Reader: Do you happen to know anything about the new line of inexpensive winches? I have some positives as well as a negative or two. They seem like decent winches for someone who is on a budget (they retail for $299). But I'd like your opinion if you don't mind. As much as I would love a Warn PowerPlant, it won't be in my budget (at least not till the kids finish college).
Next one in line is a bit more of a brand name, which retails for about $388. Although there are always those who need help on the trail, I would primarily use it to pull myself out. Don't really think I need one capable of more than the 8,000 pounds. Any input would be great. Thanks.
Rick
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Editor: As a rule we don't recommend or comment on products that we haven't tested. However, I can say that cheap is cheap. It's like those cheap hand and power tools; you use them once and they pay for themselves, unless they break and you bust a knuckle and have to go to the emergency room. My last trip to the ER was $150-even with insurance. I was just saving some money by fixing an $80 floor jack, and risked my fingers which I make a living with. I'm not saying anything about any particular product, but when I'm hanging off a cliff or stuck in a mud bog with wild elephants charging towards me, I'd rather have a winch that I can depend on...and that is faster than the elephant.
Reader: First off, you guys consistently put out a great magazine. I look forward to receiving my issue every month. I was reading "Dual-fuel Propane Install" (Mar. '08) and, being a firefighter, had some thoughts I wanted to share. Under most conditions, propane is no more dangerous than gasoline. One condition that differs is in the event of a fire involving direct flame impingement on the tank. A gasoline tank will usually fail in the event of a fire. The failing of the tank will not usually cause an explosion, but somewhat of a flamethrower effect. With propane tanks, the tank itself usually does not fail. As the liquid propane is heated it begins to boil and the vapors expand. Most of the time the relief valve is activated, relieving the pressure inside the tank long enough for the fire to be extinguished. However, if the fire is not controlled quickly, the tank could spontaneously fail, resulting in a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE). Look it up on YouTube; awesome.
The blast from a 25-pound tank could easily level your home. Please stress the importance of not only having a functioning fire extinguisher on board, but also how to use it. It is rather simple: Pull (the pin), Aim (at the base of the fire), Squeeze (the handle), and Sweep (side to side) [PASS]. Fire Departments all over the country will be more than happy to provide training or training materials to anyone who asks for them.
Clay Yarbrough
Editor: Thanks. Safety should always be at the forefront.