Hub winches?

[Bundubasher]

I recently read about "Hub Capstan Winches" (I think I got the name right). Basically an extension you bolt onto both front wheels and, using two cables/ropes, you self extracxt yourself by driving slowly out.

The pic I saw wasn't very enlightening but they were definately bolted onto a Landy. As I don't have any other type of winch (had to sell my Tirfor) I thought I might get a "Jua Kali" to fab some up

[Andrew Baker]

Remember seeing these Hub Winches in an old Jack Jackson book, old mini brake drums (mounted inside out) or mini wheels bolted to Landy rims with rope around them, just drive out as you say.

Apparently the rope from one hub "should go through a karabiner or shackle and back to the other hub; in this way any change in rope length due to one wheel slipping is self adjusting" (The off road four wheel drive book by Jack Jackson pp47/49, published 1988 - ISBN 0- 85429-673-5)

Andrew.

[Bundubasher]

Thanks for that. Can't get the book out here but can someone scan the details for

[SandyM]

I picked up a pair of purpose-built hub capstans at one of the LR shows a couple of years ago. I've yet to try them out - when I get home in a few months, I'll let you know how they work.

(I'm struggling to imagine how one wheel might slip if you have ropes around both capstans, btw... Still, it makes sense to have a single rope on both, to allow correction for stretch etc.).

Apparent downsides are weight (the ones I got were *very* solid castings) and wheel-stud length.

Regards,

Michael...
www.expeditionoverland.com

[Luke]

I'm scarred by a childhood memory of my uncle jacking up his stalled, bogged Series and pull starting it like a lawn mower! For ages I couldn't imagine why a LR would need a capstan on each side, you can only pull one starter cord at a time.
...
I wonder how a capstan winch would react to a concrete curb (sp?)
Are they still legal? They are a bit like Boudicea chariot style weapons.

[Bundubasher]

Very funny! But I'm not in Europe I'm in Africa and need every offensive/defensive driving solution there is going!

------------------

[Riq]

Just in passing the Canadian Military tried these types of hub winches on their 3/4 ton trucks in the early 1980's.

They have their own hazzards. The most common problem had was that the line would build up on one side of the spooling hub causing the line to slip over the edge. No problem if its the outside edge. If its the inside edge it wedges between the hubs causing a great deal of work to free it.

Also if you do pull yourself free you tend to run up on the cable causing a different kind of mess.

All in All the principle is sound I would just advise some practice before you need to rely on them.

[Bundubasher]

Thanks for your advice, I'm only thinking about it as a future job as I've got jerry can mounts and hi-lift jacking points to fix at the moment.

I can see the pitfalls you highlighted but it sounds like such as simple way of extracting oneself if you do get it right.

Low range 1st is a real crawler gear on my "rig"(sorry - slipped into Americanese there...)and so overspooling may not be such a severe problem for me - we'll just have to wait and see.


enzo

[SandyM]

Unless you tail them (which seems to me be an accident waiting to happen), hub capstans will always overspool as soon as you get traction, as the tyre has a bigger diameter than the capstan drum.

They are good for a metre or so at a time, though.

Michael...

[Col Campbell]

If your already carrying a hi-lift why not use that for winching, carrying a drag chain must be better than a 2x hub winches + cable or plasma rope.

Better still get a tirfor, has to be safer than any hub winch.

They seem like a good idea in theory, but I can imagine in practice they must be a pain in the arse. I could think of anything worse than being bogged to the ares in deep mud or ruts, then try to mount a winch to 2 wheels, just does`nt seem practical in a real life situation.


Maybe I`m missing something.

[Bundubasher]

I had a Tirfor but had to sell it in order to clear Durban Port. I haven't tried the hi-lift as a winch yet so I'd better get some practice in as the hub winches may not be a plan. They do plough chains here but they are not rated so I may have to wait to find a rated drag chain.
Thanks anyway for your opinions.

------------------