Rhino Winch 17500lb User manual

This manual provides important safety information and instructions on how to install
your winch. Every winching situation has the potential for personal injury. In order to
minimize that risk, it’s important to read this manual carefully. This manual features a
quick start guide. This can be used to aid the setup of your winch but it’s important to
read and understand this manual fully prior to setting up the winch.
Keep this manual in a safe place, review it frequently and ensure that all users have
read it to ensure safe operation.
13500lb •17500lb •20000lb

13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
© Rhino Winch Co 2© Rhino Winch Co
Contents
02 - Contents
03 - Quick start guide
Mounting
04 - Quick start guide
Wireless remotes
Freespool operation
Wiring diagram
06 - Health and safety symbol index
07 - Health and safety precautions
11 - Detailed specications - 13500lb
12 - Detailed specications - 17500lb
13 - Detailed specications - 20000lb
14 - Wireless remotes wiring diagram
15 - Maintenance
Troubleshooting
16 - Disposal
17 - CE Certicate of conformity

© Rhino Winch Co © Rhino Winch Co 3
13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
Quick start guide
Mounting
CAUTION: To prevent serious injury due to accidental activation, complete the winch installation
before wiring.
WARNING: Always choose a mounting location that is sufciently strong to withstand the winch
pulling capacity.
WARNING: Always spool the winch rope onto the drum in the direction specied in the
documentation.
This winch should always be mounted in a horizontal orientation with the rope winding on /
off the bottom of the drum. This ensures that the automatic brake will function correctly and
it helps prevent the rope from bunching on one end of the drum. Bunching can damage the
winch.
Included Mounting Components:
4 x M10 locknuts (1.5), 4 x M10 bolts (1.5 / 35 8.8), 2 x 7/16 bolts (1 / 14)
1. Install a mounting bracket if necessary
2. If using a mounting bracket, fasten the fairlead to the mounting
bracket using the 2 x 7/16 bolts (1 / 14). If you’re not using a
mounting plate, attach the fairlead where required. It must be
directly in-line with the rope spool direction.
3. Set the 4 x M10 locknuts (1.5) into the winch feet.
4. Thread the end of the rope through the opening of the mounting
bracket and fairlead.
5. Set the winch the in mount, install the 4 x M10 bolts (1.5 / 35
8.8) and tighten them. Always conrm required bolt length to
ensure proper thread engagement.
6. Attach the hook to the winch rope loop and attach the hook strap
to the hook.

13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
© Rhino Winch Co 4© Rhino Winch Co
Freespool operation
Clutch
Position
Freespool
Operation CAUTION
Engaged • Never engage clutch knob
while drum is turning.
• Always discontinue power
supply if the motor stalls.
• Always fully engage the
clutch before winching.
• Never use excessive force on
the clutch handle. If it’s hard
to turn under load, release
some tension rst.
Disengaged
(Freespool)
• Before you begin, you should familiarize yourself
with the wireless remotes.
• The remotes should be turned off when not in use.
• The battery is located in the back of the remotes.
• Be careful to keep your remotes away from water.
Rotate the clutch to the “free
spool” position. Re-engage
the drum by returning the
clutch knob to the “engaged”
position.
If the drum rotates in the
wrong direction when in use,
check your wiring.
Ensure that at least ve turns
of wire cable / ten turns of
synthetic rope are left on the
drum at all times.
Wireless remotes
IN
OUT
ON/OFF
Indicator light
ON/OFF
Button
Winch In
Winch Out
Controls

© Rhino Winch Co © Rhino Winch Co 5
13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
Wiring diagram
+-
1
2
3
4
5
1. Earth to Winch (Grey)
2. Control to Winch (Yellow)
3. Power to Battery (Long Red +)
4. Power to Winch (Red)
5. Control to Winch (Black)
6. Power from Battery (Black -)
Control Box Battery
Winch
6
Control Box Connections
1. Connect the Yellow wire to the Yellow terminal on the winch 2
2. Connect the Red wire to the Red terminal on the winch 4
3. Connect the Black wire to the Black terminal on the winch 5
4. Connect the thin Black wire to the Earth terminal in the winch 6
Battery Connections
5. Connect the long Red cable from the control box to the Positive terminal + on the
battery 3
6. Connect the negative terminal from the battery to the Earth terminal on the winch
with the Black cable provided 6

13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
© Rhino Winch Co 6© Rhino Winch Co
Health and safety symbol index
Symbol Explanation
Always wear leather gloves
Always wear hearing and
eye protection
Never use winch as a hoist
Properly seat load in hook
Wind rope on the bottom of
the drum
Finger crushing hazard
Hand piercing / cutting
hazard
Explosion hazard
Never route cables across
sharp edges
Never route cables around
pinch / wear points
Symbol Explanation
Not suitable for moving
people
Always use supplied hook
strap
Never hook back on the
rope
Never apply load to hook tip
or latch
Never wind rope over the
top of the drum
Fairlead pinch point
Hot surface hazard
Fire and burn hazard
Never route cable through /
near moving parts
Insulate exposed wiring
and terminals
As you read these instructions, you will see various information relating to safety and
the correct use of your winch. This important health and safety information will be
displayed as follows:
WARNING – critical safety advice that indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in serious injury or even death.
CAUTION – critical safety advice that indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which,
if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury. Also, it may alert you to an
unsafe practice.
NOTICE – advice to help protect against property damage.

© Rhino Winch Co © Rhino Winch Co 7
13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
Health and safety precautions
FCC Regulations
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
• This device may not cause harmful interference.
• This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy. If not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, it may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna or increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio / TV technician for help.
• It is recommended that an isolator switch is installed on all electric winches by a
qualied auto electrician and inspected every six months

13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
© Rhino Winch Co 8© Rhino Winch Co
WARNING
FALLING OR CRUSHING HAZARD
• Always stand clear, keep hands clear and keep
others away when using the winch.
• Never operate the winch with less than ve turns of
wire cable / ten turns of synthetic rope around the
drum. The cable / rope could come loose because
the rope attachment to the drum is not designed to
hold a load.
• Never use the winch as a hoist or to suspend a load.
• Never use winch to lift or move people.
• Never use excessive force to free spool the winch
rope.
• Always use proper posture / lifting technique or get
lifting assistance while handling and installing the
product.
• Always spool the rope so that it feeds out of the
bottom (mount side) of the drum as per the drum
rotation labels on the winch. This is required for the
automatic brake to function properly.
WARNING
CHEMICAL AND FIRE HAZARD
• Always remove jewelry and wear eye protection.
• Never route electrical cables across sharp edges.
• Never route electrical cables near parts that get hot.
• Never route electrical cables through or near moving
parts.
• Always place the supplied terminal boots on the
wires and terminals.
• Never lean over the battery while making
connections.
• Never route electrical cables over the battery
terminals.
• Never short the battery terminals with metal objects.
• Always consult the operator’s manual for the correct
wiring diagrams.
• Always insulate and protect all exposed wiring and
electrical terminals.

© Rhino Winch Co © Rhino Winch Co 9
13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
WARNING
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
Winching Safety:
• Never exceed the winch or winch rope rated capacity.
If required, double line using a snatch block to reduce
the load on the rope.
• Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling
winch rope.
• Never use the winch or winch rope for towing.
Shocks can cause damage / overload and break the
rope.
• Never use this winch to secure a load for transport.
• Never operate this winch when under the inuence of
drugs, alcohol or medication.
• Never operate this winch if you are under 16 years
of age.
Installation Safety:
• Always use class 8.8 metric (grade 5) or better
hardware.
• Never weld mounting bolts.
• Always use factory approved mounting hardware,
components, and accessories.
• Never use bolts that are too long.
• Always conrm required bolt length to ensure proper
thread engagement.
• Always keep hands clear of the winch rope, hook
loop, hook and fairlead opening during installation
and operation.
• Always position the fairlead with a warning readily
visible on top.
• Always pre-stretch the rope and re-spool under load
before use. Tightly wound rope reduces the chances
of ”binding”, which can damage the rope.
WARNING
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
General Safety:
• Always inspect winch rope, hook, and slings before
operating the winch. Frayed, kinked or damaged
winch rope must be replaced immediately. Damaged
components must be replaced before operation. Be
careful to protect all parts from damage.
• Always remove any element or obstacle that may
interfere with safe operation of the winch.
• Always be certain the anchor you select will withstand
the load and the strap or chain will not slip.
• Always use the supplied hook strap during installation
and during operation.
• Always require operators and bystanders to be aware
of vehicle and / or load.
• Always be aware of the stability of the vehicle and
load during winching. Keep others away and alert all
bystanders of an unstable situation.
• Always unspool as much winch rope as possible when
rigging. Double line or pick a distant anchor point.
• Always take time to use the appropriate rigging
techniques for a winch pull.
• Never touch the winch rope or hook while someone
else is at a control switch, during winching operation or
while under tension / load.
• Never engage or disengage the clutch if the winch is
under load, the winch rope is in tension or the drum is
moving.
• Always stand clear of the winch rope and load and
keep others away while winching.
• Never use a vehicle to pull on the winch rope.
Combined load or shock load can damage, over load
and break the rope.
• Never wrap the winch rope back onto itself. Use a
choker chain or tree trunk protector on the anchor.
• Never operate the winch when the operator does not
have direct line of sight of the vehicle / load.
• Never pair more than one winch and one remote
together at the same time.

13500lb - 175000lb - 20000lb
© Rhino Winch Co 10 © Rhino Winch Co
WARNING
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
• Always ensure the hook latch is closed correctly.
• Never apply a load to the hook tip or latch. Apply
the load only to the center of the hook.
• Never use a hook if the throat opening has
increased, or the tip is bent / twisted.
• Always use a hook with a latch.
WARNING
CUT AND BURN HAZARD
To avoid injury to hands and ngers:
• Always wear leather gloves when handling the
winch rope.
• Always be aware of possible hot surfaces such as
the winch motor, drum or drop during / after use.
CAUTION
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
To avoid injury to hands and ngers:
• Never leave any remote control where it can be
activated during free spooling, ringing or when
the winch is not being used.
• Never leave the wireless winch remote control
turned on when installing, free spooling, rigging,
servicing winch or when the winch is not being
used.
CAUTION
CUT AND BURN HAZARD
• Never let winch rope slip through your hands.
NOTICE
AVOID WINCH AND EQUIPMENT DAMAGE
• Always avoid side pulls that can bunch the rope at one end of the drum.
This can damage the rope or the winch.
• Always ensure the clutch is fully engaged or disengaged.
• Always take care not to damage the vehicle frame when winching.
• Never fully submerge the winch in water.
• Always store the remote controls in a clean, dry area.