Winches


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Below you will find links to all Tool-and-Equipment items in the category Winches. All items are in alphabetical order. Clicking on an item will bring up a detailed description.



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A Guide to Winches

If you're looking to buy a wich, ask yourself these questions:

Will I be pulling or lifting something?

While on the surface a winch and a hoist may look similar, but they're not. The main difference is that a winch is a tool designed to pull a load -- usually, horizontally; a hoist is designed to lift it, almost always, vertically. Selecting the proper tool helps ensure you will get the job done in the safest, most efficient manner.

A power source--what do I have to work with?

12 Volt DC battery power or 120 Volt AC.

How heavy will the load be and is it a rolling load or non-rolling load?

Non-rolling loads must take into account the surface and grade that they are on. This calls for more pulling capacity since the winch will have to overcome the friction of the surface as well as the load it self. Usually, take the gross weight of the load and multiply it by 1.5 times -- this gives the minimum capacity of the winch needed.

Rolling loads, however, require less mechanical effort to move the load once the initial inertia has been overcome. For rolling loads where an incline is involved, such as pulling equipment and vehicles onto trailers, the percent of grade affects the "load" the winch can pull.

figure the load

How will the load be anchored or mounted? That is, to a fixed location such as a trailer or machinery or a more temporary use such that it is moved from place to place?

A winch or hoist must have a point to pull against. It has to be able to handle the full weight of the object being moved.

How does one attach a load?

Look at the list of tools on the left side of this page. Our vendor-partner offers line of rigging and attachment accessories that are rated to meet pulling or lifting capacities of our winches:

Clevis / ShacklesClevis / Shackles
The shackle is a safe means for connecting the looped ends of cables, straps and chains. It also provides a safe place to connect the winch hook.

Load Strap / SlingLoad Strap / Sling
This is normally made of tough high-quality nylon and allows the operator to secure the winch and/or the winch wire rope to a wide variety of anchor points and objects.

Snatch Block/Pulley

Snatch Block/Pulley
Used properly, the multi-purpose snatch block can double the pulling power of any winch, or change your pulling direction without damaging the wire rope. They also reduce heat build up and reduce amp (current) draw.