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Learn more about winches
Cable winches for motor vehicles are practical helpers. The towing ropes can draw loads, for example for the retrieval or transport of objects. They are used on construction machines as well as on normal cars. Off-road winches are also used to free vehicles stuck in mud, snow or gravel from their own power.
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How do cable winches work in car interiors?
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What cable winches are there?
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Tips for handling winches
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Questions and answers
How do cable winches work in car interiors?
Winches are mounted on the outside of the vehicle. The towing rope is wound on a winch, mostly in the form of a drum. The start of the rope is anchored to the vehicle together with the crank. Loads can be attached at the other end of the rope. Usually a carabiner or a lifting strap is used to secure the items to be pulled to the towing rope.
Note: The chain is only as strong as its weakest link: When pulling loads, all connections must be able to withstand the draft weight. Check the connections between the rope winch and the vehicle, between the rope and the rope winch and between the rope and the object to be pulled. Especially when selecting accessories such as towing ropes and snap hooks, make sure that they are designed for the resulting tensile forces. Before each use, check thoroughly that no damage to the components is evident which could lead to a breakdown.
There are cable winches with a rope or without an integrated rope:
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For most winches, the rope is firmly connected to the drum and is part of the scope of delivery. Both components are perfectly matched by each other by the manufacturer.
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In commercial models, the winch is sometimes designed to clamp diverser own spindle winches.
Safety note: Even when attaching your own ropes, it is essential to establish a firm connection between the rope and the crank drum so that the rope cannot loosen itself independantly even when it is fully extend. An improperly fastened rope would be the same as a cracked rope and would pose a significant safety hazard.
What cable winches are there?
Apart from their length and the different pulling force, the rope winches differ mainly in the way they are mounted on the vehicle, in the drive and in the operation. There are different types of attachment to the vehicle, which you should weigh against each other depending on the frequency of use:
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For occasional use, cable winches are suitable for hanging in an already existing trailer coupling on the vehicle or for hanging in a round sling.
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The fixed mounting of cable winches is more complex: Mounting plates or simple screws are usually required for this. During welding, even an irreversible intervention is carried out on the vehicle. For this purpose, the fixed connections are often more robust was the maximum load that can be achieved.
Winches rely on various drives. Manual winch with crank are the original form of the rope winch. More comfortable variants use electric energy from the car battery, a petrol engine or the drive of a cordless screwdriver instead of sweat-inducing muscle power. The operation of winch is done manually via crank, via cable remote control or via radio remote control.
Tips for handling winches
1. Pay attention to the maximum pulling force of the rope! The A.
The specifications of the towing loads are always only approximate information from the manufacturer and vary depending on the underground, sloping position and weather conditions. Avoid maneuvers where you are not sure if your rope will withstand them.
2. Deflection rollers increase the traction force. A double rope guide causes a higher load capacity of the rope winch by dividing the tensile forces.
3. The pulling direction should always be aligned straight to the rope winch. In the case of an inclined pull-in or pull-out of the rope, not only the pulling force decreases in relation to the specified maximum load at the ideal position. There is a risk of significant damage to the rope or the winch.
4. Keep sufficient distance when a rope is under tension. Do not touch it. Do not stand under or in front of loads that hang on tensioned ropes. The axle between the rope winch and the object of the towing must be cleared before operating the winch.
5. Take safety precautions in case the rope tears. An unbraked rope can cause immense damage to property and personal injury.
6. When pulling out vehicles yourself, you should always look for a really stable anchor on the ground, for example a tree. Instead of slinging the towing rope, instead a sling or a lifting strap with a carabiner is looped around the holding point. Only then is the towing rope connected. This indirect approach avoids damage to the fixing point and thus protects the environment.
Practical advice
As a precaution for possibly tearing off ropes, a blanket or similar textile should be placed on the rope near the hook for heavy loads on rope winches. If the rope were to be torn with the applied textile, the kickback effect would be reduced. Always observe the manufacturer's instructions to prevent accidents.
Questions and answers
Why is the traction force of a rope winch on a stationary vehicle often smaller than the traction force of the same rope winch on a rolling vehicle?
In the case of moving vehicles, the direction of travel and the direction of pull of the rope act in the same direction. The forces partially cancel each other, so that the connecting rope is less stressed. Once the initial inertia has been overcome, the load slides behind the tractor. This means that physical synergy effects occur on the rolling vehicle, which favor the maximum load capacity of towing ropes. But: Many winches are only approved for stationary use. In stationary vehicles with winch, make sure that the vehicle itself has a firm footing so that the pulling forces of the rope winch do not cause it to slip away on its own, instead of using the desired object.
Search tip: Rope winches are something other than towing ropes and towing rods for roadside assistance. You can find them here!