Size a recovery winch from vehicle weight, slope and a safety factor, using the 1.5× rule.
Result
How to use this tool
Use gross vehicle weight in kg, fully loaded.
Use percent grade, for example 10 for a 10% slope; use 0 for flat ground.
1.5 is the standard minimum; raise it for mud or heavy loads.
The headline result is the minimum winch rating in kg and lb.
Formula & worked example
A 2,000 kg vehicle on flat ground needs at least a 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) winch by the 1.5× rule.
Limitations — read this before you rely on it
Guide estimate only. It does not model mud suction, winch angle, drum-layer losses or anchor strength.
Frequently asked questions
The common guideline that a winch should be rated at least 1.5 times the vehicle’s gross weight.
On a slope the winch must also fight gravity, so the required pull rises with the gradient.
Mud suction, ruts and a loaded vehicle can demand much more than the basic rule. Recovery guides often recommend sizing up in those conditions.
Gross vehicle weight, including passengers, cargo and accessories — the heaviest weight the winch may actually have to move.
Rated line pull, usually on the first drum layer. Pull drops as cable builds up on the drum.