What you need to know about winching

We all drive our trucks, Jeeps, UTVs for some trails mostly into the wild.
but what would you normally do when you get stucked? Will you get somebody for help or will you winch yourself out?

Table of Contents

1. DO NOT rush to perform winching

2. Keep your hands away from the guide and drum.

3. Everyone else should stay back.

4. Use your tree saver strap.

5. Use snatch block to the winch.

DO NOT rush to perform winching

When you get stuck, it is extremely important to survey the surrounding around you, then take some time to decide what accessories you will need during recovery. A pair of protective gloves is indispensable before handling your winch cable, since loose strands from the cable can easily hurt your flesh.

In addition, there are other supplemental items you will want to carry with you to ensure that your winching is as effective as possible to get you unstuck. These include, but are not limited to shackles, a tree saver and a winch damper.

Keep your hands away from the guide and drum.

You should also bear in mind that a fairlead can grab your finger or even your hands into the winch in an instant, so it is highly recommended that your hands should be kept away from the guide and drum while your winch is energized.

Free spooling means that the drum is disengaged from the motor, but you need to reengage the drum before winching. Failure to do so will burn the motor. And never release free spool clutch when there is a load on the winch.

Everyone else should stay back.

Please also note that everyone else should stay back beyond the distance that the winch cable is spooled out. Because it is powerful enough to move your stuck vehicle, so it won’t care if your arm or leg is in the way when spooling in. Never have someone step over the cable, especially while it is under tension, as it risks injury to the person. It is wise to put a damper on the cable that will force it to fall to the ground should the cable break.

Winches draw an incredible amount of current and also generate a lot of heat. For these reasons, we recommend winching in short spurts. Doing so will also allow you to reevaluate the situation and reposition if necessary.

Use your tree saver strap.

If there is a tree or a large rock around, it is advisable to use your tree saver strap. But you should ensure that the rock or tree is large enough to support the weight of your vehicle and rooted firmly enough that you will not pull it towards you. And if there is another vehicle with you, then it can act as an anchor to get you unmired! It is advisable for you to operate the winch and driving simultaneously.

And the tires are recommended to be moving at the same rate of speed with your winch, which will minimize strain on the winch and also allow you to know when the vehicle is free.

Use snatch block to winch.

In conclusion, don’t be in a rush when you’re going to winch, assess the situation and do not take any unnecessary risks. And goal of this article is to provide you with the experience and tips for a smooth recovery. The more you use your winch, including just familiarizing yourself with its functions before actually needing it, the better off you will be when the chips are down.