Even though you may never have to use it, buying an electric winch for your 4×4 is a smart decision, because if you ever do, you’ll be grateful you have it. If you plan to go off-road, and especially if you plan on doing it regularly, a good winch can make a huge difference. And, if you ever need to use it, you’ll want it to be of good quality to ensure reliability.
There are many reasons why you should choose an electric winch – they’re highly durable and reliable, but at the same time are the more inexpensive option, which is important when you are buying an accessory like this – one that you won’t use too often, but that when you do, needs to perform really well.
Things to Consider when Choosing an Electric Winch
If you are in search of the best quality 4X4 electric winch Australia accessories manufacturers have to offer, you need to learn as much as you can about your vehicle and what your options are. There are several important things you need to look for in a 4WD winch, which can help you narrow down your options and buy the ideal one.
The Winch Capacity
The most obvious and most important thing you need to look at is the capacity of the winch. While higher capacity is always better, the rule of thumb is that for a larger and heavier vehicle you’ll need a more powerful winch. Generally, a 4X4 electric winch should be able to pull at least 1.5 times the weight of your 4X4. This rule is an industry-standard, but when it comes to winches, bigger is better, so it’s a good idea to pick something with even more capacity than that.
To give an example – the bare minimum winch capacity for a vehicle that weighs 2.5 tons should be 3.75 tons. To be extra careful, you should get at least the next size up from what you thought you need.
The Rope
Synthetic ropes are ideal for trail and recovery winches. There are many advantages of choosing a synthetic rope for your 4WD electric winch, the most important ones being that it’s lighter and more flexible, and on top of that there are high-quality synthetic ropes that are much stronger than their steel counterparts. Furthermore, it’s easier, and more importantly safer to handle than a steel cable, so you won’t need to wear gloves when you handle it. The downside of choosing a synthetic rope would be that it can be affected by UV exposure, heat, abrasion and chemicals. It also requires more care and maintenance, such as washing from time to time after using it in sand or in mud.
Steel cables are ideal for driving your 4X4 through rougher terrains, which can be highly abrasive. So, if you often go off-road in sand, rocks or mud, then a steel rope is the better option for you. Their main advantages over synthetic ropes are that they are more affordable and that they are easier to maintain. Steel cables are also durable and reliable, but because they are much heavier, they might be too heavy for your vehicle. Furthermore, a steel cable can be dangerous, because it can cut your hand. This is why if you decide to go for this option, you should always wear protective gloves while handling the rope.
The Electrical Winch Weight
Another really important factor you need to take into consideration is the weight of the winch because your 4×4 will have to carry this additional weight. Make sure that the front end of your vehicle will be able to handle the weight of the electric winch. The most important impact on the weight of the winch comes from the choice of rope. While a synthetic rope will typically add between 25 and 30kg, a steel cable will add an additional 10 to 15kg.
The Winch Motor
There are two types of DC motors that are used for electric winches – permanent magnet and series wound. Designed for heavy-duty use, as well as for harsher conditions like cold weather, series wound motors are the stronger option. Nevertheless, if you aren’t buying an electric winch for everyday use, then you should be fine with a permanent magnet motor because the cheaper versions come to use this type of motor.
The Cost
Whenever you are buying equipment for your 4X4, the first thing you need to consider is quality. This is why you should be looking for the best quality electrical winch Australia stores have to offer. Of course, like with almost everything else in life, buying quality products means paying a bigger price. But alongside the price, the lifespan, reliability and performance of the winch will generally increase as well. You shouldn’t be trying to save money on such an important piece of 4×4 equipment that you’ll find to be invaluable when stuck in a predicament.
