Hi-Lift as a Winch

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:09 pm

I do not have a winch, but am getting ready to finally get my hi-lift, and have heard that it can be used as a winch.

i have the warn shackles and a 30' tow strap. do i need to get another tow strap in order to use the hi-lift as a winch?
Thanks!

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:12 pm

yes you'll need another strap or something to tie the other end of the jack to a fixed object like a tree or something. my buddy used to use his hi-lift as a winch. it works, but it's alot of work and takes forever.

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:14 pm

that's alright, $60 versus $700... i think for now the hi-lift will work. plus i want to go wheelin' by myself!!!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:20 pm

riptricket wrote:

that's alright, $60 versus $700... i think for now the hi-lift will work. plus i want to go wheelin' by myself!!!

Better rethink that wheeling alone with only a hi-lift as the only means of recovery.They don't always work the way you want,and are very unpredictible,basically you wnat someone else around when that handle smacks you in the head and renders you dead(or close to it,seen it happen one to many times).

Plus using one as a winch when stuck in mud will most likey break the Hi-Lift and parts of your body,and it's very hard work.

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:22 pm

They aren't very fun when you're stuck in snow and it's 40 below, either.

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:23 pm

ya good points, but my wheeling alone, would be jsut on muddy roads, not big ol' rock boulder trails at all! just some muddy hills!!!

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:27 pm

You'll want to make sure there is going to be something to strap to. Also, rather than another strap, I'd suggest a really strong (tow) long chain and a short one. Use the short one to hold the long one each time you need to let the hi-lift out.

riptricket · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:37 pm

there are tons of trees and telephone poles around... i have 300 feet of chain at home... didn't want to use it b/c u guys said not too... i have 2 100' and the rest are 50'

bugnout · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:44 pm

Definitely a good kit to put together, It does work, I've used it that way myself, but its lots of work and can be dangerous, especially once your tired. You'll need four good high capacity shackles, two small 3 ton shackles to attach the straps/chain to the highlift, and two big 3+ ton shackles for the straps. You should get two ten foot tree savers and another static tow (non-recovery) strap maybe 15-20 foot.

I recommend you collect all the gear and then try it out before you need it on the trail.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:05 pm

Wheeling alone is like backpacking alone. You simply shouldn’t do it.

riptricket · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:12 am

no one to go with... my bro has a 4x4 dakota, but he is always at work...

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:16 am

riptricket wrote:

no one to go with... my bro has a 4x4 dakota, but he is always at work...

if you set it up ahead of time Ill try to go every once in awhile and kskj gets around for wheeling, he was in CO not too long ago

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:47 am

hi-lift winching videos

video 1
video 2

riptricket · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:53 am

alright, forget that!!! that would take waaaaay too long to "winch" via hi-lift. i'll save up for the real winch instead!

jeremesh · **Posted:** Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:16 am

riptricket wrote:

alright, forget that!!! that would take waaaaay too long to "winch" via hi-lift. i'll save up for the real winch instead!

What about an 8 ton come-a-long?

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:20 pm

Whenever I see chains...It scares me

riptricket · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:57 pm

i don't know why chains always "scare" everyone... i mean yeah, okay they can be dangerous, but almost anything can be dangerous. And plus tow trucks have been using chains and steel cable forever.....

Xodius · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:48 am

A high lift as a winch...never thought about that but wow that would take freaking forever to get out. While i would like to say that i am excited to get my M8000 installed and to use it, I partially do not want to really use it, lol. I will admit I am a bit apprehensive about it and wonder if the line will snap and chop me in half. :cry:

Guest · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:51 am

riptricket wrote:

And plus tow trucks have been using chains and steel cable forever.....

I've encountered lots of tow trucks, and they're only used to secure things, NOT to recover a vehicle, NOT to get a running start and give something a tug...

Inc · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:04 am

Yeah, a recovery strap is designed to stretch and give, and a good one will have webbing that will give first before the entire strap and cause the strap to fall to the ground when it fails and not fly through the air and into someone's face. Whereas a chain that breaks is going to fly no matter what and is sure to hurt someone or something.

Hi-Lift as a Winch

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