ML Winch

[psmart]

I'm in need of a winch for my ML, has anybody a recommendation (it has to co-exist with a Bull Bar and have a minimum strain weight of 3-5tons)? Prefer electric driven, but manual will also be ok.

 

[Mikesmerc]

You could try http://www.winchsolutions.co.uk, but be prepared, they will probably think that you are winding them up, if Im right in thinking you are going off road with your ML.
They are doing a deal at the moment, an 11,000lb winch for 285+vat. I think the best winch is Warn but very pricey and not worth the bobs unless its serious off roading.
Rgds
Mike

 

[blassberg]

they will probably think that you are winding them up, if Im right in thinking you are going off road with your ML

that's why he needs a winch... to pull himself out.... oops sorry, schoolboy snigger. I did my off road day in a 320 petrol and got out of lots of situations that physics thought I shouldn't - except one. And was winched out.

 

[psmart]

Im living in the Alps now, at 640m and just behind me is a 1834m peak with lots of logger roads on which Im having fun. Great going up so high, with cliff hangers at the side! BUT! The Winch is for ice and snow, after having almost lost my poor ML twice due to high gradient and ice, Im not taking the mick, I really do need a winch! Trouble is, I still want my ML to look pretty (no snide remarks from the Pro 4x4 cars brigade ).

Will look at the site, thanks a lot Mikesmerc.

Blassberg, I was the only one to finish the Merc 4x4 day on 285 road tyres! Not that I was a gifted 4x4'er, but the competition was the school run brigade

 

[Mikesmerc]

Snow ehh, forgotten what it looks like in real life, hasnt snowed here in 20 years, the odd flurry thats about it,must be all that global warming stuff, I miss it, like a bit of off road myself, but have not tried my ML320 just an old 89 land rover 90 with a 2"lift and large mud terrain tyres, great fun. I suspect the novelty wears off a bit when your just trying to get home from work etc. If money is no object I would go WARN, all the top dogs use them.
I suppose you could fit a demountable one, god knows how though.
Good luck
Mike

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

My offroad toy (big landrover 90) has a Milemarker hydraulic winch on the front and will hopefully soon have the same on the back were I already have all the mounting made up (I did the 3 peaks challenge in Ireland last year and borrowed a second winch(electric) for the event) Anecdotally, and from personal experience, electric winches are terribly unreliable, I think the main problem is that they like to be used so when it hasn't been used in 6 months and you then need it to perform it doesn't. My hydraulic set-up always works regardless. The only down side is that it isn't particularly fast, but it makes up for this with power and reliability. Not sure how you would fit the pump to your engine but I am sure a man of your ability should be able to fix up the dedicated zf74 pump. If you wanted more speed, fit a bigger pump and you can have a set up that will eat warns for breakfast. I intend to fit a 25-30cc per revolution pump in the near future as the zf pump is to slow for a winching competition.

For some info see here - http://www.4x4winches.com/powering.htm

 

[Mikesmerc]

Ahh, back with the Munster 4x4 crew, went back there last year to have a look(woke up that morning,severe hangover) didnt get back there till the afternoon . Had a look in the Hibernian carpark for some beasts, did meet a couple of guys who limped back with their sickly G wagon, auto box cooked, serious lift. Had to laugh when they told me it was Land Rover Drive shafts//ujs they used and had let them down badly.
Have went back a few times with my 90, open days etc and got a spin around during one comp with Mr Mortell, very nice guys, as you know its not a spectators event.
Any who, I noticed that the majority of them were running electric winches, whats the reason for this, ease of replacement, availability???.
Met a nice english chap with a shotened 'pickup' Disco V8, orange and white, cant remember his name but he got seriously let down by his lecky winch when up to his windscreen in mud. He told me afterwards he was after doing countless offroad events all over europe with the same winch and swore by it. I think the solenoids left him down. Remember seeing pics of it in some mag afterwards that Fiona Richardson took, no sign of me in it:-( , photographers worst nitemare me .
You coming over for the snakepit challenge? http://www.munster4x4.com/events/snakepit2007.html.
Sorry, forgot this is a Mercedes forum, will just get my coat.
Rgds
Mike

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Ahh, back with the Munster 4x4 crew, went back there last year to have a look(woke up that morning,severe hangover) didnt get back there till the afternoon . Had a look in the Hibernian carpark for some beasts, did meet a couple of guys who limped back with their sickly G wagon, auto box cooked, serious lift. Had to laugh when they told me it was Land Rover Drive shafts//ujs they used and had let them down badly.
Have went back a few times with my 90, open days etc and got a spin around during one comp with Mr Mortell, very nice guys, as you know its not a spectators event.
Any who, I noticed that the majority of them were running electric winches, whats the reason for this, ease of replacement, availability???.
Met a nice english chap with a shotened 'pickup' Disco V8, orange and white, cant remember his name but he got seriously let down by his lecky winch when up to his windscreen in mud. He told me afterwards he was after doing countless offroad events all over europe with the same winch and swore by it. I think the solenoids left him down. Remember seeing pics of it in some mag afterwards that Fiona Richardson took, no sign of me in it:-( , photographers worst nitemare me .
You coming over for the snakepit challenge? http://www.munster4x4.com/events/snakepit2007.html.
Sorry, forgot this is a Mercedes forum, will just get my coat.
Rgds
Mike

Before we get banned I will continue this 4x4 theme! We were there with my 90 and my friends red Jimny. The Irish organisation was a bit of a culture shock, we are more used to something a bit more military like the UK events. Fiona got some good pic's of us and we have been in the last few editions of Total off road, The latest one shows our 2 co-drivers wading through a swamp to check the depth, I'm stood next to my motor right in the background.

some pic's of the tree peaks here - http://www.quest.ie/merv/3peaks2006/index10.html
we are in the first dozen pic's, don't know who the ugly bu**er in the hat is

I won't be back this year, a growing young family means a sabatical for a while, but it won't be for ever.

Back to the winch question, the Hydraulic option is gaining popularity with the competition brigade due to the 'type R' version. It's as quick as any Warn and doesn't slow down once a load is applied

 

[Mikesmerc]

Great pics Steve, might meet you in 2008 if I can get all my mates to invest in winches(hydraulic) and roll bars.
Happy motoring, on and off road
Mike

 

[psmart]

Thanks be to all, Ive visited both sites quoted and requested quotes for a detachable electric winch that can be used at front and rear of the ML. Will post the outcome so that any others going down this route with an ML can benefit.

SNG/Mikesmerc, you both are Serious offroaders, hence the Landies!The ML is a crossover vehicle, reasonably good at offroading (compared to a defender or jeep) and reasonably good at tarmac (compared to a quality Merc), exactly what I need! Will post some views of the drop off my 'mountain' when the snow clears, not serious offroading as its using logging tracks (rough tracks running up the sides of the mountain), but the 4000ft drop is en-route to serious

 

[Mikesmerc]

Would be interested in what you come up with PS, have a 99 ML320 but I wouldnt dream of doing anything like Sprint has in his pics. But you have a real need by the sounds of it as a recovery device. Ashamed to say I have never even engaged low range even on tarmac just to see if it works. Do you know how many wheels are actually being driven,two?. In old landrovers such as mine the drive is sent through a transfer box(which is sort of a diff) after the gear box, then the two drives are sent to each axle through a diff in each, so really there are only two wheels driving, one back and one front,the diff lock divice only locks the transfer box so as the two drive shafts turn at the same speed.
I know the Gwagon has difflockers which lock the diffs in the axles themselves which means you have a real four while drive, massive traction but need to use it carefully to avoid breaking something in the drive line.
Just curious about the ML.
Thinking again if you had traction control this would send the drive to the wheel with most grip. Dont seem to have that on mine. Have ESP which I presume is a stability control thingy, whatever that does I dont know.
Rgds
Mike

 

[Blobcat]

Would be interested in what you come up with PS, have a 99 ML320 but I wouldnt dream of doing anything like Sprint has in his pics. But you have a real need by the sounds of it as a recovery device. Ashamed to say I have never even engaged low range even on tarmac just to see if it works. Do you know how many wheels are actually being driven,two?. In old landrovers such as mine the drive is sent through a transfer box(which is sort of a diff) after the gear box, then the two drives are sent to each axle through a diff in each, so really there are only two wheels driving, one back and one front,the diff lock divice only locks the transfer box so as the two drive shafts turn at the same speed.
I know the Gwagon has difflockers which lock the diffs in the axles themselves which means you have a real four while drive, massive traction but need to use it carefully to avoid breaking something in the drive line.
Just curious about the ML.
Rgds
Mike

Usually with a Landie there is sufficient friction in the diffs to keep the other wheels driving even when one is spinning, or at least this is what I found in my SIII SWB. I have a photo somewhere of it suspended on two wheels . Although I did fit an ARB locker to the rear diff after I snapped a half shaft, to improve the traction.

 

[psmart]

Would be interested in what you come up with PS, have a 99 ML320 but I wouldnt dream of doing anything like Sprint has in his pics. But you have a real need by the sounds of it as a recovery device. Ashamed to say I have never even engaged low range even on tarmac just to see if it works. Do you know how many wheels are actually being driven,two?. In old landrovers such as mine the drive is sent through a transfer box(which is sort of a diff) after the gear box, then the two drives are sent to each axle through a diff in each, so really there are only two wheels driving, one back and one front,the diff lock divice only locks the transfer box so as the two drive shafts turn at the same speed.
I know the Gwagon has difflockers which lock the diffs in the axles themselves which means you have a real four while drive, massive traction but need to use it carefully to avoid breaking something in the drive line.
Just curious about the ML.
Thinking again if you had traction control this would send the drive to the wheel with most grip. Dont seem to have that on mine. Have ESP which I presume is a stability control thingy, whatever that does I dont know.
Rgds
Mike

Take a look at Wolfgangs page, http://www.whnet.com/4x4/index.html he has a lot of very interesting information.

Your 99ML wont have the updates which came later, such as the ETS+ and the 48/52 distribution transfer case (originally a 50/50 distribution) etc. But its still got v.good permanent 4 wheel drive. Wolfgang lists the differences etc.

I regularly engage the low range, as with most things, I believe in the logic 'if you dont use it, you lose it'. Have heard of stories of the transfer case ceasing.

 

[Mikesmerc]

Used to have a series 2A, great machine, dam uncomfortable, leaf springs of a truck. Good traction though.
Good site PS, lots of info on ESP. Whats the saying...idleness consumes more than wears...or something to that effect.
Mike

 

[benz girl]

The most popular winch to be used in competitions is the Warn MB8274.

 

[benz girl]

Here is a picture of it.

 

[Mikesmerc]

Looks like a large well geared lecky one, and a large price too.
Mike