Picking up a winch for your truck is a great opportunity to improve your vehicle’s safety. Having a winch means you have a strong cable for pulling the truck over boulders, out of the mud, and through other off-road scenarios. If you want to get the perfect winch for your needs, the list below will help you find a great fit. Use these must-know tips for choosing a truck winch without overlooking critical details.
Check Max Capacity
A critical detail to know when shopping for a winch is your truck’s overall weight. Your winch must handle the weight of your truck, but don’t find a one-to-one match. Simply put, your winch should have a maximum weight capacity that’s one and a half or two times the weight of your truck. Consider the weight of your truck with any cargo that you usually bring on it, such as a rooftop tent if you camp.
Having a truck winch that can handle around twice the weight of your truck ensures it can pull the vehicle out of tricky situations without straining itself. After all, one of the biggest reasons to have a winch with you is to get yourself unstuck from mud and other hazardous terrain while off-roading.
Install Aftermarket Bumpers
Consider looking for aftermarket bumpers if you need a secure anchor point for your winch. You shouldn’t expect your winch to be a universal fit. Luckily, you can find an easier way to mount the device on your truck. One of the biggest reasons off-road vehicles need aftermarket bumpers is to find a strong support system for recovery gear. Pick up a winch that’s compatible with your new front or rear bumper so that you can have a reliable support anytime your truck gets stuck. Bumpers come in many forms, and, as you’ll learn below, winch designs can vary in important ways too.
Compare Synthetic and Steel
Winch cables come in two common forms: synthetic and steel. A steel winch is very strong and requires less maintenance than synthetic cables. However, steel cables store more kinetic energy, which makes them more dangerous when they break. Although steel cables are strong, they can deteriorate over time.
Synthetic cables require more maintenance. But they’re strong, lightweight, and store less kinetic energy when you use them. As a result, a synthetic winch breaking won’t be as dangerous as a steel cable under the same tension. Use these must-know tips for choosing a truck winch right now if you’re ready to improve your truck’s safety and recovery abilities today.
