Winch Techniques A - Z
Take time to assess your situation and plan your pull.
Put on gloves to protect your hands.
Disengage the clutch to allow free-spooling and also save battery power.
Attach the hook strap to the clevis hook.
Pull out the wire rope to your desired anchor point using the hook strap.
Secure the clevis hook to the anchor point: Sling, chain or snatch block. Do not attach the hook back onto the wire rope.
Engage the clutch.
Connect the remote control to the winch. If you are going to control the winch from inside your vehicle then pass the remote through an open window to avoid the wires being pinched in the door.
Start your engine to ensure power is being replenished to the battery.
Power in the wire rope guiding the wire under tension to draw up the slack in the wire. Once the wire is under tension, stand clear. Never step over the wire rope.
Double check your anchors and make sure all connections are secure.
Inspect the wire rope. Make sure there are at least 5 wraps of wire rope around the winch drum.
Drape a blanket or jacket over the wire rope approximately 5 to 6 feet from the hook. Open the hood for added protection.
Clear the area. Make sure all spectators stand clear and that no one is directly in front or behind the vehicle or anchor point.
Begin winching. Be sure that the wire rope is winding evenly and tightly around the drum. Avoid shock loads; keep the wire rope under tension.
The vehicle to be winched should be placed in neutral and the emergency brake released. Only release the brake pedal when under full tension. Avoid shock loads to the winch. This can damage the winch, rope and vehicle.
The winch is meant for intermittent use. Under full load with a single line rig do not power in for more than a minute without letting the motor cool down for a few minutes and then resume the winching operation.
The winching operation is complete once the vehicle is on stable ground and is able to drive under its own power.
Secure the vehicle. Be sure to set the brakes and place the vehicle in park.
Release the tension on the wire rope. The winch is not meant to hold the vehicle for long periods of time.
Disconnect the wire rope from the anchor.
Rewind the wire rope. Make sure that any wire already on the drum has spooled tightly and neatly. If not, draw out the wire and re-spool from the point where the rope is tight.
Keep your hands clear of the winch drum and fairlead as the wire rope is being drawn in.
Secure the hook and hook strap.
Disconnect the remote control and store in a clean, dry place.
Clean and inspect connections and mounting hardware for next winching operation.
