| Winches are becoming increasingly popular | | | | dangerous. An electric winch is also useful |
| with today's outdoor enthusiasts. There are a | | | | on larger trucks that would be nearly |
| variety of uses for winches, ranging from | | | | impossible to hand crank. On a large truck |
| work to play. It is important to consider the | | | | such as an F-350, the stronger the winch the |
| purpose for which you are seeking a winch | | | | better. Most people who put winches on their |
| when determining the strength and type of | | | | large trucks use a winch rated for at least |
| winch you need. | | | | 12,000 pounds. |
| | | | |
| A. Winches on ATV's | | | | C. Winches for Trailers |
| | | | |
| If you ask any ATV enthusiast they are sure | | | | Not only do trucks and ATVs have winches, but |
| to tell you stories of getting into a | | | | many trailers today come with a winch. |
| precarious spot or into a deep mud-hole and | | | | Trailer winches can be electronic or hand |
| not being able to get the ATV unstuck or out | | | | crank. It is common to find trailer winches |
| of the potentially dangerous position. Most | | | | on most boat trailers and some rvs. Most |
| of these same enthusiasts will tell you that | | | | people can recall loading a boat onto a |
| their ATV winch saved the day. With most of | | | | trailer and using the hand cranked trailer |
| the newer ATVs the ATV winch can mount to | | | | winch to pull the boat onto the trailer and |
| either the front or the back of the ATV and | | | | secure the boat into place. The boat owner |
| in some instances can be moved from front to | | | | almost always got wet while reeling in his |
| back depending on the need. ATV winches come | | | | boat. Today, there are trailer winches in a |
| in a variety of strengths and can be used for | | | | variety of strengths and horsepower that are |
| nearly any purpose. The size of the winch you | | | | electronic and will pull the boat onto the |
| chose to put on your ATV depends greatly on | | | | trailer with just the push of a button. These |
| how the ATV is operated and the size of the | | | | electronic trailer winches have made the |
| ATV itself. Regardless of the size chosen, | | | | process of loading and unloading boats much |
| ATV winches are a must have for a true | | | | simpler. |
| outdoor ATV enthusiast. | | | | |
| | | | D. Mounting the Winch |
| B. Winches for trucks | | | | |
| | | | When mounting a winch on an ATV or a truck it |
| It used to be that the only trucks that had | | | | is important to ensure the winch is properly |
| winches were tow trucks. Not today. Today, | | | | mounted. To do so, it is recommended that you |
| winches are found a large number of three | | | | purchase a winch bumper. The winch bumper |
| quarter and one ton trucks. Back when winches | | | | mounts on the bumper of the truck, or in some |
| were first becoming popular, they often were | | | | cases replaces the truck bumper. The winch |
| hand cranked winches. Today, the majority | | | | will fit down inside the winch bumper |
| of winches on trucks are electric winches. An | | | | providing the winch protection from theft or |
| electric winch hooks up to the battery of the | | | | damage. Adding a winch bumper will not affect |
| truck and is operated via a remote control. | | | | the handling of your vehicle as long as the |
| Electric winches are extremely helpful when | | | | bumper selected is properly suited for your |
| the truck is in a situation where it is | | | | vehicle. Any truck accessory store can help |
| likely to be slipping and sliding and having | | | | you select the winch and winch bumper best |
| to hand crank the winch in would be | | | | suited for your needs. |