Reader question
Greetings Robert, many thanks for all your articles, videos and information-I have been learning a lot!
Are you able to assist and/or advise for recovery kit preparations?
I bought 2nd hand LC 200 with a RUNVA 13XP winch [6000kg 13000lb rating] + 25m 10mm rope installed, recovery points on LC 850mm apart, previous owner towed a caravan which I am also doing.
The LC is upgraded to 3845kg + heavy duty springs, my caravan ATM is 3500kg, combined GVM = 7345kg.
Other recovery equipment I have:
3m 11mm 11000kg sheathed bridle rope
10m 11mm 11000kg static winch extension rope
X4 45cm 9mm 12000kg soft shackles
X2 11000kg recovery rings
9m 13300kg kinetic rope
The winch rope needs replacing, my questions are about kit compatibility and/or safety:
1 will the winch pull both car + caravan or is it suitable for the LC only? If yes…
2 Do I [need to] use a winch rope rated 2 or 3 times combined GVM [22035lb] to pull car + caravan?
3 Option: Maxtrax 30m 10mm winch rope 20943lb is $259 https://maxtrax.com.au/collections/recovery-systems/products/maxtrax-static-winch-rope-30m
4 Don’t do stupid shit-have fun-stay out of trouble-I look forward to your reply!!
Answers:
- Yes the winch will pull both. Sometimes you only need 100kg to get out of trouble, other times it’s the weight of your rig which is 7000kg. Your winch can do 6000kg, in theory, so if we wind that back to 4500kg allowing for some rope on the drum and margin, then double it to 9000kg with a snatch ring and take 1000k off that…we’re at 8000kg. Which is a LOT of force and if you need that kind of power you are in deep, deep trouble and quite likely to break something. So yes, your winch is fine.
- Winch rope is rated to a minimum breaking strength and I’d work on a 2:1 factor so look for rope around 16,000kg. Realistically most recoveries are more like 4000kg tops so 10,000kg rope would do.
- See above
- Wise advice 🙂
Below is me recovering my rig from mud. Didn’t even need a double-line pull with a 9500lb winch.
