Winches Research Guide

Winches Research Guide Glossary Terms

• Class III Towing Hitch
• Count Chocula
• Dead Man
• Freespooling
• Hawse Fairlead
• M.O.S.F.E.T.
• Planetary Gear Train
• Roller Fairlead
• Rubicon Trail
• Worm Gear Train

Winches Research Guide Glossary Definitions

Class III Towing Hitch

Tow hitches come in three classes. Class I and class II hitches are reserved for towing lighter loads, and they use a square hole that measures in at 1 ¼" by 1 ¼". Heavier hauling requires a more substantial class III hitch, which uses a 2" by 2" square hole.

Count Chocula

As delicious as he is spooky, Count Chocula began surfacing on grocery store shelves back in 1971 as one of General Mills' first monster-themed, high-sugar cereals. Children everywhere loved sinking their teeth into this wickedly delicious blend of chilling chocolate kibble and macabre marshmallows. Unfortunately, Count Chocula's popularity started waning in recent years, but it can still be found lurking around the cereal aisle during Halloween.

Dead Man

A dead man is a winching technique for creating your own anchoring point when no suitable spot is at hand. In a nutshell, you make a dead man by burying a sizeable, weighty object (like a spare tire or log) in a shallow grave. Attach a chain to the object before the burial, and then connect the chain to the winch. No one knows for sure whether the first dead man was actually a corpse, but legends abound.

Freespooling

When you disengage the clutch on your winch, you go into freespooling mode. The drum rotates freely, allowing you to pull the cable out to your anchor point.

Hawse Fairlead

A hawse fairlead is a small, oval-shaped opening that the winch cable feeds through. It has two functions: to help guide the cable during the haul, and to protect the cable. There are no moving parts on a hawse fairlead.

M.O.S.F.E.T.

Short for Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor, M.O.S.F.E.T. is an insulated semiconductor that's widely used in both analog and digital circuitry. This advanced technology delivers rapid switching speeds, produces little output (heat), and can withstand extreme operating temperatures. Winches equipped with a M.O.S.F.E.T. control box will work in conditions ranging from -40?F to +180?F.

Planetary Gear Train

Planetary gear trains use multiple gears to convert energy from the motor into pulling power. With several gears working together, pulling speeds are increased. However, planetary gear trains generate greater heat than worm gear trains.

Roller Fairlead

Like a hawse fairlead, a roller fairlead is an opening through which a winch cable is fed. Around all four sides of its mouth, it has rollers which smoothly guide the cable in and out and defend against cable damage.

Rubicon Trail

While historians know the Rubicon as the river that Julius Caesar crossed in 49 BCE, casting the die that would throw the Republic into civil war, off-roaders know a different Rubicon. About 80 miles due west of Lake Tahoe lies the infamous Rubicon Trail, a 22-mile rough and tumble off-roading path with more obstacles and challenges than a episode of American Gladiators. Along with a towering lift kit and massive tires, winches are essential for conquering this punishing trail.

Worm Gear Train

Worm gear trains use two gears to convert the winch motor's energy into pulling power. Though not as fast as planetary gear trains, worm gear trains give you brute strength without a lot of heat.