I'm looking to put a winch on my 24 valve dodge Diesel. The truck currently weighs in at 6400lbs with me in it. So just to be conservative about it, well just say that with winch and bumper it should be roughly 6750lbs. I'm not sure what size winch I need. Should I go 12k or 16K. Thanks guys, any help is appreciated.
Sean

The rule of thumb is 1.5X the weight of the vehicle.

Winch size depends on your tires and use. Running 33" all terrain tires you will not be getting in any situation where you need more than a 12k ( or 10k for that matter.) Running 40" plus you could get into a mudhole where you need a snatch block. You won't need the block with a 16k IMO. You would appreciate it almost always with a 9-10k winch.

With 44 boggers and a 5800# rig I always (have to ) snatch block my 10k winch if I need it.

My buddy has a 10K on his 3rd gen CTD (I'm guessing its about the same weight?) and he has rarely needed more. He uses his for an offroad towing company he owns. I've seen him pull out powerchokes with it double-lined, so I would think a 12K would be fine, granted you get a good one like a Ramsey or a Warn. His 10K is an old Ramsey.

Chris

I'm looking to put a winch on my 24 valve dodge Diesel. The truck currently weighs in at 6400lbs with me in it. So just to be conservative about it, well just say that with winch and bumper it should be roughly 6750lbs. I'm not sure what size winch I need. Should I go 12k or 16K. Thanks guys, any help is appreciated.
Sean
At least you got sense to know you need a big one! go the extra and get the 16.5 if you look around online you can get them for just a little bit more.

Then again depends on what you are doing with it? If you are always in mudd that suction can be a bitch so that is why we want the bigger ones.

If it is for things like just getting out of minor stuff?? then maybe the smalleer one will work?

OK long winded sorry.:D

Hope these pics work. this is my old truck and the reason I want a winch. I also did something similar with my old ford diesel. It doesn't happen often but I want it in case it does. I'm kind of liking the snatch block idea because pretty much everywhere I am I have trees near by. But a 16K and a snatch block might not hurt either.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f148/Stockton296/DSCF0768.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f148/Stockton296/DSCF0755.jpg

The truck this will be going on is not a dually and has 33" mud terrains which may go up to 35's in the not so distant future. Thanks for the input guys.
Sean

10k minimum will work great the 9500 xi or si Warns are a great choice to. but if you can spend the extra buck a 12 or 15 would be ideal. It allows to to build the truck more in the future and there are some nice hide a winch kits out there so only the fairlead shows. Great for theft and saves the cost of a buckstop bumper or fabfours.






http://pnwfs4x4s.com/banner1.gif

yeah, I want to do the hide a winch thing, but I'm building a bumper similar to the buckstop so I should be set.
Sean