advice to use larger wire but i could not fit it into ring terminals

[MagnoliaHunter]

On 6/16/2025 at 2:58 PM, jen said:

Also wanting a winch..is the 'wireless' control better than the hard wired control?

The wireless control is better because it is safer if you have wire cable.  With a wireless winch you can stand away from the atv so that the cable doesn't hit you if it snaps.  There was a girl around here a few years younger than me who had her arm snapped off mid forearm when a cable snapped when her dad was winching a truck out.  Granted it was 2 trucks involved so the tension on a atv would  be less but it could still hurt/kill you.

[Gwbarm]

Hate hearing that, i know it can happen just hasnt happened to me, i know when i am pulling heavy loads i can hear when the winch is struggling and get as far away as possible and duck down in front of truck. I cringe when i am watching uTubes of these guys pulling cars out of woods that have been there for 40 years, they are right up there side of the cable pulling and pushing on it, i would be as far away as possible.

[davefrombc]

Newer winches that have remote control  also have cable  control.   Remote is great in that  you can stand  in  a safer spot  should there be  a line snap back  from a failure of the line or connection.  It also allows you to  have a clearer4 view in cases where there is some "fancy" winching going on because of awkward spots..  The  cable control  is the  for when the battery in the remote decides to die on you .  My  Smittybilt !0K pound  X20  winch on my truck has  both  in the hand control..  Flip the switch to remote  for wireless connection or to  cable control, and connect the  cable from  hand control to  the winch ..  There's lots of smaller ATV winches with both  wired and wireless connection.. That's definitely the way to go for both convenience and safety.

[jen]

My Foreman has remote and it  has the poly rope cable  my other winch is steel able   ...Wow you are maing me safety concious  I have a coipl scars ..don't need more.

Yeah i was pulling hard with the manual winck and the chain around the 753 lb stone was flimsey....not good

[Gwbarm]

I really like that winch with poly rope, i was looking at a 4500 today at Tractor supply really nice heavy duty poly rope, i was impressed and im not very impressionable. I think im going to have to replace my old ones.

[jen]

The only trouble I have had with my Poly rope winch is that it wants to jam when retracted and very hard to free wheel ...spool out..  I had to hook on a tree and back foreman up while power spool out to get the first 24 inches out.  Then I could free spool out.

I must be doing something wrong when reeling in.

[WeeBee]

You may need to do this a couple times until the NEW Poly rope stretches out & becomes more flexible.

 

Edited September 8, 2025 by WeeBee

[jen]

Yeah using the remote  i could weave the poly rope back into spool.  It does not jam now.  My friend had a 12 vdc tugger winch on his boat.  It was like tugger winches used to pull cables through conduits but 12 vdc. 

those are great to use on long pulls but have not found an inexpensive one.  

[jen]

Darn I was looking at snatch blocks but got Grandpa's Monster gravely stuck with wheels off the ground i a ditch. .  Wheels completely off ground with mower deck and rear frame  on ground.   I only had the big snatch block, so i hooked the winch poly rope to Tulip Poplar tree and rigged  running Block on gravely hitch , We always called that a simple moving block.  The Gravely weights close to 800 lbs and it was a dead weight pull for first few inches as wheels were just hanging free.  The Tulip Popular tree did not budge and Foreman drug him out. 

Foreman has a 3500 lb winch. 

[WeeBee]

Good job ,got'er done !!

[jen]

with the movable block at the gravely the winch had an easier pull.  The snatch block has a 5 inch diameter pulley so not much strain there.

[jen]

I have a couple of serpentine belts that i kept. They are excellent for tieing off and hitching.

[jen]

I use them also like on the tree they don't damage what they are tied to.

[WeeBee]

You're using them as a "Tree Saver" type of thing then?

 

[jen]

Yes i also had soft strap looped through the serpentine belt that was around tree.  I have a couple   2 " x 48"  braided lifting straps that construction guys have given me.  I keep them clean and use on trees "or clean things".

[WeeBee]

Sounds like you have some good ways to secure to trees,etc. I need to get straps for use around here !

[jen]

Here is my snatch block.  It is not my only snatch.  I have 1/4 inch steel cable snatch block.  I also have a 2 inch wide  rubber spool snatch block.

[WeeBee]

That's a Good size Snatch Block there.

[sunn]

Jenn, that equipment you pulled out looks really interesting.  What is it and what is it used for?

I see you are getting really good use out of your hi tech Honda.

[jen]

Really..?  That is a Gravely garden tractor made in 1960's ...I have serial number.  I rebuilt the motor ...I am not a mechanic ; a parts replacer. new piston and  cylinder etc. there is a gravely dealer in Spencer WV that specializes in original parts.  Grandpa has one in FLa. also.  They are a handfull to use.  Especially since I added the dual wheels .  Other than motor it's original.  I am using it to brush hog Multi-floral rose in our woods.  It will cut off a one inch sapling.  Picture is web pic

[sunn]

I see a real value in that type of mower for tough brush and saplings.  I have a few acres in Arkansas along the Ouatchita river within which I have been working to create atv trails.  So far I have used a JD garden tractor to simply run thru this heavy growth, but those 1" saplings sure are hard on the blades and spindles.  Of course the chain saw and DeWalt reciprotating saw have worked too, but I sure hate looking for snakes, spiders, ticks and chiggers (which invariably get me.

I've seen some brush hog attachments for the atv but they are spendy.

[jen]

Yes the gravely for the money has been good.    I have > $500 in it.    However, with the dual wheels I installed it has terrific ability for one side to grab  and it will throw me  around!  The DR mowers have steering controls ($3000) which sounds nice.  Wood Ticks !  omg!   Wear tight underwear!

I am anticipating building a bridge across a deep ravine on the trail I am clearing that is why i need some serious winch capacity.

[WeeBee]

A friend of mine has the DR Brush Mower & Loves it !  Hasn't had a bit of problem with it so far!

[jen]

I cut the trail with the gravely. Trying to get it ok so I can take Grandma back there on SXS.  20 foot deep Gulley is a problem.

[jen]

Deep ravine  with small stream is a problem.