Guinchos

Guincho, or guinchos in plural, is a term used in Portuguese-speaking countries to refer to equipment designed to lift or pull heavy loads, most commonly vehicles. In road and industrial contexts, a guincho can be a tow truck or a manual or powered winch used for recovery, repositioning, or moving disabled vehicles.

Guinchos automotivos are road recovery vehicles and include several configurations. Tow trucks may rely on a wheel-lift to tow by the wheels, or feature a flatbed platform to transport a vehicle, and many include a hydraulic winch and a lifting arm to recover from ditches or slopes. Portable guinchos are smaller devices used at sites for lifting or pulling loads.

Operation: Operators attach lines or hooks to the load, assess weight and terrain, and use the winch to pull or load the vehicle. Recovery work requires safety measures such as stabilizers, proper rigging, and coordination with traffic or site personnel.

Regulation: Licensing, training and inspections apply in many jurisdictions for guinchos and operators. Standards cover equipment performance, weight limits, lighting, braking, and emergency procedures.

Origin: The word guincho derives from wind or winding, reflecting the winching mechanism; in practice it denotes both the device and the vehicle equipped with such equipment in Portuguese-speaking regions.

See also: tow truck, winch, vehicle recovery.