Good day Mr. Tyson,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review, and for your continued trust in our gear over the years, although you have been frustrated with the entry hook a few times. We completely understand that you can be tired of replacing the same part repeatedly, and we appreciate your honesty.
Because you mentioned this is the third entry hook you have had to replace, I wanted to share a quick technical insight that might help protect your next hook and winch and save you from buying this part again in the future. In our 2-decade experience, we have seen many occasions where the entry hook bends; it is either because something hits the hook, when the operator is looking away from the winch while pulling and doesn't pay attention to the chain and hook that are reaching the winch's entry hook; or because the rope is not getting to the winch in a straight line toward the drum. This happens when the winch is affixed to an anchor point that keeps it from pivoting and self-aligning with the load. This can cause the rope to pull hard against the side of the hook, putting immense stress on it and deforming it. This can then cause rope entanglement on the drum if the rope is still coming in from sideways. This is why we recommend the use of the sling, in basket figure, so the tension is also equally applied to both ends of the sling and therefore to the red anchoring hooks on the winch.
Alternatively, using a pulley or snatch block for redirection can also help adjust the pull angle between the load and the winch.
To ensure your setup is optimal, please feel free to send a photo to sales@portablewinch.com. We will gladly review it to see how we can help you with further advice.
We hope these tips will be useful during your next outing.
Happy winching and kind regards,
