So, I have added to the herd recently, and picked up an '00 Disco II, which runs great, and I'm very pleased. Drove it from Springfield, MA to Phoenix, AZ before the C19 issues cropped up, and it was a great drive. Did have to replace an alternator on the way... but, all good. I'm happy.
My '08 LR3 HSE is set up with a SmittyBilt 12K winch, and I had an small ATV winch lying around that I just tested for the heck of it on the Disco, and was quite impressed. It is a small 1K belt winch, and would actually fit within my stock front bumer with a small cutout.... I am really tempted. I tested it pulling the Disco up a 45 degree concrete roadway embankment, just for kicks... and, granted, it is a smooth surface... but it had no issue grinding it up the hill. It made me wonder... I am not usually 'so stuck in the mud' (I mean, deep sand in my area, occasionally - sure...) that I am really using the 12K of pull in the LR3 winch.

So, QUESTION... have any folks had luck just using light duty winches on a regular basis, as just an 'assist' to getting yourself out of crappy situations?

I'm guessing, not many... as why would you buy a light duty for these trucks. But... I'm just sayin'... this thing was rocking.... I may have to do some more tests!

Be safe ya'll. Throw up some pics of your winches!

 

I don't think I have any photos of my winch set up. It's an older warn 9500lb mounted in my ARB bumper. Considering I have used my winch to help others far more than I've used it to recover myself, I would not run anything smaller than what I have. I've pulled countless 3/4ton pickups out of snow or mud that they had no business trying to bust through early season here. Without a a heavier winch my day would have been done, rather yank them out and carry on around them. For that reason I've considered going up to a 12k class winch. Also, when I have needed to recover myself, I'm usually pretty freaking stuck lol.

Winch use is arguably one of the most dangerous things you can do while off-roading as the consequences are very high if done improperly or not taking the proper precautions. The strap set up you are showing makes it hard to use ****** blocks and get creative with mechanical advantage. That comes at a cost, the more complex the rigging is the higher chances of making a mistake and causing a failure. I try to avoid straight pulls when I can but I'm also not rigging 3-4 pulleys just to get enough pull to get unstuck bc I don't have another option.

 

my set-up: synthetic rope

 

Had a portable 3 ton winch, for pulling cars on trailer, and carried it in my old jeep on occasion. Both times l needed it, it wouldn't budge the jeep (YJ). Lightly high centered once and one wheel stuck in a ditch the other, after some digging...got it out without the winch.

Old winch set up on my Dll.



Had a 11500 Superwinch and used it more often on moving deadfalls from trails or loading vehicles. Think l used it once to get unstuck...it didn't even break a sweat.

Moved the winch over to Victoria.



Know it's not a Dll...but we can show it some love...lol.

Brian.

 

 

Simple and cheap

Britpart front bumper and Badlands 9k

 

TF Front Bumper Warn M8000, 03-04 Grill, and absolutely no cutting of the grill.

 

Warn VR10000, Synthetic line, factor 55 fairlead and ultra hook. Killed the winch trying to drag the LR3 out of a mud hole the next day, while competing in the red clay rally

 

Were you using a ****** block? If not, it may have helped save your winch. It allows you to pay out more line, which increases the strength of the winch in itself, and offers benefits of changing the ratio. A lot of times, folks want to get as close as possible to begin the recovery and just pay out the first wrap...which is a mistake. The first (internal) wrap of cable around the drum will be the strongest, next one less and the final (external) wrap will be the weakest...which makes the motor do more work, because it has lost a protion of its gear reduction. So, if you pay out as much line as possible (leaving three or four wraps of course)...then make initial pull until it fills first wrap on drum...stop (if vehicle being recovered still has a ways to go) and reposition your vehicle, paying out more line as you move away. Then start the whole process over again, and repeat until vehicle is recovered.

 

I didn't have enough line left to do a ****** block