Hello,

 I am looking  to buy a winch for an 86 Brat and a lifted 85 Wagon. I do not want to go too large due to the weight of the winch.

 

Thank you,

Mike

The rule of thumb is 1.5X the weight of the vehicle. so 2700 lbs X 1.5 = 4050 lbs.A 3500 lb winch might work but then it might also need a snatch block to pull you out of deep mud.It really all just depends on what the conditions are that your winching. If your wheels can't get traction in 2" deep mud that is really slick or you need a little help to get up and over a rock then 3500 will probally be fine,If on the other your buried up to your headlights in mud with the consistency of wet cement then you will need the biggest winch you can afford. Or 2 trucks, 3 chains, and a broken windshield..

 

I like to run the 5K harbor freight winch,but then again I never got the chance to test it out.  

Edited March 27, 201412 yr by Uberoo

You will always want more power. We always went twice the vehicle weight. You can always mount the winch in a cradle and use it in a receiver so that you can store it in a mo-betta place most of the time.

cheers

I had a 4500lb winch on my BRAT. It was plenty.

 You guys are awesome. that gives me better insight.

 

Thank you

Edited March 28, 201412 yr by stinkydogfilms

You gotta be kidding! Yeah, if the thing is not too big or drawing too much power or whatever, why not?

But I gotta say, the one you mentioned could lift your Suby vertically right off the ground fully loaded!

Yeah, it should do! lol.....