Perhaps the invention of the winch can be considered one of the miracles of technology, along with the wheel. Such a mechanism does not need any special introduction; anyone who has ever pulled a bucket of water out of a well with a collar is familiar with this device. They are used in a wide variety of fields to move goods. And in many cases, for drivers stuck off-road, a car winch, whether it is made with your own hands or purchased, installed independently or factory-made, is a real lifesaver.
Such a multi-faceted winch
Such a device has many different modifications, differing primarily in the drive used. Among them it is worth noting the following winches:
- manual;
- hydraulic;
- mechanical;
- electric.
In addition to differences in the type of drive, winches differ in the method of installation and mounting on the vehicle:
- stationary;
- portable (removable);
- mobile.
The transmission of force may also be different. By this feature you can identify winches:
- with winding drums;
- with friction drums or pulleys.
It should be noted that the most common is the first of the classifications presented, so it will be possible to consider automobile winches of the types indicated there in more detail.
Manual
The structure of a car winch of this type is quite simple; most often the cable is wound on a drum or reel, through a system of sprockets of various sizes or a gearbox driven into rotation by muscle force. What such a device might look like can be seen in the photo below, recommendations for use in the video
Mechanical
Such a device should not be confused with manual mechanisms discussed above. In this case, the car winch is connected directly to the engine using a power take-off. One of its options is shown in the photo
The advantage of such a winch is its high traction force and reliability, but it’s just a pity that it cannot be used on most machines. The fact is that only domestic military UAZs are equipped with a power take-off, and even some models, for example, Toyota or Nissan. However, it is worth noting such a disadvantage as the ability to use only when the engine is running; if it stalls, then a similar car winch will not work.
A photo of such a mechanism is shown below.
It has its own engine, hydraulic. And it is powered by the car engine. As in the previous case, this will be a significant disadvantage for a car winch; it will not work if the engine stalls. The advantages include high developed traction force, complete sealing and no electricity consumption from the battery.
Electrical
This is the most common type among all used. A similar car winch, a photo of which is given below as an example, is installed on almost all SUVs used to overcome off-road conditions.
There is a wide variety of their types, differing in traction force and price. The most common is an electric winch with a horizontal motor. In this case, an electric motor, a drum with a cable and a gearbox, most often planetary, are located in the same plane. Another option for constructing such a mechanism is the option with vertical arrangement motor. Its advantage will be high winding speed, but such devices are characterized by a high price. They are usually used by athletes.
additional information
It is impossible not to separately touch upon several issues of using a winch. Firstly, it can be permanently attached to the car, most often at the front. However, in this case, its mechanism is exposed to dust, dirt, and moisture, which is not good for it. To avoid this, many drivers practice using a portable winch, which is usually stored in the trunk of the car and removed if necessary.
Such a winch can be installed not only in front, but also in the rear of the car, such as in the photo below.
To do this, as a rule, you only need to install an additional platform on the bumper (front or rear), to which the winch is attached.
A few words must be said about how to connect to the battery. An electric winch is a powerful consumer of energy, and therefore, if it is frequently used off-road, it may very well become possible for the original “battery” to be completely discharged. To avoid this, in some cases it is worth considering an independent battery to power such a device.
How to make a winch yourself?
The above information allows us to evaluate how convenient and useful such a mechanism can be, especially in extreme situation when driving off-road. If your car is stuck, there is nothing else to do but pull it out, and in this case, a home-made winch using improvised materials can be useful. One of its manufacturing options is shown in the photo. 
The basis is an axis, which can be a strong stick, a crowbar, a mounting tool, etc. It is driven into the ground or secured with any possible way. A piece of pipe is put on it, acting as a drum. One end of the cable is wound around a section of pipe, and a lever is inserted under one of the turns, which can be a strong stick, a shovel, a mounting tool, etc. The second, the end of the cable is attached to the car. So, if necessary, you can make a winch with your own hands from available materials. 
The above is not the only option for how to make a car winch with your own hands. There is nothing surprising in this, because such a device is very useful, especially for “jeepers,” but its price on sale is sometimes prohibitive. First of all, numerous attempts to make a homemade automobile winch with your own hands, in one form or another, are associated with it.
And I must say that sometimes homemade mechanisms can be very interesting, which can be confirmed by a video showing a self-made winch on a wheel, not an electric one.
For cars operated in urban areas, a winch is an exotic thing. But for real all-terrain vehicles, for whom off-road is their home, this is the number one thing.
And there is nothing surprising in the constant interest in such devices, as well as numerous attempts to make a car winch with your own hands.
To understand why a car winch is needed, you need to consider what cars this device is installed on. Most often, manufacturers equip vehicles designed for off-road driving with similar units.
The thing is that when the vehicle starts to slip or cannot climb the slope, it is the winch that allows you to get out of this situation. At its core, this is a traction mechanism that can work both due to the physical strength of the driver, and with the help of an electric motor.
When the car gets stuck and cannot get out of the trap, it is enough to fix one end of the cable on some static object. Let's say you can wrap it around a boulder or several trees. After that, the driver will only have to press the button or grab the handle of the device, with which the car will be pulled out of the trap.
How to pull out a car using a winch is shown in the video:
Why does a regular passenger car need a winch?
You have often seen serious SUVs equipped with a car winch. Thus, car companies make it possible for the buyer to understand in advance that this car is designed for harsh operating conditions. Off-road driving, mountainous terrain and windbreaks - that's why such a vehicle is needed.
Unfortunately, with our state of roads, every trip out of town turns into a real adventure. It is especially difficult to get to your favorite dacha or cottage in rainy weather. The road turns into a real mess, and getting stuck in another hole filled with muddy slurry is easy.
Attention! Automotive winch mounted on passenger car, allows you to safely drive on almost any off-road.
But the price of such a device in the store is not at all small. Fortunately, the design itself is not particularly difficult, and every driver can do it with his own hands.
Video about the electric winch:
How are winches classified?
A car winch is one of the most popular tools among motorists. The fact is that, thanks to its versatility, it can be used not only for towing vehicle, but also for moving goods.
It is not surprising that many designs have been invented by professional engineers and motorists. of this device. Conventionally, they can all be classified according to the following parameters:
- size,
- designs,
- technical specifications.
Accordingly, there are several classifications. Moreover, in many respects the possibility of assembling a car winch with your own hands depends on these parameters.
Attention! In order to truly collect complex design with outstanding technical parameters You will need technical education and expensive components.
Classification of winches depending on the type of structure
All structures can be divided into two types: stationary and removable. The first ones are “tightly” attached to the front part of the body. Their main disadvantage is that due to the nature of their operation, corrosion begins to corrode the main structure of the car.
Important! Stationary automobile winches are highly reliable.
It is generally accepted among drivers that removable car winches are better than stationary ones. Main advantage similar products is that the driver himself can improve his car if the need arises.
The removable winch can be installed both in front of the car and in the rear. It all depends on the specific situation. Moreover, the device can be stored in the trunk. So it won't spoil appearance your vehicle.
Hand winch
Manual car winches are considered the simplest. They are easiest to construct with your own hands. But their operation will require a lot of effort from you.
Of course, the lever allows you to significantly reduce the physical effort required to drag the car. However, you are unlikely to be able to do this alone.
Usually, to pull a car using a manual winch, it is necessary for one person to be behind the wheel, smoothly squeezing the gas pedal, and another to turn the lever. Otherwise, you are unlikely to succeed.
The advantages of this particular design include:
- compact sizes,
- reliability,
- ease of operation and installation.
If we take standard standards, then automobile manual winches are capable of working with loads whose weight does not exceed 1000 kilograms. Usually people take such devices with them for their own self-soothing. They are not suitable for serious testing.
Mechanical winch
An automobile mechanical winch operates via a motor. Its main difference from the mechanism that works thanks to physical strength, is that the driver does not need to make any effort to tow the car.
Important! The main disadvantage of an automobile mechanical winch is that if the engine is not working, it will be completely incapacitated.
Devices of this type are often installed on UAZ vehicles. The undeniable advantage of mechanical winches is power. It was quite enough to cope with such big cars. Despite this, the design itself is bulky and heavy.
A mechanical winch can look very good in a factory installation. But it is extremely difficult to design and install such a unit with your own hands. Nevertheless, there are still enthusiasts who decide on such a difficult task.
Electric car winch
The electric car winch is most popular among SUV drivers. The drum rotates thanks to an electric motor. Its power comes from the car battery. In fact, even if your engine stalls, you can get out of a sticky situation thanks to the battery's charge.
The most difficult thing in using a car electric winch is correctly calculating the battery consumption. If you spend too much energy, you won’t be able to return home on your own.
Attention! The lifting capacity of the eclectic car winch can reach 4000 kilograms.
In theory, the power of this device is enough to hang a car from a tree. Provided the branches can bear it. It is also worth noting the high reliability of the unit.
Hydraulic winches
It is believed that this type of automobile winch has the most complex design of all. In principle, this is not surprising. The gadgets work thanks to an oil pump. The design itself consists of the following basic elements:
- oil pump,
- drive,
- oil tank.
The hydraulic car winch ensures smooth operation and has high power. The disadvantages include increased risk of explosion.
Winch from starter
You can make a car winch from a starter yourself using a basic set of materials found in any garage. The basis of the device will be a regular car starter. The unit itself will operate using a battery.
Advice! It is highly desirable that the design of a car starter include a planetary gearbox.
Excellent starters for car winches can be found in old Zhiguli cars. These devices are equipped with planetary gearboxes, so you don’t have to worry about installing them.
Preparation
To create anything, you need to be well prepared. So take a piece of paper and make a list of the materials you will need for a car starter winch. You need to remember to include the following points:
- Drum - this part can be made from a simple pipe. It is enough to weld the cheeks to it; their thickness should be about five millimeters.
- Gears.
- Gearbox.
- Cable.
- Welding machine.
- A metal sheet. With its help, you will carry out the entire design process in the future.
- Bulgarian.
- Cables.
- Measuring technology.
- Starter.
After you have assembled this entire kit, you will need to clearly, in accordance with the instructions, assemble the device and install it.
Attention! If you don't have a car you don't need, you can find a starter at a junkyard or buy it at a car market.
Making a car winch from a starter with your own hands
Before you begin the assembly process, you will need to prepare a site appropriate for your task. It will consist of a thick sheet of steel. It is on this that the installation of the structure will take place, followed by the following stages:
- With help welding machine and attach the bolts and nuts seats for the drum. Carry out installation.
- Connect the drum to the gearbox. The input shaft is directed upward.
- Connect the gearbox and starter. For this operation you will need an adapter. With its help you can install the starter.
- Equip the input shaft with a gear. The tooth size must ideally fit the entire structure.
- Activate the starter. If the shaft and gear connect quickly and easily, then everything is in order and you can continue the process of assembling the car winch.
- Place the gear onto the gearbox shaft. To do this, you can use the flywheel crown.
- Securely fasten all structural elements.
- Connect the electrical wiring.
- Install the control panel.
During the assembly process, oil, dust or some other dirt may have gotten onto the car winch. Clean the device carefully. Only after cleaning it will be possible to apply a primer.
Advice! It is best to choose the paint color to match the color of the car.
The best place for installation is to use the top of the bumper. It is well suited for maximum loads. If you doubt the reliability of this element, make a platform for attaching a car winch with your own hands.
On the video how to make a winch from a starter:
DIY hand winch
A manual car winch can be made with a minimum of materials. That is why in critical situations this information will help you pull the car up. flat surface on your own.
To make a manual car winch, you will need a strong axle. An ordinary crowbar would be better suited for this purpose. Its strength is quite enough to tow a car.
The axle is driven into the ground. Other options are possible, the main thing is that the base is securely fastened. The end of the pipe must be placed on the resulting structure. A lever is placed under the coil.
Attention! You can use a shovel or a strong stick as a lever.
The other end of the cable will need to be attached to the car. As you can see, such a structure can be assembled in an open field, using only what is at hand. This perfect option when there are no others.
DIY hydraulic winch
The main difficulty when creating a hydraulic car winch with your own hands is finding a suitable motor. It is very important that the hydraulic motor fits on the front bumper.
Attention! You can use NSh-100 as a pump; power steering will also cope well with this task.
Cut out the channel on which all installation will be carried out in the future. For better fixation, you can weld two more elements. Hook their ends securely onto the radiator.
After this, cut the shaft in accordance with the dimensions of the future design of the automobile winch. Make rings for the bobbin. Install brass rod bearings.
After you have welded all the elements together, you can install the automotive hydraulic winch on the car. Don't forget to make a sliding gear on the shaft for quick unwinding.
The general principle of creating a mechanical winch with your own hands
Structurally, the device resembles the options described above. Except that a mechanical car winch is connected to a shaft. The platform for interaction is the transmission.
Attention! The winding speed in a mechanical type automotive winch is controlled by decreasing and increasing the engine speed.
A device of this class can be driven using a transfer case. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of installation and connection, few drivers risk assembling this particular design.
Operating rules
In order for the device to serve faithfully for many years, it must be used correctly. Here general rules:
- The device can only be used for horizontal movement objects.
- The unit cannot be used for installation of bridge elements and power transmission lines.
- Be sure to use gloves when working with the cable.
- Before starting work, you need to check all structural elements for functionality.
- The cable can only be approached or touched after the device has been switched off.
These simple rules will allow you to insure yourself against various surprises and avoid accidents while using the device.
Results
As you can see, it is quite possible to assemble a car winch with your own hands. Moreover, to create simplest design you can use improvised means such as a crowbar or a shovel. More complex options require a motor or the ability to connect to a motor.
The winch is an indispensable device, as in household, and in the garage. Lift a roll of roofing felt onto the roof, throw a couple of bags of cement into the second floor window of a private house under construction, pull the engine out of the hood, and drag the broken car itself into the garage... This is an incomplete list of tasks that can easily be done alone with its help.
Adaptations drum type for lifting or moving heavy objects, they differ in the way they transmit torque. From our school physics course we know how the shoulder works. Losing in speed or distance, we gain in strength. The phrase of Archimedes: “Give me a fulcrum, and I will turn the Earth upside down” precisely describes the principle of operation of the winch.
IMPORTANT! When working with such a device, the support points are the body and the place where the winch is attached. Both elements must be reliable.
Hand winch, with the help of an attached shoulder - increases human strength so much that one operator can move cars or lift weights of several hundred kilograms. With the same (from a mechanical point of view) principle of operation, these devices have various ways execution.
Manual drum winch - varieties
A hand winch with a drum is a classic of the genre. In addition to the common element - the pulley on which the cable is wound, the devices have Various types drive.
A large, main gear is firmly attached to the drum. The entire load falls on it, and on the fastening. Therefore, the reliability of the elements must be at the proper level. In mesh with the main one, there is a small driving gear.
The ratio of the number of teeth is the value of the gear ratio. In other words, gain. The drive gear is integral with the drive shaft. Since we are talking about hand tools– a handle for rotation is put on the shaft.
The length of the lever also affects the degree of reinforcement. The larger the handle arm, the less effort you need to apply.
By using similar devices you can single-handedly lift several centners of cargo or move a car weighing 2-3 tons. At the same time, the rotation speed of the drum is quite high.
The design consists of two or more pairs of gears, each of which has a gain of tens of times. With sequential engagement, these coefficients add up, multiplying the force.
back side medals – proportional reduction in speed. Having such a winch, you can slowly vertically lift loads of more than a ton, but if you have to work with two bags of cement, the lifting time will stretch for tens of minutes.
With this homemade product, you can pull a stalled car out of mud, sand or snow, without outside help.
The device is a winch that fits onto a car wheel. The photo shows step by step process manufacturing homemade device for towing a car in field conditions.
For our homemade product you will need this collapsible disk from a scooter.
We take half of the disk, apply it to the rim of the car disk, then apply markings with a marker exactly along the centers of the holes on the disk. Our disk has 16 holes, they may differ for each car brand.
We make eight hooks from the rod. The length of the end of the hook is equal to half the diameter of the holes.
We weld the hooks to the disk through one mark, each time applying it to the disk, so that there is no displacement from the markings and can easily fit into the holes on the car disk.
Then the hooks can be shortened slightly so that in the field they do not make it difficult to install and remove the device from the wheel. We connect the two halves of the disk with bolts and nuts.
This is what a homemade wheel winch looks like after painting.
And here is the process of testing a device for towing a car in field conditions. We take a cable or strong rope, insert it into the hole for the disc nipple and knit a simple knot.
We tie the second end of the rope to a peg driven into the ground or to the nearest tree or post. We start the engine, engage the gear, and while driving, the car will pull itself out of the mud.
At first glance, the presence of a winch is only relevant for SUVs. But given the specifics of our roads, it is recommended to have at least a simple homemade version this device. Is it possible to use a starter as the main power unit, and what difficulties are encountered when making a homemade winch?
Requirements for the structure and its components
The purpose of the winch is to move cargo (car, trailer). It is a drum with a cable winding mechanism. The latter is attached to a support object (post, tree). Unlike car-mounted models, a homemade winch from a starter is mobile. A chain or steel rope can be used as an attachment to the machine frame.
Homemade design
To make a homemade winch, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- It is recommended to use a starter model with a planetary gearbox.
- The winding drum design must have a brake mechanism. An alternative is to install a worm gearbox with a large gear ratio(40/1). In this way, the load on the starter power unit can be optimized.
- The body must withstand the maximum load, which includes the weight of the vehicle and the force to pull it out.
Winch design
A shaft with a worm gearbox, connected via a gear to the starter, is installed in a steel frame made of sheet iron (minimum thickness 1.5 mm) and reinforcement strapping. The rated load for the steel cable should be 1.5 times the vehicle weight.
Frame making
The first step is to make a design drawing. It directly depends on the size of the starter and the winding shaft. These components must fit inside the housing while still leaving enough space for mounting the control unit and holding handles.
It is possible to provide 2 types of transmission of rotational energy from the starter to the shaft - using a gear transmission or a belt drive. It all depends on the type of materials at hand. If you have a reliable pair of wheels (larger and smaller diameter) with an end groove for installing a belt, you can make such a winch. But you need to remember, it will have significantly less useful power, which is explained by the specifics of the design.
To make the case you will need:
All blanks are made according to a drawing drawn up in advance. It must take into account not only the attachment points of the starter and shaft, but also additional stiffeners made of rods. After all the elements have been made, but not yet welded to each other, you should check that their actual dimensions are correct. To do this, the components are assembled into a single unit, into which the starter and shaft are installed. Only after this can welding work be carried out.Installation of basic elements
First, the drum shaft is mounted. As additional element you can make a simple type of cable guide. It consists of two plates with a roller between them. The cable will slide along it, which will prevent it from tangling and will promote uniform winding on the drum.
If the transmission from the starter to the shaft is carried out using a gear pair, the input shaft must be located on top. It is advisable to provide the ability to adjust the location where the starter is mounted. This way you can achieve optimal coupling between the gears.
The final stage of making a winch with your own hands is the installation of electrical wiring. For this you can use simple wires for connection to batteries with crocodile terminals. Be sure to install a switch between the wiring and the starter. As a result, the resulting mechanism should be powered by a car battery.
Checking the performance of the winch is carried out in stages. First, you need to apply a small load to ensure the reliability of the transmission mechanism. By gradually increasing the degree of load, you can experimentally determine the maximum mass that the resulting winch can “overpower.”
