Out wheeling this past weekend, I managed to break my winch cable. I slid/drove down into a deep ravine and the only way out was a 50 yard long, seemingly 45 degree slope up with rocks, ruts and roots... Plus it had rained the last couple days, so it was nice and greasy. I was only able to drive about 1/4 of the way up the slope. Then I hooked up the winch and winched up a little ways before the cable snapped about 2 feet from the hook.

I finally got out of there by creating an alternate route, but it got me thinking...

This was with my Silver Tracker on 31's. The 3000lb winch was straining but working slowly before the cable snapped. I need a winch for the Green Goblin Tracker on 33's. I figure it will get stuck in even more interesting/difficult to get out of places, so I figured I better upgrade to a heavier winch.

I was thinking a 6000lb winch would be enough. That would be more than double the curb weight of the Tracker. What do you guys think? What size winches are you all running?

I think bigger is better
I'm running a 8000#Warn
Got it new for 500 bucks Special sale at 4Wheel parts
I have friends running 9000#Warns on theirs but they have the extra $

Im running mile marker's 9.5  

at costco, here anyways they are sellign a 8000# winch for 389 bucks includes everything apparently what i have herd its a pretty impressive winch for the money

did your cable break through previous wear, or damage on that pull, or was it just not a strong enough cable given the small winch?

a cable usually breaks ( albeit rarely) at the fairlead end due to extreme angles of pull and a stalled winch combined.

pulling other loads with your winch ( ie you stationary) can damage your cable as it slides over ramps etc

an 8000/9000 winch is more than enough, or a 6000 if a snatch block is sensibly employed

have fun!

Actually the cable wasn't that old and didn't have any previous damage. I think it was stretched over a rock right where it broke, but I didn't rig the cable, I was sitting behind the wheel standing on the brakes to stay put on the hill while my friend hooked up the winch...

Since the Tracker only weighs about 2500 pounds, a 6000 pound winch ought to be more than enough even single-line pulling, right? Warn's recomendations for winch capacity are only 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle(loaded), and Ramsey's site said something about the loaded weight plus 12% for a minimum recomendation. I know bigger is better, but the 8000's I've found so far are at least $100 more than the 6000 Milemarker I'm looking at.(I don't have any costco's around me)...

I'm running an 8000# Ramsey and love it. It's slow but it's a workhorse. Pulling your self you could probably get it done with a 6000# but if you ever have to hook to one of your misguided friends (non Zuk owners) The 6000# may not have what it takes. For only $100 more I would highly reccomend the 8000#

Zig

http://www.e-winches.com/detail.aspx?ID=663


This is the way to go Bro!!!!

$430


Check out the weight! It's about 1/2 the weight of just about EVERY other winch but it doesn't mater b/c they have  FREE SHIPPING on winches. I pulled a F350 out of about 3' of sticky clay not too long ago,,,,No problem!!

And a Heep,,,,,Then I put it back in Two wheel and drove through what they were stuck in.

Most use a 1.5-1.75-2 ratio for winch size as a general rule. The ratio is of the vehicles weight. This is for a pulling a vehicle through something that stopped it. If you were to pull it backwards after alreading driving through it, 1.5 is the general rule.
Now, since the Trackick is so light, 5K would probably work in 95% of your wheeling. However, there are limits as you have found out. Weight consideration, amp draw, length of cable on drum, etc. The larger capacity of the winch, the larger the cable diameter, the larger the overall size of the winch, the overall additional weight, etc. Then there is the mounting plate and frame attachments to consider. Or the hitch frame setup of a portable winch plate.
If you carried some longer cable, you could have used a snatch block to double you line capacity and cut the line speed in half, but still would have pulled you out.

Since your cable broke, did you take precautionary action in case of such?
Did you know there are some real small ATV high capacity winches? 4-4.5k#'s? Small in size for sure.....

Don't forget you could use a hi-lift as a winch.... with a solid link line. I wouldn't use one with a strap. Gotta have either chain or rope or wire rope.

lol i just carry 2 comalongs and about 15' of aditional chain?
 then i have never had to use it? Knock on wood i like bieng lucky

I think the recommendation of 1.5 times is for recovery vehicles pulling up ramps. They assume a rolling vehicle and not something thats up to its axles in mud. Even with an 8000lb winch I've had to use a snatch block because I was winching up a very steep slope, I wasn't stuck as in not moving I just couldn't get enough grip to get over the top (very muddy).
Have a look here:
http://www.manorcommercials.com/winchtips.htm

1.5-2 times the weight of the loaded vehicle is a good rule of thumb.  
Unfortunately, I think what people don't realize is that when you are stuck, your truck essentially weights more than curb weight due to friction/drag on the ground.  If you're angle is just right you're now pulling against all of the mud/trees/rocks which weight a bunch more then just your truck alone.  

Ideally, the load rating of a winch is determined by lifting something straight up.  Which makes it a no brainer to determine max load of the motor/cable.  However when you have additional friction of earthly objects, calculations of actual load on the system are difficult to determine.

I wouldn't skimp on an underpowered winch, because it maybe your only way home.  

~Nate

(we're looking at 9000lb winches)

Let's look at the physics.

My Calmini Winch Bumper hasn't cratered with my Warn 6000 winch, so I have empirical evidence that it's OK.

BUT - just because you can put a 9000 pound winch on that Calmini bumper, doesn't mean it will stay attached to your Track/Kick under max load.

So - if you're in questionable territory, you use a snatch block - that is, a pulley at the far end, and loop the cable back, say for instance to the welded loop on the frame.

How is that better?  Like this:  If I use a snatch block, the weight is divided between the span from the winch to the snatch block, and the span from the snatch block, back to the frame - so if I'm pulling 10,000 pounds (eek! - yes, with my 6,000 pound winch), that's 5,000 pounds to the winch, and 5,000 pounds to the frame (really - that's how a snatch block "extends" your capability).

If you're ever in doubt - double up your line, and use the snatch block.  Note, that it will only be half as fast - be patient!

But - you say My Warn 6000 only came with 80 feet of steel cable!  that's less than 40 feet, using a snatch block!

No problem.  Throw that nasssssty steel rope away, and get some 1/4 inch blue synthetic winch line (rated at 9,200 pounds) instead - I have 175 feet of the blue stuff on my Warn 6000.

Get it from Scott, at Rockstomper.com:  http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/recovery/ropes.htm

So what is the curb weight of an 89sidekick soft top? about 2300?

ok if we go big estimate sidekick weighs 3000 LB then at 2 times the load you would need a 6000 LB winch