winch question
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JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Wiliamsburg, VA
winch question
Are winches submersible? It looks like they are in a position to go under sometimes. Are some styles or brands more appropriate for water, such as integrated or external solenoid? I assume the synthetic line would be more weather resistant than the steel. Thanks!
What about the Jeep headlights/foglights?
What about the Jeep headlights/foglights?
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2006
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Warn has shown there winches in ads partly under water/mud and they say they are sealed with o rings etc. on newer models, I don't think they condone it though
but in general I don't think they are made to work under water on a regular basis, but most quaility elect. winches will work under water
the wire rope that comes with most winches is galvinized steel, but after some heavy use they will corode (i think Warn recomends coating it with a WD-40 type product
synthetic rope is derived from the marine industry so its at home in the water, it floats and is light weight, I think shaffing/cutting on sharp edges and UV rays are its only enemy, cost alot but is much safer
If you are swamping it on a regular basis you may want take apart and clean/lubricate your winch (solenoids may need replacing more often)
or look into a hydrolic winch like Milemarker that runs off of your PS pump
(but if your engine is not running neather is your winch)
but in general I don't think they are made to work under water on a regular basis, but most quaility elect. winches will work under water
the wire rope that comes with most winches is galvinized steel, but after some heavy use they will corode (i think Warn recomends coating it with a WD-40 type product
synthetic rope is derived from the marine industry so its at home in the water, it floats and is light weight, I think shaffing/cutting on sharp edges and UV rays are its only enemy, cost alot but is much safer
If you are swamping it on a regular basis you may want take apart and clean/lubricate your winch (solenoids may need replacing more often)
or look into a hydrolic winch like Milemarker that runs off of your PS pump
(but if your engine is not running neather is your winch)
Last edited by over's tj; Nov 4, 2006 at 11:48 PM.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 31
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From: Denmark
some synthetic rope likes to break when it has a load on it and its wet. if you are not goin to be doin comp rockcrawling then you can stick with the wire that comes withthe winch and save some $$$. i have had the same warn m8000 for almost 10 years and have just thsi year re-built it. i had to wire brush the relay connections in the box and take apart the drive gears and clean and lube them up but thats it. ive had it submersed dozens of times. on my TJ i moved the soliniod box under the hood to keep it a little dryer.
That is news to me...
You really have to substantiate that claim.
Who told you that? That would be quite a wakeup call for the seafaring crowd.
That rope can not have been appropriate for winching. Please use only rope that is designed for that purpose!
Synthetic rope is stronger, lighter (most float), little stretch.
When chaffed it will not make you bleed.
If it breaks, it will not whip as much (less elasticity, less weight) may not kill you or bystanders.
Steel wire ropes used for winching are not strong enough.
Check the strength given by manufacturers.
For all ropes (steel or synthetic) : After first few hard uses consider you now have about 90% strength left to play with.
Safe breaking strength (in new rope) should preferably be 3 times max force applied.
Even slight yanking or shifting of load may easily double or triple the force on the rope.
Pulling out a vehicle submerged in mud up to the belly often requires a force double the vehicle weight, sometimes more.
Last edited by 2stoned; Nov 5, 2006 at 08:15 AM.
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: seattle
Warn
I've had my Warn in the water maybe 10 times in the last 3 years. I blow it off at the end of a wet day and keep it covered while I'm driving around -which isn't much in this rig - but I've never had a problem. I've got wire rope on mine- that's why I always bring a shotgun rider- to jump in and grab the hook