Ok, now I don't doubt that I'm WAY overthinking this but what weight rating for recovery gear for a winch do you need? I'm buying a 12000 lb Badlands from Harbor freight (hopefully this week) and I want to piece together the gear I need. (AKA tree saver, ****** block, shackles ect.) Now the shackles make sense to me what weight rating to get, but the ****** block has me confused, would it be for the same weight rating as the winch or double because rigging for a double line pull there would be twice the strain on the winch. Or at least that's the way it works in my mind. I run well service trucks and when those lines are doubled up it's twice the load. That's what's got me confused on the winch ****** block.

Also, anyone got any suggestions for gear? My winch and is more along the utility use lines, dragging downed trees, pallets that I can't get too with a bobcat and more than likely dragging the occasional 3/4 ton or heavier truck out of the mud. (Not bogged to the axles, just spun out)

 

You need a winch that is rated for a single line pull at 1.5X the weight of your fully loaded rig. 8-9K is ideal.

 

Originally I wanted a 10k, still overkill I know but my theory is a bit larger won't hurt because the winch won't be pulling it's guts out whenever I use it. But thanks anyway, if all that I need is a 8-9k then I'll downsize. Why tie up the extra money in the front end?

 

I run that 12k winch from Harbor Freight, and if you have the coupon on coupons.com, it'll cost about the same as their next size down. So you might as well go overkill and be safe.

Anyway, just get a nice big ****** block and you won't have to worry. Here's a nice one:

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...ed=0CHwQpiswAA

 

I'd agree with thatXJguy. I'm no physics expert but I would think you would have the potential to have 12k lb of force on both your winch and whatever other point you're using on your bumper for the double rig, as well as 24k lb of force on the ****** block attached to the other vehicle.

 

X2:
My Cherokee weighs a little over 4000 lbs with bumpers, sliders, and skid plates. I'm running a HS9500i and the reason I went with it was because I already had it sitting around, and it is all the winch I need. As for going with the 12000 lb rated winch, I wouldn't because of the weight and the chance of potentially causing damage to bumper mounts or unit-body.

As for the ****** strap, and tree strap I go with 3 inch straps, and as for as the ****** block goes it doesn't double the load on the winch, it cuts it in half. The load is whatever you are pulling, as in a 4000 lb rig, running the line threw a ****** block then back to the bumper makes it a 2000 lb load for the winch.

D rings should be rated at twice the weight of your rig.

 

I'm not too worried about my bumper, I'm mounting a Roxolild Crawler bumper. I don't think a 12 K winch isn't going to hurt it. Thing weights 90 pounds, and of course it's supposed to take a 12 K winch.

Thanks for the knowledge about the gear though, ****** block for the weight of the winch, shackles for double correct?

ThatXJguy, Thanks for the link,

 

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...s/Rugged-Ridge

 

I think you need to reread this. its not the bumper thats the weak part its the weak unibody. assuming you use the winch youll be putting more strain on the steering bolts tie in bolts that connect to the unibody that will be getting pulled by a force 4x its weight. get the picture? unless you plan on doing long pulls frequently go for it. theres a reason a 12k winch is rated for a truck. 10k max for jeeps imo and if you need a long pull use a long recovery strap with a tree savor which you should buy regardless.

 

If your winch point is solid to the unibody I'd suspect that if you were trying to winch that much weight it would just overcome the friction of your tires and you'd slide before damaging the body in a pull. Now, if you have the rear anchored and are winching from the front that's a different story, I'd probably guess that whichever tie in to your unibody is weaker it would rip that out, over splitting the jeep in half most likely.

 

In my post I was referring to the effect of the extra weight of the 12000 lb winch on the suspension, plus, the chance of damaging the bumper mounts or Unit body when pulling a heavier rig. Yes to pull an 6 or 7000 lb rig with a 4000 lb rig you must anchor the rig that is doing the winching, I've only seen one rig pull the rear bumper off doing this in over 30 years of wheeling but it can happen so why take the chance. Just my .02