John Craddock Ltd Magazine (December 2020)
A winch is a must have for off-roaders that like to push their boundaries, and their Land Rovers, to the limit. On uncertain terrains it can prove invaluable, especially in those sticky situations that catch you off-guard. If you frequently head out alone, a winch provides peace of mind should you find yourself wheel spinning on an unexpected expanse of ice or a boggy, waterlogged ditch.
There’s no question that off-roading can be unpredictable at the best of times. At the worst, it can be downright dangerous. No amount of foresight or planning can account for every scenario you might come across on your travels. So, being prepared is undoubtedly the right thing to do before you head out on an off-roading adventure. For your fellow off-road enthusiasts too, being equipped with a hardy winch with significant pulling power will make you a go-to for a helping hand on tough terrain!
Whether you’re stuck in the mud, trapped on rocky terrain or bogged down on wet sand, the right winch can see you through many challenges. But finding the right one for your Land Rover, for the right price, isn’t always easy. In this guide, we aim to talk you through the many winches available on the market, their benefits, features and recommendations.
Land Rover Winches: A Complete Guide
Just like Land Rover vehicles, winches have come on leaps and bounds throughout the years. Now, there are a wide range of winch types available including electrical and mechanical.
Before we dive in to look at different winch types and brands, there are a few things you ought to consider first, such as when you will most likely use a winch (and what for) and the size of your vehicle. Both of these questions will contribute to finding a winch that is right for your needs. For example, if you frequently take part in off-road competitions, then you will most likely require a winch that is faster, with long lasting (and potentially extra) batteries. However, if you want a winch for more general off-road use, where speed and efficiency isn’t necessarily a driving factor, then a smaller winch with a higher amperage battery will suffice.
When it comes to your winch, the size and weight of your vehicle and load also matters. Before you shell out for a brand new winch, make sure you know the gross weight of your vehicle. This will help you to understand how much pulling power you need. For example, a Land Rover that weighs near 3 tonnes would need a 12,000lbs winch.
Investing in a winch that is too small for the gross weight of your vehicle can result in a burnt out motor, which is no good if you’re stuck in the mud and trying to bail yourself out!
Winch Types
There are two main types of winches available. These are hydraulic and electric winches. Hydraulic winches are powered by the power steering pump of a vehicle. While they work well for longer pulls, they are quite slow. Electric winches are powered by your vehicle’s battery.
Typically, hydraulic winches are used for commercial vehicles, Electric vehicles are more common-place among the off-road community. Electric winches can easily be installed on to a vehicle and generally feature the most up-to-date winching technologies. Two of the most important features of an electric winch is its amperage and it’s suitability for off-road use (i.e. is it waterproof). The fewer amps a winch uses while drawing out, the longer your battery will last.
Land Rover Winches
Warn Winches
Warn Industries has been at the forefront of off-road products since 1948. Their selection of winches, bumpers, rigging equipment and 4WD hubs are used the world over on off-road vehicles both commercial and recreational. The first Warn electric winch, born in the middle of the 1970s, broke away from the power take-off winch and became popular with off-road racers and 4 wheel drivers alike. Since then, their selection of electric and hydraulic winches have been a firm choice for recreational and commercial uses.
Explore our current range of Warn winches online today!
Superwinch Winches
Superwinch winches are great for the needs and rigors of off-road recovery. The brand actually began life as a project of Ford Motor Company and 45 years layer creates winches for recreation, recovery, industrial, utility and military pursuits. From electric to hydraulic variations, they offer a wide range of winches in capacities from 8,000lb to 11,5000 specifically for trucks and jeeps.
Discover Superwinch At John Craddock today!
Warrior Winches
A relatively young Land Rover winch brand in comparison to the ones listed above, Winch Solutions Ltd started in 2004 and are dedicated to creating the very best winches, hoists and snow plows available. Although a comparative newbie to the market, Winch Solutions, AKA Warrior Winches, offer a range of winches including entry level winches for those just dipping their toes into the off-roading world to premium winches for serious off-road enthusiasts and regular expedition go-ers.
Take a look at Warrior Winches on our website now.
Synthetic Rope Vs Steel Cables
When shopping around for a winch, you’ll notice there are 2 options available to you: steel cable or synthetic rope. There are, as you might imagine, pros and cons to each. The one you choose will depend on which pros outweigh the cons for you and your budget.
Synthetic rope is lightweight and easy to handle, which makes it a very popular choice for off-road enthusiasts, particularly in recent years. They can float in mud in water and are more flexible than steel cables for ease of use.
Steel cables tend to be cheaper than synthetic ropes and require less maintenance overall. Further to this, steel cables tend to be more durable than their synthetic counterparts, which means you’re more likely to get a bit more bang for your buck.
Overall, there is no right or wrong when it comes to making the choice between synthetic rope and steel cables. Steel cable has been, and continues to be, used as the industry standard. However, as with anything, leaps in technology have provided a lighter, flexible and safer alternative. Albeit a higher maintenance, more expensive one! But isn’t that just the way of things nowadays?
Winch Accessories, Winch Bars and Winch Bumpers
After finding your perfect Land Rover winch, there are (of course!) other accessories to consider. As you might imagine, there’s a whole world of winch accessories available to complement and enhance your brand new winch.
As well as winches, here at John Craddock you’ll find a wide range of winch accessories to purchase alongside your new winch. While we won’t dive into the uses of all of them in this article, if you do have any questions regarding Land Rover winches or accessories, simply contact us. Our team of experts are on hand to help answer your queries and help you to find the right winches and accessories to enhance your off-roading experience.
As 2020 draws to a close, check out our articles to kick-start your off-roading in the new year in style!
