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4x4 Truck Winch Tips & Tricks - Spool SchoolMore Neat Winch Tricks From the April, 2009 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Fred Williams Photography by Fred Williams
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During any recovery there... During any recovery there should be only one captain, especially if multiple winches are being run at the same time. This guy tells each controller when to winch, winch out, or stop. Other than knobby tires, nothing says "I'm an off-road adventurer" like a winch on the front of your 4x4. But winches aren't just for looking good. A winch is a great tool for extracting yourself, your buddies, or those old shrubs from the front yard your wife has been harassing you about removing. But like any tool, there's a right way and a wrong way to use a winch. We always think we've seen just about every conceivable winch maneuver, but every couple of trail rides we come across something we didn't think would work. Here are some tips and tricks for using your winch. If you've got some crazy winch repair or recovery that we must see, send us a picture. Until then keep those fingers out of the spool, and may your motor never fry.
 1. The first rule of winching...  1. The first rule of winching is to choose the right winch. We like the rule of 11/2, which means the winch rating should be at least 11/2 times the curb weight of your vehicle. If your Jeep weighs 5,000 pounds, you need at least a 7,500-pound-rated winch. Of course, more is usually better, but with strength comes weight. This monster Jeep is almost over the load limit of this 8,000-pound-rated Warn 8274 and should be upgraded, but this iconic spur-gear winch has worked flawlessly so far.  2. The next choice is between...  2. The next choice is between rope and cable. Winch rope is lighter, just as strong, and readily available, while winch cable is cheaper, more abrasion-proof, and extremely resilient to mud and sand. Though winch rope is less likely than cable to damage when bunched up on the spool, it does need to be protected from UV rays, as the sun can deteriorate the rope over time.  3. When installing your winch...  3. When installing your winch it is important to follow the wiring instructions and always run both the positive and negative wires to the battery itself. Oftentimes off-roaders simply run the negative to the chassis, but if there are any shorts or weak grounds, this can reduce the pulling power and the life of the winch. If need be, upgrade your wire size and length to get the leads straight to the big battery terminals.  4. Another important winch...  4. Another important winch requirement is the mounting system. There's no use having a winch if it's going to rip your bumper off. This truck has a massive front bumper that is solidly attached to the frame, and then the winch is hidden inside for protection from both trail abuse and thieves. Check the installation instructions for proper mounting direction; some winches have forward mounting bolts and others have them on the bottom.  5. Here is something you don't...  5. Here is something you don't see every day in the USA, a winch with dual motors. In Europe and Australia, there are many long-range endurance competitions that have timed hillclimbs, and competitors have upgraded their winches for even more winch line and faster line speeds. This type of speed winching isn't required for your average trail ride. The big orange thing is an ARB winch line weight. It easily Velcros over the winch line and would safely drop the cable or rope to the ground should it break under load.  6. One trend we've seen a...  6. One trend we've seen a lot of recently is using the front winch to help compress the front suspension. This is done by running the rope or cable straight down from the drum to an attachment point on the front axle. This is especially helpful when climbing up steep obstacles, as it helps lower the center of gravity and keeps the front end from unloading and pushing the chassis backward off the climb. Just be sure you loosen up the winch before hitting any high-speed trails where you need the suspension to move.  7. No matter how skilled the...  7. No matter how skilled the driver or capable the vehicle, there is no shame in hooking up a cable before attempting a climb that might send you backward on your lid. It also helps to have a spotter that can direct you and run the winch at the same time. Winches are great at pulling trucks up difficult climbs, but it's a good idea to drive and winch simultaneously to help the winch out.  8. Here is another trick we...  8. Here is another trick we saw overseas and that we are surprised hasn't shown up in the U.S. This truck has its winch mounted behind the cab, with a series of pulleys and guides on the passenger-side framerail that routes the winch rope up to the front of the truck. This serves three functions: It increases the approach angle since the winch and bumper aren't sitting out on the front of the truck, it balances the weight of the winch between the front and the back of the vehicle, and it allows the driver to engage or disengage the winch freespool from his seat while his co-pilot hooks up the cable.  9. It is important to put...  9. It is important to put something over the winch cable in case it should break or come unhooked under load. There are special winch line weights, or you can use a tow strap, a floor mat, or a jacket to drag the line to the ground in the event of an unhooking. It is important that bystanders stand back behind vehicles. It also doesn't hurt to raise the hood of the winching vehicle just in case the hook comes flying back toward the winch.  10. Be sure to rig your attachment...  10. Be sure to rig your attachment point properly. Use a tree strap to protect the bark of a tree. When you put the strap around the tree or rock, hook both ends of the strap to the hook on the end of the winch line. This way the strap won't tighten like a noose around the tree and damage the bark. If possible, use a clevis to hold the tree strap ends together and/or a hook with a closing latch that keeps it all from unhooking while you winch yourself forward. If you use winch rope be sure you have a sleeve that protects it from rock abrasion.  11. No matter how much of...  11. No matter how much of a superman you are, we do not recommend this as a winch point.  Hot Winch Tips Check out...  Hot Winch Tips
Check out Warn's Basic Guide of Winching Technique at www.warn.com/corporate/ images/90/UserManual SRC.US.readers.pdf
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