by Manfred Prinz

Mechanical self-recovery winches are usually mounted at the front. They are an ideal addition to a vehicle that is able to negotiate very difficult terrain where often seemingly impassable sections and extreme gradients can be encountered. The mechanical winch, driven by the gearbox PTO, can be used to either overcome the obstacle or extricate the vehicle from danger.

Unimog winches use a wire rope length of between 50 and 80 meters depending on the rope diameter which is generally 12, 13 or 14mm in thickness.

However a mechanical recovery winch can only pull. It cannot be used to lift and lower heavy loads. As such, it can be used to pull the Unimog forwards towards a secure point where the winch cable has been attached. Alternatively if the Unimog is well anchored, the winch can rescue other vehicles, drag timber, lay cables, clear debris etc..

Certain Unimogs are fitted with a hydraulics and to these a fully reversible winch driven by a pump can be fitted at the front or rear. This type provides more precise winching control and has the advantage of being able to power the cable both in and out and therefore lift and lower suspended loads.

More on mechanical winches next month. Any technical queries on winches please send your e-mail to richard@4x4mag.co.uk