Ultra-Tow Hand Winches Accessories

Although many people can’t imagine using a non-electric winch, hand winches offer some distinct advantages. Without the requirement of an outside power source, hand winches aren’t vulnerable to power cuts, so they can be used any time and any place. Hand winches are also easier to repair than electric winches because they don’t contain all the parts used to power them with electricity. All of these advantages—no outside power requirement, portability and easy repair all add up to another big advantage. Hand winches cost less to own and operate than electric winches.

It’s critical to take safety precautions before using a hand winch. These precautions include the following: • Inspecting the winch to ensure it’s in good condition prior to use. If anything’s broken, cracked or dented, it must be repaired or replaced. • Ensuring that the cable on the winch has a safety factor of 3, which means that the breaking strength of the cable must be 3X the maximum load you lift. For example, if you’re using a cable with a working capacity of 300 lbs., its breaking strength must be at least 900 lbs. • Anchoring the hand winch securely to a solid structure such as a strong tree or a rugged mounting bracket. You want to reduce the chances of sudden, unexpected movement or failure. • Wearing personal protective equipment including sturdy, puncture-proof gloves, safety goggles and stable footwear. You want hand protection that allows a strong grip, eye protection against flying debris or cable recoil and sure footing, so a small mishap doesn’t land you on the ground. • Read and follow all manufacturer’s operation instructions, so you feel comfortable using your hand winch.

In short, yes. Clearly, your hand winch must be in good working condition and possess the load capacity to handle the vehicle you plan to recover. More versatile than an electric winch, a hand winch can be transported to anywhere a vehicle may be stuck, and it allows you to recover your vehicle from just about any angle.

Can a hand winch be used for vertical lifting applications, such as hoisting loads? A. The short answer is a resounding “no.” Winches and hoists are built for different purposes—a winch for pulling loads horizontally and a hoist for lifting loads vertically—and if you try to use a winch for lifting, you could experience not only a failure, but also an accident and possibly injury.