Advantages Of Installing A 12v Winch

By Author: Vikram Kumar
Total Articles: 9400
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Winches have a multitude of uses, and installing one on your vehicle can greatly increase your vehicle’s utility. Most people are aware of the winch as a tool for getting a vehicle unstuck from the mud, but this is far from its only use. Boat owners, for example, use winches to lower their boats from their trailers into the water. When used in combination with pulley blocks, they can also be used to lift heavy objects that would otherwise be difficult to handle. The right 12v winch can get you out of many a tight spot. In addition, there a number of other additions that would increase the utility of your vehicle even further, such as a HID spot light.

12v winches are electrically powered, as opposed to some winches that have to be connected to the power train of a vehicle in order to operate. Each type of winch has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the advantage of a power winch is that it is able to handle heavier loads. Unless you drive a very large and exceptionally heavy truck, however, a 12v winch should be more than adequate to handle your vehicle.

Being electrically powered means that your winch ...
... will be powered by means of your vehicle battery. Car batteries are more than capable of operating a 12v winch for an extended period of time when fully charged, so they can be used even if your vehicle engine were to fail, which is an unfortunate but very real possibility when you are navigating rough terrain. For those who like to be prepared, a spare car battery is often a must-have when going on an off-road trip, and this can be used as an emergency power source to operate your winch if you main car battery is out of power.

Steel Or Synthetic

You also have a choice of different types of rope or cable to use with your winch, and each type of cable is suited to a different set of tasks. Steel cable is more durable than synthetic cable, in the sense that it will not break if drawn over uneven surfaces. Synthetic cable, on the other hand, can easily be frayed or cut if it is drawn over rough surfaces, such as the trunk of a tree.

Synthetic cable is less likely to break than steel cable, however, and is also less elastic. While it may not seem like it, steel cable tends to stretch when placed under high tension, which stores kinetic energy within the cable. If the cable were to break, all that energy would be released in the form of movement, as the cable whipped around. The sheer weight of steel cable makes it potentially very dangerous, whereas synthetic cable being lighter and less prone to breakage presents less danger.

Added Utility

All these choices and options allow you to outfit your vehicle with a 12v winch that will make your vehicle that much more useful, particularly in outdoor situations. Moreover, the various additions available like the HID spot light for use in poor lighting conditions can be useful whether you are off-roading at night or simply in your backyard in the middle of a blackout.

With a 12v winch and a HID Spot Light installed on your vehicle, you are prepared for some of the most unexpected situations that might arise while you are off-roading or simply traveling in unfamiliar areas, and you can get this equipment and more at the Sherpa 4x4 store!