How to use winch properly?

[Husky Man]

How to build race engine properly?

Personally, I couldn’t even build one Improperly, just not one of my strengths in Life, and I can live with that.

But, I have been a professional driver for more than 36 years, and I have been around boats and the water since before I could walk, so I find public boat ramps, Immensely Entertaining, it’s a comedy act just watching those clowns try to back a trailer 50 yards or less, and the entertainment doesn’t end when they do get the boat wet.

We all have our strengths, and weaknesses, me I can push a trailer better than some can pull a trailer, and I am always amazed at how some people can spend tens of thousands, nowadays, over a hundred thousand, on a boat, but not spend 10 Minutes, learning anything about boats or reading the water.


Doug

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[Apexcars]

Out of curiosity, are you asking because you have one and want to know how to use it, or are you wondering if the type of wheeling you want to do necessitates buying one?

or third option, are you currently stuck somewhere standing by the side of the trail with a winch remote in your hand?

 

[Terrymo]

I hope no one is doing drugs, they're not good.

Gosh dang junkies knocking at my door and I haven't even started cooking yet.

 

[WheretheJLs]

Does it matter which fairlead & shackles I buy or is it all basically the same and just go for what I think looks best?

 

[Ratbert]

Does it matter which fairlead & shackles I buy or is it all basically the same and just go for what I think looks best?

It only matters if you care about the implications of the shackles potentially breaking.

 

[Mocopo]

Does it matter which fairlead & shackles I buy or is it all basically the same and just go for what I think looks best?

Fairlead probably not so much, tbh.
Shackles have load limits, so you want to make sure you get something strong enough. A lot of people will say you have to only use reputable brands that do all this rigorous testing and have been certified various ways. Personally it's a risk level thing. I bought cheap Amazon soft shackles with a 56,000 lb breaking strength, and they are still going strong after a lot of use.

 

[WheretheJLs]

What do y'all think of this kit?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9456V8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

 

[Mocopo]

What do y'all think of this kit?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9456V8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Great kit. I would personally add soft shackles, and I would want a snatch ring instead of a snatch block like what this kit has (assuming you have a synthetic line), but you can't go wrong with warn products.

 

[Ratbert]

What do y'all think of this kit?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9456V8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Looks promising. This is what I got with mine: https://a.co/d/dvRWWWU

 

[jollycj]

You can do both. But as mentioned above, watch a few videos to get the hang of it.
One important thing is to NEVER stand between the vehicles when winching.
a few years ago, I even saw a video where the guy was actually sitting in his pickup truck and was killed by the hitch that broke off the vehicle he was trying to winch out.

Didn't happen with a winch but had someone try to pull me out of mud and he was using a tow rope with a hook and it snapped and ripped through the metal in my tailgate. Fortunately had enough sense to stand far away as I had no experience with winches and recovery gear. I've since educated myself and bought the proper recovery gear and winch. Watched lots of videos and found a couple friendly local wheelers to show me the proper way to use the winch and recovery gear.

 

[ijp4fun]

OP
Here are a few pics from yesterday of a dead tree I had to take down that was leaning over my cabin.
I had to use a snatch block to get the angles I needed and the direction I wanted the tree to fall.
The tree hung up in the overhead canopy and maxing out the winch would not pull it down.

I had to set up for a second pull from the side which got the tree on the ground.

Besides your winch, plan on purchasing at least two snatch blocks 6 to 12 soft shackles several 8 to 12 foot anchor straps and another 100 feet plus of cable in 50 foot lengths.

 

[GATORB8]

What do y'all think of this kit?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9456V8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

I would only run a tree saver with steel on the ends if I had a hook. Unnecessary potential projectiles if you don't.

As others have said, while you'll want to have some steel bow shackles, the soft shackles will win you over quickly once you use them.

I carry a snatch ring, and a more compact (than the warn) standard snatch block. The block is heavy, but easier to carry than a thick one like the Warn or AEV.

 

[Ratbert]

Besides your winch, plan on purchasing at least two snatch blocks 6 to 12 soft shackles several 8 to 12 foot anchor straps and another 100 feet plus of cable in 50 foot lengths.

Isn't 6 to 12 soft shackles a bit excessive? 2 should be enough for most people. Decent quality versions are $40 to $50 a pop.

 

[GATORB8]

Isn't 6 to 12 soft shackles a bit excessive? 2 should be enough for most people. Decent quality versions are $40 to $50 a pop.

I would do at least six total shackles in case you need to use the tree saver as a bridle in a basic snatch blocked pull.

2 to bridle the load (say one on each recovery hook on the vehicle), one from the winch to the bridle (could be a hook), one from the snatch block to the other tree saver, two more tree saver anchors.

Just a recent example on why you may need this, recently winched a load on a trailer, needed to center the pull (snatch block) on the trailer using the two d-rings on the sides.

EDIT: Another reason I wouldn't do the Warn tree saver just popped in my head. That tree saver cannot be used as a choker without adding another shackle.

 

[ijp4fun]

Isn't 6 to 12 soft shackles a bit excessive? 2 should be enough for most people. Decent quality versions are $40 to $50 a pop.

Sometimes I link shackles to get a little more distance when a tree saver is not quite long enough.
I rationalize the cost of recovery gear by figuring a tree company in our area would charge about $1000 to take out a hazard tree.

I am also a gear and tool hog, so there's that.

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