The golden rules of winching | Get yourself (and your mates) out of a tight spot safely

The rules of winching | How to get out of a tight spot

Winch rule #1 - spool under a load before use

A new winch needs to be respooled under a load before making any loaded pulls on the trail (it’s not ready to use out of the box). Forgetting (or ignoring) to do this will cause the outer layers of cable or rope (both steel and synthetic) to get pulled down in between the lower layers. This can damage the cable and the winch. The worst-case scenario is the winch is unusable because the rope or steel cable won’t come off the drum. Cable and rope should also be periodically respooled (under a load) to ensure they are tight and stacked properly.

Winch rule #2 - use two points for kinetic pulls

Use frame-mounted tow points rather than the winch hook for kinetic tugs, yanks, or pulls. Barlow also points out that many new winch users (and some more experienced winch users too) need to remember the difference between a static and a kinetic pull. A winch is intended to be used with the pulling vehicle or anchor stationary as part of a static pull. Unspooling winch line to a stuck vehicle, throwing the unstuck vehicle in reverse and giving a yank (kinetic pull) on the stuck rig is very hard on the winches brake and drivetrain.

Winch rule #3 - Don’t wrap your cable around a tree

Whether synthetic or steel, the winch line will damage the tree, killing it in the process. Remember that one of the reasons you are on the trail is to spend time in nature and not destroy what’s there. Respect public and private land so we all can use some of it in the future. The correct way to use a tree as an anchor is to select a large tree and use a wide strap or tree saver around the base - it’s strongest closest to the ground. You also don’t want the tree saver to slide on the tree, so if the tree is at a weird angle or has a tapered base, look for a different one.

Winch rule #4 - Choose a big rock

If you have to winch to a rock, make sure it’s the biggest one around. Similar rules apply to winching to a rock as with a tree. You should use a tow strap or tree saver around the rock rather than wrapping your winch line around it. Sharp bends on a rock can damage a steel cable and cut a synthetic rope. A stuck vehicle can require a huge amount of force to get unstuck, and you don’t want to spend time moving small boulders around on the trail. Also making sure the tree saver or towstrap will stay in place takes some forethought.

Winch rule #5 - Use a winch weight

Weighing a steel winch cable down with a heavy blanket, tow strap, polyurethane winch weight, heavy coat or winch accessory bag (like the clever guys at VRS have done in the picture) is a great way to reduce the danger of a snapped steel cable. For one, the weight of the item pulls the cable down where, if it breaks, will hopefully hit the ground rather than any people. Winch weights also help by absorbing some of the potential energy stored in the cable.

Winch rule #6 - Wear gloves

You should never grab a winch rope or steel cable with your bare hands. Debris can become embedded in synthetic rope, steel cables can fray, and your hand (and arm) can get pulled into the drum of the winch. You could lose a finger or even your hand; just a sharp fray on a steel cable can require stitches. Always wear gloves, and keep more than an arm’s length of distance between your hands and the winch. Never straddle a winch line (we hope it’s obvious why), and when winching, avoid standing between the vehicle and its anchor point. Anyone not involved with the actual winching should get behind a vehicle, rock or tree and stay a safe distance away from the cable.

We’re currently offering a special deal: purchase a VRS 9500 winch (RRP: $900) and we’ll throw in a free 20L dry bag. Pop in today and grab yourself a deal!

These and more winching tips, at Four Wheeler.