Can You Have Too Big Of A Winch?

Byattaadmin

A winch can be a life-saver; we all know that. There are countless tales of people who got their trucks stuck and were unable to get out, having to wait hours )or even days) for someone to drive past with a winch. That situation is almost always followed by the unlucky person either giving up on off-roading or forking the money for the winch. But then the question is, can a winch be too big?

The ideal size of a winch depends on your vehicle’s weight more than anything else. A winch that’s too big could damage your 4WD frame. You can quickly determine the ideal size of winch that you should go for using your vehicle’s GVWR rating. It’s safe to choose a winch that’s slightly above that.

Winches are not usually the first things that many people think they will need. It’s very often something they discover when they, or people they know, are in a situation where a winch would have come in handy. But then the confusion starts. How big or strong should the winch be? Will it be too heavy or strong, or not strong enough? Let’s look at these questions more closely.

The Consequences Of A Winch That’s Too Big

Though there’s no hard rule about which winch is too big, there is an ideal size that is based on the weight of your vehicle and your particular requirements. It makes sense that a bigger, more robust winch is always better. After all, if you buy the biggest winch possible, you won’t have problems with even heavy lifting, right?

Though that is theoretically correct, a winch that is too big could exert too much force and damage your vehicle’s frame in many ways. The winch may be strong enough to lift whatever it is that you’re trying to lift, but if your car isn’t heavy enough to handle that force, the winch might pull loose from the chassis, bending and even breaking it (and other parts of your car) on the way out.

In other words, getting a winch that’s too big is not a good idea. Though size doesn’t matter too much, and it will take a very particular set of circumstances for you to run into trouble due to a winch that’s too big, it’s better not to take the chance.

So, should you opt for a winch that’s lower than the recommendation instead? That poses an entirely different set of challenges.

The Risks Of A Winch That’s Not Big Enough

A winch that isn’t big enough to handle the strain of what you’re using it for poses two particular problems:

  • You won’t get the job done. Let’s say you’re off-roading with your 4WD and get stuck in the mud on a steep incline. You’ve tried all different gear combinations, but you simply get unstuck. Your trusty winch is ready and willing, and there’s a convenient anchor point like a boulder or a large tree.

If you opt to go a bit cheaper and buy a slightly less powerful winch, the winch will be unable to carry the weight of your vehicle (especially loaded with all of your equipment). It won’t damage your car or the anchor point, but it won’t move much, if at all. You won’t be able to budge your vehicle or lift someone else out of a mess.

  • You could damage the winch. If the winch has to work too hard to pull your vehicle out (especially if it’s an electric winch), it could overheat and burn the solenoid. It is possible to rewire the winch if you happen to burn the solenoid, but this requires a circuit diagram which you probably won’t be able to find when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere.

So a winch that isn’t big enough isn’t a good solution, either. Sure, there are some cases where it could be of use. For example, if your vehicle provides the anchor for lifting something that weighs less, you won’t need such a big and powerful wench. But to be safe, it’s essential to find the sweet spot that’s just right, a winch that’s somewhere between too big and not big enough.

How To Determine The Ideal Size Of A Winch

The right size or strength of the winch has to do with its capacity or the amount of force that it can exert if needed. This value will vary based on your vehicle and your requirements, but there is a straightforward way to calculate which one would be the right winch for you.

The calculation is GVWR x 1.5. GVWR stands for “gross vehicle weight rating.” It’s not the weight of your vehicle itself but rather the rating that the manufacturer gave as the maximum total weight of the car when it’s fully loaded up to capacity.

The GVWR is a vital number either way; it’s the weight that the manufacturer says the vehicle can handle. Loading it heavier than the GVWR could damage your 4WD in some way. But the number is also crucial for determining your ideal winch size or capacity.

The GVWR is usually indicated somewhere inside the manual or printed on the door jamb. Once you have the GVWR, you can calculate your ideal winch size by multiplying the value by 1.5.

For example, the 2022 Ford Ranger XL’s GVWR is 6,050 pounds. When you multiply that by 1.5, you get 9,075. So a 9,000-pound winch will be just below the ideal range. You should also note that going slightly above the recommended winch size is okay; you won’t damage anything if you go somewhat higher. So, in this case, a 10,000 or 12,000-pound winch will be safe to use. Maybe even 15,000.

Don’t push it too far above that, though. You don’t want to harm your vehicle (or someone else’s, for that matter).

Calculating your winch size in this way will ensure that you will have enough force to pull yourself and similar vehicles out of tricky situations and even a little extra force if you need it. But it will not be so high that it will cause damage.

Still, you should always use proper winch care and keep an eye on your winch’s temperature. Winches are not cheap, and it’s not worth the cost of replacing a winch when you could have just given it a few minutes to cool down. Don’t let the solenoid burn out. Also, rather spend a bit more to ensure you get quality. Buying cheap is not good sense for a crucial piece of equipment like a winch.

Conclusion

A winch is not an everyday piece of equipment, and it’s one of those things you probably will never need. But when it so happens that you do need it, you will be glad to have it since it could save you endless hours or days of frustration. Be sure to buy one that’s just right for your needs, not too big or too small, and it will give you many years of service.

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