Warns Epic Sidewinder and Epic Hyperlink

Brett C

Brett C

Adventurist
Senior Staff
Moderator
Just received these today. These are Warns answer to the closed loop system.

Hyperlink Shackle
61D18D77-35AD-43FF-8F28-77EC356D1B52.jpeg

A7E1F787-F138-4CFD-8808-052B8AD6EA98.jpeg


Epic Sidewinder replaces the hook and shackle
04D2BEF2-9448-4A86-A11A-4BFF6A9884C0.jpeg

A6089943-E488-428D-BCED-CAA9652F8F4B.jpeg
 
Factor55 is the same bling, having been an old school tow truck operator for several years I will stick to what I know and trust. The truck I drove most of the time had a Holmes 700 wrecker with two HUGE pto winches. A safety hook is what I have on the end of my rope. Similar to this: http://www.billet4x4.com/pro-winchhook.htm
 
Last edited:
Just because we’ve been doing it one way without issue doesn’t mean there aren’t better ways.

There are proven advantages to closed loop systems. Just ask @Dave or @TangoBlue as they have better info on the benefits.
 
As cool as they are, and as much of a fan of all things Warn as I am, I'll stick to my Factor55 Flatlink-E and soft shackles. These Warn links are only good for attaching to d-ring mounts and are pretty much limited to straight-line pulls. Soft shackles provide a lot more flexibility in attachment points as well as pull angles
 
verdesard0g said:
Factor55 is the same bling, having been an old school tow truck operator for several years I will stick to what I know and trust. The truck I drove most of the time had a Holmes 700 wrecker with two HUGE pto winches. A safety hook is what I have on the end of my rope. Similar to this: http://www.billet4x4.com/pro-winchhook.htm
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with that so long as the hook is properly rated and tested.

That said, the Factor 55 stuff and these new products by Warn shouldn’t just be dismissed as “bling”.

Closed system benefits are well known and are explained HERE.
 
The safety hook is also a closed system, it cannot come open until is is released. I had that on my truck way before Factor 55 or Warn's bling stuff.
 
verdesard0g said:
The link I posted previously....similar to this: https://www.gunneboindustries.com/PageFiles/16842/Web - Picture.jpg
Besides the force causing it to close tighter it has a lever that locks it closed so that it can not open by itself. Closed system before all the aluminum expensive bling.
AAA trained and certified recovery specialist in a previous life.
Click to expand...

So this one then...

Web%20-%20Picture.jpg


I'll have to go on record as disagreeing with you here. The hook you speak of is common in the overhead rigging industry (we used to use that same hook for helicopter logging but that's another story), it is very strong but it is not a "closed system" as you can see above - that gate opens up.

Anytime a hook is used, there is a chance that whatever you put into the hook opening can escape. That style hook relies on pressure or load to maintain closure. This is potentially problematic in vehicle recovery where the winch cable is cycling in a loaded and unloaded condition regularly as the pulling vehicle or pulled vehicle lurches forward.

Closed system winching, as in a safety thimble or any of the options from Factor 55 that accept a screw pin bow shackle, or this new option from Warn that includes the screw pin, means that there is no way that the load can spontaneously disconnect under slack line conditions. There is no chance of the hook slipping out of proper orientation and placing the load on that gate, because the hook and gate has been eliminated.

YMMV, but for 4WD winching I'm firmly in the camp of closed system winching. It's clearly the safest bet, and the industry standard now at competitions like King of the Hammers etc.
 
The only wy that hook will come open is if the lever is operated. I don't do competitions so I don't need to abide by their rules. I still say for 99% of the people that is bling.
 
Well that's what I've been saying, that bling is not any safer than a safety hook. Your winch will stall out or burn up before that hook will fail. There is no way it will open unless it is opened by the operator.
 
How would you do an off camber pull with the Hyperlink Shackle? Looks like straight pulls only.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom