Pulley Block and Shackles for a 10,000# Winch

[Fergie]

With the recent addition of an ARB bumper, and the soon-to-happen addition of a 10k winch to my 80, I'm putting together a more comprehensive recovery kit.

I've been through the Overland Journal Summer 2009 article on kits a few times, but am still a bit unclear as to what my equipment should be rated at.

For instance, the ARB pulley block is rated at 19,800# MBS. If this block is used for a recovery, not redirection, or even two blocks used(for whatever reason) will it be strong enough?

I realize that the winch won't be pulling a full 10K, but still want to make sure everything is correct when it comes to large blocks of metal under heavy strain.

As for the shackles, aside from the Van Beest, the ones I've looked at have all been 4.75 ton WLL shackles. Given the 4-6x safety factor, these should be appropriate for what I need.

So, for similarly sized/equipped vehicles, what have your experiences been and what are your recommendations?

Thanks,
Gavin

 

[jcbrandon]

Join the club. Lots of confusing information floating around. Some folks will tell you not to use anything in your rigging that doesn't have a working load rating at least twice the capacity of your winch. Others will say that most vehicle recovery loads are seldom much over a few tons.

I've got a 12,000-pound Warn winch on an 8,000-pound truck.

I carry the Warn snatch block rated at 24,000 pounds that Warn recommends for use with this winch. Cast right into the side of the snatch block is "WLL 4 1/2 Ton."
http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/snatch_blocks.shtml

I have a selection of shackles. My favorites are made by Columbus McKinnnon and rated at 6.5 tons working load.
I bought them at Fastenal:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=43477&ucst=t

And here is some of the discussion and advice from the ExPo community when I was scratching my head about this a while back:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16244

Best of luck. Err on the side of safety.

 

[Stumpalump]

Just keep in the back of your head that nothing is going to stop the winch. Something else thing ussually breaks first. Keeping a keen ear on the sound of your winch bogging is critical. Making adjustments or helping by using a hi-lift as you go can save a lot of strain on all your equipment. The other overlooked thing is the vehicle itself. On a Jeep XJ with a unibody or any newer light vehicle the frame is not really strong enough to take the max load of the winch. Lot's of XJs are cracked at the cowl from winching too hard. You gotta help the recovery anyway you can to keep the strain down. Snatch blocks do allow you to get a better angle for pull and certainly is good. The most fun you will have with one is to string your cable over a creek or swimming hole and use the snatch block as a zip line. Weeeee! Splash! Anyway I drool over the ARB snatch blocks. http://www.arbusa.com/Products/Tow-Straps-And-Recovery-Gear/Snatch-Blocks/Snatch-Block-9000/106.aspx
Here is a new site vendor with a slale on ARB but remember they make that block in two sizes.: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38274

 

[Fergie]

Join the club. Lots of confusing information floating around. Some folks will tell you not to use anything in your rigging that doesn't have a working load rating at least twice the capacity of your winch. Others will say that most vehicle recovery loads are seldom much over a few tons.

I've got a 12,000-pound Warn winch on an 8,000-pound truck.

I carry the Warn snatch block rated at 24,000 pounds that Warn recommends for use with this winch. Cast right into the side of the snatch block is "WLL 4 1/2 Ton."
http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/snatch_blocks.shtml

I have a selection of shackles. My favorites are made by Columbus McKinnnon and rated at 6.5 tons working load.
I bought them at Fastenal:
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=43477&ucst=t

And here is some of the discussion and advice from the ExPo community when I was scratching my head about this a while back:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16244

Best of luck. Err on the side of safety.

Well, that muddied the water a bit.

I've checked on MUD too, to no avail.

More searching and reading to do.

 

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

WLL (or SWL if you want) are put on items so that there is a more-than adequate safety factor. Usually these are a 5:1 factor. Note that for anything that will support a life, there will be a safety factor of 10:1 or greater.

The reason that items aren't beefed up for horizontal pulling, is that nothing is going to fall if it fails. Although there are all the other dangers associated with having a cable break on a pull, it's not near as bad as something coming crashing back to earth.

A MBS (minimum breaking strength) is that of all the parts tested, it was the lowest breaking point of any of them. If you test 50 units, and you want the safest rating, you'd rate the rest at the weakest test unit.

If you're going with a 10,000lb winch, then I wouldn't worry about using either pulley that ARB has to offer. The 7000 model has a rated capacity of 30,000lbs, and the 9000 model has a capacity of 38,500lbs.

A 3/4" shackle (from Crosby) has a WLL of 4 3/4 ton, which equates to 9500lbs. Crosby sets the WLL using a 6:1 safety factor (which means 57,000lbs minimum breaking strength). I would have no problems using this for general usage with your winch, but I would have some 7/8" shackles around for heavy use or for the pulley end when double line pulls are needed.

I've posted some drawings on MUD in regards to loads and forces when winching in the "snatch block recovery" thread. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask as I'm more than willing to try to explain my drawings further.

 

[Remote]

Winch safety, beaten to death here.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Recovery/index.html

 

[teotwaki]

Winch safety, beaten to death here.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Recovery/index.html

GREAT resource!

 

[housedad]

This is the way I went. I'm a noob, but I like to find a bargain.

I have a Warn 16.5ti winch on a Ford Excursion.

7 ton WLL shackles from Mcmaster-Carr part #3663T44
http://www.mcmaster.com/#

The same red pully blocks that Warn sells but a LOT cheaper. Look at the Yarding Blocks. So cheap I bought two of the block1250's. Heavy suckers at that size. You would want the block1240's or 1230's.

http://allenmachineco.com/pages/data/mathan-5.htm

I also bought amsteel blue 7/16" line, grade 100 chains, etc.

 

[Remote]

The same red pully blocks that Warn sells but a LOT cheaper. Look at the Yarding Blocks. So cheap I bought two of the block1250's. Heavy suckers at that size. You would want the block1240's or 1230's.

Housedad, those are some great prices. Is there any indication of a manufacturer, certification or "Made in....." on the yarding block you got? Warn is usually way out of line on their retail prices but that price is bordering on "to good to be true".
Some local folks are saying "That's a Chinese knock off" but is sure looks the same to me.

 

[BajaXplorer]

I have a Warn 15640, the red 24,000 lb snatch block. It has "China" right on it. Think I will order a Bloc 1240 from Allen Machine for comparison. I suspect they are the same, and I paid close to $200 for the Warn version. Live and learn.
BX

 

[housedad]

I have had the opportunity to compare one bought from Warn side by side with the ones I bought. They are identical. Even down to mold idiosyncracies in the final casting.

I had originally figured that I would buy one and check it out. At that price, It was one of those try it and if it doesn't work out, scrap it type of things. I bought another after it worked out so well.

Test pulls have been satisfactory.

 

[barlowrs]

The WARN blocks ARE made in China.

 

[BajaXplorer]

Thanks for the source. I ordered a 1240 from Allen a few days ago. Will post my findings of it compared to my Warn 15640.
BX

I have had the opportunity to compare one bought from Warn side by side with the ones I bought. They are identical. Even down to mold idiosyncracies in the final casting.

I had originally figured that I would buy one and check it out. At that price, It was one of those try it and if it doesn't work out, scrap it type of things. I bought another after it worked out so well.

Test pulls have been satisfactory.

 

[Master-Pull]

I am partial to our snatch blocks and Van Beest Shackles:

MBS at 30K or 60K (depending on which size you go with).

-Alex

 

[Linus Tremaine]

I second that

Van Beest shackles are very very good. I got mine from master pull after having a long phone conversation with them about what all the numbers actually mean. Very helpful on the phone.

NOTE: the warn pulley block shown above is not to be used with synthetic line! (according to the warn engineer I spoke with)

I have an 8k vehicle and use the ARB 9000 pulley block and the highest strength master pull winch line, winch line extension and tree protectors.