The center mounted winch thread....

[Metcalf]

Please post up your ideas, thoughts, pictures and info on center mounted winch systems!

Here is a link to the Canadian patent of the Vector winch system from the Foers Ibex.

http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic...1/summary.html

Here is a page with a decent explanation.....

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/Foers/Winch.html

Here is a basic picture on how it works...



Pros, Cons, thoughts and experience welcome.....

[taggart_lumpy]

pretty interesting idea

i have my winch on a receiver hitch and power connections both front and rear and just move my winch where i need it plus it isnt in plain sight and prone to weather when not in use.

[Metcalf]

While the multi-mount winch is similar in function, I have found it REALLY hard to move the winch front to back while in bad snow, ice, and mud conditions. The dang thing always seem to be on the wrong end

[pskhaat]

At EJS one year (~1999ish) there was a cut-up buggy Jeep there that had a front-mounted winch, HOWEVER it had the cable routing extend out of the front, port, back, and starboard side, each of the 4 cable exits had two blocks that acted as the fairlead. The bitter end was firmly attached inside to the frame via metal loops and PVC tubing. He was thus able (though I never saw it) to winch himself sideways and easily recover himself from a roll which from the looks of the Jeep happened more often than forward progress.

Questions:

• How would you switch to free spooling?
• How much extra cable is needed?
• Are you always satisfied with 1/2 speed on the front? Should it rather be mounted aft the vehicle?

[Metcalf]

How would you switch to free spooling?

The foers ibex essentially had the winch mounted just behind the rear seat. You could just hit the lever. There are parts from WARN for remote control of that function with a lever, cable, or a small air cylinder.

You could also just power out the winch as needed if your winch would not melt the synthetic line if you where running it. Some planetary winches have brakes that are in the drum and drag when you power them out for long periods. This drag creates heat that can effect synthetic winch line.

How much extra cable is needed?

Basically just the length of the vehicle. You lose a bit, but not much.

Are you always satisfied with 1/2 speed on the front? Should it rather be mounted aft the vehicle?

The winch is usually mounted behind the front seats with the primary line off the drum going to the rear.

To the front with the Foers Vector it is full speed, when you use the rear as per the patent it is half speed. You can also double line the front for more pulling power if needed at half speed.

[pskhaat]

Basically just the length of the vehicle. You lose a bit, but not much.

Well not necessarily true? Whichever side (fore|aft) is blocked for 1/2 speed, you'll also get 1/2 length, no?

[Metcalf]

sorry yes, in the rear ( per the patent ) you would only get double line and half the distance.

You do always get double the pull force to the rear however. I can see being able to use the rear winching feature to pull trailers up to my truck or pull things onto the trailer also!

Having a few winch extensions is usually always a good idea anyways.

[LandyAndy]

Does the extra complexity of a vector system outweigh the cost & install time to a vehicle not designed from the start to have it. The Ibex has it an integral part of the vehicle so there is no real 'install' cost.

If you look at the winch challenge vehicles in the UK, how many use a vector system & how many have multiple winches... front, rear & alot now centre exiting through a circular fairlead on the top of the vehicles roll cage.

All depends upon what you want it to do.... is it for emergency use only or winning that next comp... and of cause how deep are your pockets..... just my 2c

[JamesDowning]

Any concern with the frames not being straight? I doubt there are many frames out there that are straight, so you'd have your rope rubbing on the inside of the frame rail. You'd need to add reinforcement in those areas for sure. I can't see using synthetic in this application for this reason, unless you could reinforce the corners with very smooth aluminum.

One other challenge would be fishing the line through the frame to begin with.

[Metcalf]

Any concern with the frames not being straight? I doubt there are many frames out there that are straight, so you'd have your rope rubbing on the inside of the frame rail. You'd need to add reinforcement in those areas for sure. I can't see using synthetic in this application for this reason, unless you could reinforce the corners with very smooth aluminum.

One other challenge would be fishing the line through the frame to begin with.

It all depends on the system. The ibex frame was fairly straight, or at least straight enough to make it a non-issue. I have seen both synthetic line and steel cable used.

I envision using something like a continuous 1.5", .120 wall DOM tube front to back to act as a guide for the line. The bend radius would be large enough that the wear would be very minimal I think.

The line stays in the tube once its rigged. It doesn't get removed to winch to the rear. To winch to the rear you always run a double line, with the end fixed at the front of the car. You could fish the line through the frame/tube with some wire easy enough to build the system....

I would still love to do this, but I am having a lot of issues trying to find a route for the line rear to front on my truck. There just doesn't seem to be an elegant simple answer.....