Winch size? What to buy?

southsoundtree

southsoundtree

Been here much more than a while
Location
Olympia, WA
Wondering about people's input for winch size for storm work/ trees on houses, leaners, etc.

I will use it on my chip truck (13,000 pounds empty)winch. I want to be able to move it to the front and back of my 1/2 ton P/U (6000 pounds empty) as well, as I get stuck time to time with 2WD.

Also, I figure I can get a set-up fabricated to be able to use off of the vehicle, say, off an anchor tree for pulling as needed.

Thanks for your input.

Sean

BTW, I'm in western Washington state with big doug-firs, cedars, bigleaf maple, etc.




Also, looking to put a small winch on my chipper. Anybody have any advice or tips.
 
Kevin,

That's a good point. It might be worth putting that money toward something more multipurpose. What type of work do you do the most of? Where does it come in handy the most? Do you still use a simpler lowering device like a portawrap, or do you always pull out the big guns? Seems like its more of the heavy hitter.

How long does it take to set up/ break down the grcs, and how much space does it take up?
 
Most of my work now is home and cottage tree removals.
I like lifting dead standing trees off the ground with it, raising limbs back up when they get hung up from lowering.
Tip tying and raising the limb up and then dropping it straight down, the winch is a real asset in tree work.
I still use the porty on straight drops where there's no interference from anything below.
The GRCS can be set up in a minute and you can always add a mechanical advantage when needed.
I also use it as an elevator for accessing high tops when taking out dead wood on live trees.
It's a very versatile tool.
 
Sean. If you are concerned about pulling your trucks out of mud, then I think you need some sort of Warn winch. If you want to use something to work with trees, then the GRCS is the ticket. I wouldn't use the GRCS for pulling the trucks out of mud. They are rated for 2,000lbs.


Kevin. Have you used your GRCS to pull trucks out of mud? I've never considered that. I thought the GRCS is only good for 2,000lbs.

I understand the point of having versatile tools to reduce redundancy, but it sounds like Sean only needs something to pull his truck out of places.
 
I guess it boils down to how stuck?
I would winch it using MA if it wasn't down to the axle.
I have used the hand rope winch to winch the truck out once.
 
Check this out:

http://www.csinet.ca/catalogue_field.php

Look at the catalogue in the arboriculture section. Sorry but its pdf format and I'm not sure how to post it.

Page 80 Capstan Gas Powered Winch PWC 5000

We have one and it works excellent. It accepts 1/2 inch rope, can mount to a tree or a reese hitch and pulls like you would not believe. Add mechanical advantage to it and you could probably move mountains.

We use it to pull trees over away from power lines.

You can also get a nose cone for dragging logs:
(page 83 Nose cone PWC PCA-1290)

The full kit costs around 2600 CAN but you would not believe how easy it is too use.
 
I'm thinking of a winches for different situations. Most of all, trees on houses. We did a bunch of partially uprooted tree removals off of houses in the last couple of weeks by removing everything above the roof edge, the pulled the remaining 15-20' upright with a truck and 2:1 MA, to be felled or blocked down.

I was thinking that I could spend about $600 on a 6000-8000 pound Warn or Mile Marker or Ramsey (the three that have been recommended to me) winch that will do this, as well as pull out stuck vehicles.

I'm probably wanting to mount a small one on my chipper, too, for the rare occasions that I could just drag over larger pieces to be cut apart at the tray.

The GRCS is surely a fine piece of gear, but pricey. I don't have the need for one (lifting and lowering) very often as we have lots of conifers, and less spreading hardwoods. When needing that capacity in the past, I set a 3:1 MA with a progress capture prussik.

Question for GRCS owners: how often and for what do you use your GRCS?

Thanks for all comments.
 
I would encourage the Milemarker 12k. With a portable power-pack, the winch can be located anywhere on site. With fingertip control, one can raise or lower large pieces. The winch is very robust and outperforms any other the market for the price. I have gone the Warn, Ramsey route. The planetary gears are very well machined, the machine is sealed and can be used underwater. All hardware and software that is used should be highest rating. We have 150' 3/8 amsteel wrapped on. The winch is great on lake ice secured to ice anchors for pulling out logs, in the lake for retrieving sunken logs,(the amsteel floats), for use in remote locations where the vehicle mount Milemarker can't get in. My vote without a doubt!
 
I have one.
grin.gif


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFx3gaBpVmQ&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbZ9q_m3E0w&feature=channel
 
HA! nice post! We picked one up a couple months ago but we're using it now. Thing works like a charm. Pulls trees over nicely. Hydro One used a capstan last year to reverse speedline (mainline drag) 80, 000 lbs of wood out of a ravine over the course of 8 days. It pays for itself easily.
 
I finally got around to buying a gas drill for the GRCS but haven't used it to operate the winch yet.
I find there's more control in using the GRCS over the portable gas winch but a guy should have both anyway.
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What size rope is your crew using on that winch?
 
Using an electric drill is nice with the GRCS for faster lifts. But, the drill I have is weak when we need the power. Kevin, what brand and model did you get for your gas drill?
 
[ QUOTE ]
The EDR260 Echo.
I bought it primarily for GRCS elevator work when accessing tall trees without hooks.

[/ QUOTE ]

From what I saw, the Stihl drill was comparable in price to the Echo.
 
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