New GG & Winch pic

[T-Bone]

Sport-

Thanks for the tips, man! Really handy. So about the chocks: say I have my chocks underneath the front tires and am about to winch out somebody. Should I have my truck in neutral or park. Also, should the emergency brake be on as well?

OK, one more question for you, buddy. Say theres a snowstorm and some poor chump in a Grand Am has slid into a ditch. I'm feeling esp. nice that night so I want to get him out. I know sedans don't have tow hooks. What equipment would I use to winch him out? And where would the tow point be? A recovery strap around his axel?
If you could answer all of the questions, you would continue to be...da man

T-Bone

 

[2001ExpSport]

Well, I would just leave it in neutral and engage the E brake. Those chocks will do most of the work. On occasion I have seen vehicles with anchor straps strung form the rear towing shackles to a large tree, but those where extreme conditions. You probably won't encounter that in this part of the country seeing how we are so flat. If you want to help people out, buy a towing strap. They are about $40 and you can get 20' and 30' straps. I'm sure you have seen them. They are thick straps with loops on each end. If you are going to tow a car you don't want to piss he or she off when you retrieve the bumper and not the car. If the person is stuck in snow it will be hard for you to get under the vehicle to loop the strap. Carry a shovel with you, a dirt spade will do. Don't try to use a snow shovel, it will just piss you off. Try to run it around a frame cross member or any part of the frame. Don't run it through any suspension parts or drivetrane parts, you might damage them. When you run the strap through put BOTH ends of the strap on your winch hook. Don't run the strap through one of the loops and then put the other on your hook. When you pull that vehicle out it will sinch the strap so tight you won't get it undone. Putting both loops on the hook will put more of an even stress on the strap and that's what you want. They will break if you use them incorrectly.

Find a book if you can about different tactics on winching. This will teach you how to position your vehicle depending on the conditions. I am not sure there is such a book, but look anyway.

Now, I don't claim to know all there is to know about winching, but I have had a lot of experience in the military with vehicel retrieval. I always had the truck with the winch(lucky me). I even taught a few classes. Hope this helps. I don't want you to break anything, you've got a nice rig there.

Matt

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 08-20-2000 at 06:46 PM]

 

[T-Bone]

Sport-

Thanks a lot, buddy! Good, detailed answers. I'm got a video on the way on winching, but its more for off road self recovery. I just needed a few details for urban conditions.

Take it easy!
T-Bone

 

[Kampy]

T Bone, 2001EXPSPORT gave some good advice on winching, remember his points and DON'T winch in park, PERIOD. The parking brake and chocks should be used as well as the service brakes if needed. You could break the parking pawl or bend it and its real hard to get into and out of park if it's bent very much.

A few other tips that are for the safety consious,

Use a blanket or heavy coat on the cable, it acts kind of like a parachute if the cable or hook breaks. Your manual should have told you that.

Don't stand in front of the vehicle with the winch under load.

As far as the pin goes I would leave it as is, there's no load at all on the cotter pin. If it really bothers you talk to a bolt manufacturer about the shear strength on his bolts and remember if you're using a snatch block it needs to be able to withstand 18,000+ lbs of force. The factory pins are designed with those loads in mind or they should be, thats what they pay engineers the big bucks for.

 

[2001ExpSport]

No problem.

Hey, if your looking for a lift, Trailmasters has one for the '00 explorer for $1360.

http://www.natltire.com/pages/ford5.html

 

[kilroy]

Sure for the 98 and up! :fire:

Oh well. I think I will just put add-a-leafs on and let it go at that, maybe then people wil stop flashing their lights at me at night thinking I have my high beams on.

What is the largest tire I can put on while stock, and how much will that change the steering and how it handles?

 

[98 Xplorer]

T-Bone,

Need some advise, I purchased a used 9000 Ramsey winch and I dont have any instructions for it.

How is it wired up , direct to the battery and the frame?

I don't mean to sound clueless but hear goes, I assume that when the winch is in operation it uses the amperege from the battery and the alternator only comes in to play for recharging the battery. Did you have to increase your battery and alternator size?

She looks great (The Xplorer).

Thanks,
Alan
98 Xplorer

 

[2001ExpSport]

Kilroy, trailmaster makes lifts for the early model Explorers too. I believe you have torsion bars correct? Either way talk to Trailmaster, they will hook you up with a kit.

I was was really interested in getting this Trailmaster lift, but I don't do enough 4 wheelin' to warrant the purchase. $1400 is a LOT of money for a set of brackets and some bolts. I have the add-a-leaf and torsion twist. I think I will save my money, buy some B code bars to get another inch or so and then buy some shackles to get 1.5 more inches in the back to even things out. It's cheap and if you don't like it, it only cost you 40 bucks.

Here is something interesting for you about what size tire fits. I have my stock 30" tires on my truck and they rub on the sway bar while in tight turns. Go figure! I noticed a nice clean shiney spot on my sway bar while taking some measurements. Do a search and see what you find, I am still not sure what will fit on mine and I have a 2" torsion/add-a-leaf lift. I think I might go up to 31's with a wider tread and then get 15" rims with a smaller backspace. This way it will bring the tire out and away from the wheel well. I hope I am not confusing you.

I am looking through catalogs right now for a set of rims and tires. I will start a thread when I get everything together and installed with pics.

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 08-21-2000 at 07:29 PM]

 

[T-Bone]

98Xplorer: You're right. The positive attaches right on your battery terminal and the negative to the frame. My negative eye connecter is between the winch and the winch plate.
I don't have a higher output alternator yet, I'm still debating whether to get a 130 amp or a 200 amp. I'm still trying to learn more. I will definitely be getting a better battery very soon. It seems that the Optima Red Top gets the major thumbs up. Some guys have set up their rigs with dual batteries. Also some with a deep cycle marine battery for the winch since you can wear the heck out of it. I'm not too knowledgeable on the whole deal since I'm still learning myself, but there are some great threads on the subject here. You did get the remote from the guy when you bought the winch, right? What kind of 9000 is it? REP? PRO?

Sport: Buddy, I want that Trailmaster lift as bad as you I'm going to lurk in the shadows until I see a few of these other guys get them installed and see what they think. Hey man, if the coast is clear and it seems like a good mod, we should get together one day and install our kits together. You can screw up yours and I can then learn from your mistakes j/k

T-Bone

 

[2001ExpSport]

That would be a good idea. When I screw up mine and break something, I can take it from your kit. Dead Link Removed

Seriously though, I want to wait for the huge price tag to go down to, oh, 1000 bucks and see some other guys with them. I saw the kit on a '99 Ranger this weekend at Hank's, didn't look much higher than stock. That's why I am a bit hesitant. If you can picture it, 4" is not a lot. Not for $1400 I know that much.

Let me know when you feel the bug and maybe you can convince me to get one. Installing them together is actually a good idea, two is better than one.

 

[T-Bone]

Sport-

I know what you mean. Its over $300 an inch. Can you still keep your torsion twist and add-a-lead after you do a suspension mod? Gaining a few extra inches?
I'm in for getting together to help each other out when we get a serious bug for the kit. I have powers of persuasion...beware! LOL

T-Bone

 

[2001ExpSport]

The Trailmaster kit comes with a new leaf pack so the add-a-leaf is out. I could keep the torsion twist, but I am not sure if it would make the front too high. Hey, there's nothing wrong with a little persuasion. Dead Link Removed

 

[Ru Dawg]

Winching out joe shmoe!

T-Bone, love your truck man! Been following your pics since ya got the dual exhaust..Awesome..the gg and winch look tougher that all hell! You asked about winching someone out of a ditch. Just so you know, I know that some foreign cars such a Mazda's have towing points on them that are mounted to the frame. There should be one in each corner of the car. These "points" were used when the car was shipped overseas, they anchored them to the ship using chains and these points. My wife has a Mazda 626 and it slide into a DEEP ditch in the median on I-81(PA), and the guy who pulled it out (with a winch) said most foreign cars have these "hook points". Hope this helps...keep posting those pics man!

 

[T-Bone]

Hey Ru Dawg-

Thanks, man! I'm blushing. Ya, the dual outs are fun to look at and listen too, but any serious 4x4 guy here on this site probably laughed when they saw it. I'll break them off the first time I get up some steep incline or over a few rocks. Until then, I'll enjoy them and then get some side exits.
The tow point information is great, and for this reason. I love snowstorms. Now I have a vehicle and equipment to get me thru the problems associated with joyriding in a snowstorm. You see, in my minds eye, I see myself driving around on a snowy night. Seeing someone who truly needs help and getting them out of a jam. This sounds pathetic, I know. However, I would hate to get their frame out of alignment because I was ignorant to proper technique. So thanks for the info, I'll save it for a rainy, er, snowy day.
Hey you should snap a pic of your '95 and put it up on your registry!

cya,
T-Bone

 

[Ru Dawg]

PICS

T-Bone, no problem snapping shots of my truck, have a good camera, but now scanner! Only lived were I'm at for a few months and don't know anybody w/one. Will do ASAP! Not too exciting though, bone stock except for chip! Well, a very nice McGuiar's shine too! And custom stereo. If ya read my thread about my borla cat-back in the modified section you'll see why I'm a little bummed out!

 

[T-Bone]

Ru Dawg-

About your Borla, it sounds like they are on top of it now. Demand next day shipment of missing parts. That GG kit I got, it had a missing angle bracket (fairly big piece) and two bolts missing. This kind of stuff drives me bananas. Its like when you go thru a McDonald's drive thru and they forget to give you a straw or screw up your meal. I mean, you guys package the SAME few items day in and day out. Are they all inept or just high? When you pay a lot for these mods, you know, you expect some kind of quality control. You know what though, I blame the owners of these companies, they pay thier factory guys crap most of the time and in return, they get poor QC and an attitude that is indifferent at best.
Whew, had to get that off my chest. Sorry for the rant. Hope the Borla works out.

T-Bone

 

[kilroy]

Hey man, if the coast is clear and it seems like a good mod, we should get together one day and install our kits together. You can screw up yours and I can then learn from your mistakes j/k

T-Bone

Dude your stealing my lines!!

 

[T-Bone]

I am?? When did you say that? I took a patent out on that line in the late 70's.

T-Bone

 

[kilroy]

Hey get to work!!!

You shouldn't be reading these things while working!






Of course I shouldn't either! LMAO

Hey did you get DSL at home yet?

 

[T-Bone]

Hahah, We're slow. This is work. I call it stress reduction.
I don't have DSL at home. I've got ISDN and Megsinet has an A-band number a few miles away. I wish Ameritech would get off their a*s and get me wired for DSL. ISDN is weak, real weak. Of course, you already know this.

Hey, what kind of hitch do you have on your truck, Kilroy?

T-Bone