Installing a winch on a UAZ 469 with your own hands

There is a strong opinion among car enthusiasts that installing a winch in a service center is the most reliable, proven option. If they have the finances, many people prefer to entrust the configuration of their SUV to professionals. However, an impressive proportion of UAZ owners like to tinker with their equipment themselves. If you understand the design and devote enough time to studying this topic, you can independently install a winch on your UAZ 469.

Winch for UAZ 469: Selection and installation

Photo 1: Winch on UAZ 469 (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

How to choose a good winch for UAZ 469

In our article we will consider the criteria by which it is best to choose this mechanism. Let's find out what the load capacity and compatibility of this element are. We will indicate the cost of the product, its pros and cons. Let's consider several models of electric traction equipment. We will give recommendations for installation and operation, indicate an algorithm of actions on how to install a winch on a UAZ 469 with your own hands. Traditionally, at the end of the article, we will summarize and draw conclusions.

Photo 2: Using a winch on a UAZ 469 (Source: Yandex.Images)

Winches have become an integral attribute of the UAZ 469 when used in rural areas and off-road conditions. The winch becomes a great help when the car gets into an impassable swamp, swamp, mud, potholes, ditches. Sometimes only your own traction mechanism can pull out a stuck car, since there is nowhere else to wait for help.

All winches for this type of vehicle are divided into four categories:

• Manual;
• Mechanical;
• Hydraulic;
• Electrical.

Electrically driven hoists have gained maximum popularity among modern motorists. This is greatly facilitated by their high versatility and extraordinary ease of installation. When operating a vehicle in off-road conditions, experts and analysts recommend choosing a low payload capacity of 6000 ibs for use.

But it’s better to be safe; when off-road and on rough terrain, situations are different and sometimes unpredictable. For a UAZ 469 car, it is best to purchase a working winch with an average traction force and a load capacity index of 7000 ibs or more. If the SUV will be used for sporting purposes, it is better to choose a powerful model and pay attention to the weight. At competitions, every second counts and a massive unit of 9000 ibs will help you quickly pull out the car and bring the athlete into the lead.

Note! The higher the load capacity index, the heavier the power plant. The cost of funds for its acquisition and operation increases proportionally.

Regarding the ratio of the weight of the SUV and the power of the design. It is necessary to take into account and simulate various situations. After all, excess weight on the front of the car implies unwanted load on the front axle of the vehicle. When engaging in economic activities, fishing trips, or hunting, it is enough to buy and install a winch on a UAZ 469, with a load capacity index of 5000 ibs.

Gearbox selection

The next problem is the choice of gearbox. Any 220 V electric winch with your own hands must contain a mechanism that will transmit rotation with a large traction force. There are the following types of gearboxes:

• Worm drives transmit rotation at an angle of 90 degrees and do not require braking devices, as they have good self-braking properties.
• They are not used for winches due to the complexity of the perpendicular arrangement of the main drive and secondary shafts.
• Cylindrical, are one or more pairs of gears in one plane, meshed. Rotation is transferred from the smaller wheel to the larger one. They have high reliability, but less tractive effort. Convenient for use when constructing homemade winches.

Planetary gearbox, the most common at the moment. It usually consists of 3 satellites, a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier. They have an increased working life and transmitted power, but are complex in design.

Read also: Homemade CNC machine from printers with your own hands

The simplest solution when manufacturing a unit, an electric winch for 220 V, of course, you can always use a converter, especially since ready-made high-power devices are available for sale. An asynchronous motor can be used as a drive motor, but it is better to use a motor from a washing machine. Modern models are quite powerful and productive.

Winch capacity for UAZ

There are many car enthusiasts who prefer units with an electrical operating principle. When choosing this or that type of equipment, it is important to consider the possibility of its most efficient operation in various road conditions.

Photo 3: Winch lifts UAZ 469 (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

The determining factor here is the load capacity. The load lifting index is an indicator of the maximum weight that a mechanism can lift without compromising its technical characteristics. It is indicated in pounds, lb. 1 pound is equal to 0.45 kg. For example, 9000 lb equals 4080 kg. Most SUVs are equipped with units with a load capacity index of 8000-12000 units, which equates to 3.5-5.5 tons.

For economic purposes, 5000 is enough, but in order to pull out a car stuck in the mud, you need an option with an index of 7000. If the SUV is used outside the city, outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, and fishermen are recommended to install a unit with a load of 3 tons or more. Such a winch will not create a large additional load on the front axle of the car.

Homemade winch from a starter and requirements for its production

A car winch is needed to move certain cargoes in the form of other cars, trailers, etc. It is presented in the form of a drum equipped with a mechanism for winding the cable. Such a cable is attached to a supporting object (for example, a pole). Many cars are equipped with factory accessories, but those made by yourself will be more mobile. And to attach them to the car frame, I usually use a steel rope or chain .

Before making such a winch from a starter with your own hands, consider the following:

• for work, it is best to take a starter model equipped with a planetary gearbox;
• The winding drum winch must have a brake mechanism, or you can install a worm gearbox with a large gear ratio. This will optimize the load on the power unit in the starter;
• the body of the product must be able to withstand heavy loads, including the vehicle and its traction force.

Compatibility of winch and UAZ 469

All passenger cars are divided into the following weight categories:

• An easy option is all VAZ class cars.
• The middle option is UAZ, Niva.
• Heavy version - Gazelle, Bull, Land Cruiser.

There is no point in weighing equipment yourself. It is better to seek help from specialists. They will accurately determine the weight of the car. When weighing, you should take into account the weight of additional equipment:

• Winches.
• Kanguryatnik.
• Tow hitch.
• Thresholds.
• Non-standard car wheels.
• Additional electronic equipment, including air conditioning.
• Hiking equipment: fuel cans, tents, sand trucks, car parts, hi-jacks, spare tire, off-road accessories.

The weight of the driver and passengers should also be taken into account. This is necessary to correctly determine the power of the installation. For small class – 6000 ibs. For the middle weight category - 7000-8000 ibs. For heavyweights – 9000 ibs. Separately, there are lovers of extreme conditions, for whom a winch of 12,000 ibs or more is recommended.

What are the prices for winches for UAZ?

The cost of traction equipment varies widely. The price of a winch for a UAZ 469 can range from 14 to 45 thousand rubles. So, for example, American electrical equipment WARN and RAMSEY on average costs 40-90 thousand rubles or more on the Russian market.

The average cost of COME UP for Russian motorists will be 30-35 thousand rubles.

The most budget option ELECTRIC WINCH can be purchased for 15 thousand rubles. The price of a used winch for a UAZ 469 may be approximately 50% lower than a new one. It all depends on the technical characteristics of the product, year of manufacture and condition of the product.

Removable winch pros and cons

Positive characteristics of portable winch designs:

• The equipment is not difficult to constantly carry in a car.
• It does not take up much space in the luggage compartment.
• With regular maintenance and proper storage conditions, the winch will serve for a long time and efficiently.
• No additional training is required to perform extreme operations.
• The same winch can be used in front or behind the vehicle. And also use for another vehicle.

The disadvantages include:

• Difficulties arise when deploying and retracting the spring cable. When lowering the drum, it often gets tangled.
• It's difficult to use the "suitcase" version without the block. But when the block is used, only 4.5 meters of cable remain - this is very little.
• Often the drum skews, causing the cable to bite. It is obvious that the removable design is not perfected.
• The mechanism and oiled cable contaminate the work process.
• Performing manipulations requires a lot of strength and energy from the driver.

Photo 4: Removable winch on UAZ 469 (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

Brands of electric winches

The most common winches in the Russian Federation are those made in the USA:

• Warn;
• Ramsey;
• Come up;
• Electric Winch.

To this list we can add the Russian modification of the Swan. Next, we propose to consider in more detail the technical capabilities of each design.

Warn and Ramsey

Photo 5: Warn winch (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

Experts and users note their high power characteristics, reliability, endurance, and durability. Traction equipment has been tested by time and Russian off-road conditions. Most often, this option can be found on cars that participate in competitions.

The manufacturer of traction equipment is WARN, USA. The concern's production sites are located in Oregon and Michigan. Products are certified in ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949 systems. Environmental certificate ISO 14001.

The headquarters of the world's second largest manufacturer of automotive winches, Ramsey Industries, USA, is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The company's specialists pay maximum attention to the quality of their products.

Advantages:

• Easy installation.
• High degree of versatility.
• Ability to operate independently of a car engine.

Flaws:

• High price.
• Requires an additional battery.
• High probability of overheating during prolonged use.
• Ineffective consumption of electrical energy.

The cost of a Warn winch on Moscow Internet portals ranges from 50 to 200 thousand rubles.

The Ramsey winch is sold in a similar price range.

Come up

Photo 6: Come up winch (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

COMEUP Industries Inc, USA, has been operating in the global market since 1975. The corporate headquarters is located in Oregon. High-quality equipment, which users respond positively to. Russian car enthusiasts are attracted by the relatively reasonable price of the product.

Advantages:

• Two engines of 7000 hp each. With. each with two sealed contactors.
• Availability of temperature sensors and fuses.
• Disengaging the clutch under load.
• Pneumatic cable unwinding.
• The lever will never jam due to corrosion.
• The kit includes a remote control with a 5-meter wire.

Flaws:

The design of the gearbox is inconvenient - the lever must be lifted up and turned.

The price of the Come up winch in Russian markets is about 85,000 rubles.

Electric Winch

Photo 7: Electric Winch (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

The best option for this class is the Electric Winch 6000 lbs 12 Volt winch with an automatic braking system, which can withstand a maximum load of up to 2722 kg. Its mass is 29 kilograms. The length of the towing rope is 25 meters. Control is carried out by a wired remote control at a distance of up to 3.7 meters. The option is ideal for the domestic UAZ 469 car.

The equipment manufacturer is China. They are produced in two factories in China: Ningbo Lift Winch Manufacture Co., Ltd and Ningbo Yinzhou Shengfa Engine Manufacture Co., Ltd.

Advantages:

• Sealed motor and mini switch.
• High quality, reliability, durability.
• Galvanized fasteners.

Flaws:

• Unpresentable packaging.
• Thin drum walls.
• Silumin spring brake parts.
• Lack of spare parts.

The price of such a winch for UAZ 469 ranges from 10 to 30 thousand rubles.

"Swan" configurations

Electric winch elements:

• Carcass;
• Cable wound on a drum;
• Hook;
• Joystick;
• Control block;
• Lever responsible for switching the stroke;
• Solenoid block;
• Sponges are rollers for route laying;

The additional package of the “Swan” also includes: mounting bolts, instructions for using the device, additional accessories.

Manufacturing process

Having chosen a specific engine for a homemade winch and self-puller, having found a gearbox for it, it is necessary to begin the production of the main structural parts. The first thing you should ask yourself is what to make a cable winding drum from? It can be made from a cylindrical motor housing or from a steel pipe of suitable diameter. In this case, it is easier to find a piece with a diameter of 100 mm. This is the best option.

Next, it is necessary to make flanges for the drum, which are welded to it. A shaft is rigidly inserted into them, which rests on the supporting structure - the winch frame through bearings. The shaft is connected through a coupling to the secondary shaft of the gearbox, the housing of which is rigidly attached to the winch frame. The motor is attached to it .

It should be remembered that planetary and cyclic gearboxes require the use of brake couplings, for which you can use a solenoid and brake brushes that will be pressed against the shaft. The brake is needed in order to more accurately perform any actions with the winch, especially when it is necessary to lift or lower the load as carefully as possible.

It is necessary to attach a cable to the drum, for which a hole is drilled in the pipe, where one end is threaded and mechanically secured in the cylinder. It will pass through the guide eye; for smooth movement, you can use an additional roller. If it is necessary to increase the traction force, a roller system can be used. In this case, the design of the winch will become more complicated and larger.

The winch operation is controlled remotely using a radio frequency control panel or by wire. You can buy ready-made radio modules for receiving/transmitting signals or make them yourself. It’s easier and more reliable to use a wired remote control. You will need to use only 2 buttons: winding the cable and winding it.

If there is a brake, it usually turns on automatically when a button is released and turns off when you press it.

If you have a car, then you will probably need information on how to assemble a winch from a starter with your own hands and what is required for this. The article will also contain a training video on this topic, and if you are interested, you can also find design drawings.

Recommendations for installation and operation

You can install a winch on the UAZ 469 at a specialized automotive center or yourself. An important point is to read the installation instructions. Installation of the UAZ 469 winch must be carried out in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Platform for installing a winch

The first step is to assemble the site for its installation. First, you need to designate the installation location of the traction equipment - on the front or rear of the car. When working independently, a piece of channel is selected. It should fit perfectly on the frame of the SUV.

Installation work is underway: the platform for the winch on the UAZ 469 is secured with bolts. They must be installed along the edges of the channel. This will prevent distortion when tightening the fasteners.

Note! The main thing is to set the platform level. This is an indispensable condition for further proper operation of the traction mechanism.

Another condition for successful installation is pre-prepared drawing and technical documentation. Using it, a platform for the UAZ 469 winch is made. The drawing can be made independently or found on the Internet. They are often found on car forums, or you can use the links posted.

Photo 8: Example of a drawing of a platform for a UAZ 469 winch (Source: Yandex.Pictures)

How to install a winch

A winch, assembled and installed by yourself, will serve every car enthusiast faithfully. With its help, the driver has the opportunity to move the power unit and pull heavy equipment out of the mud. This is an indispensable tool in any road situation.

All types of winches operate on the same simple and understandable principle. The steel cable in them is wound onto a drum, which is mounted on an SUV. After installing the platform, the winch itself is placed in the standard holes. The bumper is recessed into the bracket and installed on the frame side members.

The complete washer is placed in the gap between the bumper flange and the corner of the bracket at the hole location. Towing hooks are placed on the bracket and secured with 6 bolts to the frame side member. There are 2 bolts at the bottom. Nut tightening torque: 40-60 Nm. At the last stage of work, it is necessary to connect the power cable to the positive terminal of the battery. The minus is placed on the mass.

DIY ways

To make a winch yourself, you need to find a suitable drawing of the unit. If you look, you can always find it; sometimes you have to improvise and come up with something on your own. For example, how to make a winch from a starter with your own hands. First, let's decide on nutrition. If it is installed on a Niva SUV, then it must be powered by 12 volts.

Let's consider one of the units from VAZ 2101 cars. The starter has the following characteristics:

• supply voltage - 12 V;
• armature rotation speed - 5000 rpm;
• current consumption at idle speed - 35 A;
• torque at maximum power - 0.76 kgm;
• current at maximum power - 250 A.

If you want to use this engine as a traction device, please note that it will consume significant current from the on-board network in idle mode. Considering that the rotation will be transmitted to the drum through a gearbox, the power consumption will be lower than the maximum, but it is still recommended to use such a winch only with the engine running, when the generator will feed the on-board circuit.

In short-term mode, generators on a VAZ 2101 can provide a current of up to 91 A. In any case, to ensure the reliable operation of such a device, it is necessary to apply current protection so as not to burn anything.

Another option for a winch that you can make yourself is a design made from a screwdriver. Such a unit is suitable only for light types of equipment, for example, for a kdarocycle, not in all situations, and the engine of the tool will operate at maximum speed. In addition, its effectiveness will largely depend on the torque generated. Medium power ones are capable of providing 0.15 kgm, which will barely be enough, but you can still try to make such a design. You'll have to come up with a mount for a screwdriver and an adapter for the gearbox.