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