Which winch hook/shackle do you guys recommend.

[Old Jeeper]

i used it on this sunken ship right next to the Ohio River in quicksand and it worked just fine ?

Thanks for posting that you clearly know what you doing to have made that extract. Must have been a really tough pull. I have seen a few myself.

BIL got stuck in mud. I had gone with him 'mudding' so I did not have my Jeep. No one could get him out, so he called a Wrecker and that did work either so that guy called for a bigger wrecker and while we waiting I went over my BIL truck and noticed his big toolbox in there. He had battery powered drill. He was driving his Mud truck, a K 5 blazer, 454 Chevy motor Truck motor. It was the motor out of Chevy HD line of medium-sized trucks like the 5500/6500 + series.

Like the pics above he got stuck in a river bottom in what I call GOO Mud., very slick and stuck to shoes like glue.

The 2nd Wrecker could not pull him out, and the attachment points on the frame were ripped out.. I told my BIL I can get you out. How are you going to do that? easy. I found you battery-powered drill in you toolbox and you got some big drill bits. We drill holes in the bed of the truck. What has happened is the GOO Muc has created a suction with the bed of your truck. Take the size of your bed and convert it to inches X 14.5 psi. For every sq ft you have 2088 lbs pressing down on it? So he took the drill and drilled a lot of holes in that bed and the big wrecker pull him right out . Total weight pressing down on that truck bed was over 50,000 lbs.

I run a Masterpull winch rope, full sheath on the rope and a 5 ft drum guard sheath. My rope is rated at 29,700 lb tensile, it has near-zero stretch so there is no snap back.

Been running this rope for 21 years and have sent it back to Master pull most years for inspection and repair. It started out at 100 Ft and its now down to about almost 80, the working end take a beating. Masterpull does not charge me for this service and they ship it back at their cost by the same manner in which it was shipped to them.

They make the best rope in the industry bar none! https://www.masterpull.com/superline-xd-industrial-winch-line-7-16-12mm/

This is it on my 12k Warn Powerplant winch, on my F 450 truck. On my 2 Jeeps I have the OEM Warn rope.

Historically lots of winches on Jeeps on trail runs, I have taken NOTE that no really wants to winch, so I guess most are for show. I am the trail run leader I am the only one to winch. Seen to much carnage due to somebody wanting to be the SAVIOR only they know nothing about winching, and doing it safely. Seen someone die, lost hands, fingers, leg below the knee.

Steel cable just say NO! Every injury, death or physical damage to the vehicle I have seen in my 40 years has come from a steel cable. 99% of the time due to operator stupidity, mistake or not understanding how to. The other 1% came from equipment failure, kinked steel cable, rusted steel cable, and overloaded steel cable.

ROPE is your friend.

Warn Powerplant 12k

ZEON 10 PLATINUM WINCH - 92810

Warn VR EVO 10 S winch with Warn rope

Sponsored

 

[roaniecowpony]

.

Thanks for posting that you clearly know what you doing to have made that extract. Must have been a really tough pull. I have seen a few myself.

BIL got stuck in mud. I had gone with him 'mudding' so I did not have my Jeep. No one could get him out, so he called a Wrecker and that did work either so that guy called for a bigger wrecker and while we waiting I went over my BIL truck and noticed his big toolbox in there. He had battery powered drill. He was driving his Mud truck, a K 5 blazer, 454 Chevy motor Truck motor. It was the motor out of Chevy HD line of medium-sized trucks like the 5500/6500 + series.

Like the pics above he got stuck in a river bottom in what I call GOO Mud., very slick and stuck to shoes like glue.

The 2nd Wrecker could not pull him out, and the attachment points on the frame were ripped out.. I told my BIL I can get you out. How are you going to do that? easy. I found you battery-powered drill in you toolbox and you got some big drill bits. We drill holes in the bed of the truck. What has happened is the GOO Muc has created a suction with the bed of your truck. Take the size of your bed and convert it to inches X 14.5 psi. For every sq ft you have 2088 lbs pressing down on it? So he took the drill and drilled a lot of holes in that bed and the big wrecker pull him right out . Total weight pressing down on that truck bed was over 50,000 lbs.

I run a Masterpull winch rope, full sheath on the rope and a 5 ft drum guard sheath. My rope is rated at 29,700 lb tensile, it has near-zero stretch so there is no snap back.

Been running this rope for 21 years and have sent it back to Master pull most years for inspection and repair. It started out at 100 Ft and its now down to about almost 80, the working end take a beating. Masterpull does not charge me for this service and they ship it back at their cost by the same manner in which it was shipped to them.

They make the best rope in the industry bar none! https://www.masterpull.com/superline-xd-industrial-winch-line-7-16-12mm/

This is it on my 12k Warn Powerplant winch, on my F 450 truck. On my 2 Jeeps I have the OEM Warn rope.

Historically lots of winches on Jeeps on trail runs, I have taken NOTE that no really wants to winch, so I guess most are for show. I am the trail run leader I am the only one to winch. Seen to much carnage due to somebody wanting to be the SAVIOR only they know nothing about winching, and doing it safely. Seen someone die, lost hands, fingers, leg below the knee.

Steel cable just say NO! Every injury, death or physical damage to the vehicle I have seen in my 40 years has come from a steel cable. 99% of the time due to operator stupidity, mistake or not understanding how to. The other 1% came from equipment failure, kinked steel cable, rusted steel cable, and overloaded steel cable.

ROPE is your friend.

Warn Powerplant 12k

ZEON 10 PLATINUM WINCH - 92810

Warn VR EVO 10 S winch with Warn rope

I'm running the OE Warn 3/8"rope. When I wanted a 100ft extension, I researched the synthetic ropes and Samson Amsteel Blue SK-78 stood out as the standard for bulk rope. I found 7/16" for $2/ft and bought 100ft. It's gone up a bit, but this source is still a much better deal than buying "winch ropes" that are pre-terminated. Putting an end on a winch rope is too easy to pay several hundred dollars or more above the cost of rope.
https://sregear.com/products/samson-amsteel-blue-synthetic-rope

 

[Old Jeeper]

.

I'm running the OE Warn 3/8"rope. When I wanted a 100ft extension, I researched the synthetic ropes and Samson Amsteel Blue SK-78 stood out as the standard for bulk rope. I found 7/16" for $2/ft and bought 100ft. It's gone up a bit, but this source is still a much better deal than buying "winch ropes" that are pre-terminated. Putting an end on a winch rope is too easy to pay several hundred dollars or more above the cost of rope.
https://sregear.com/products/samson-amsteel-blue-synthetic-rope

As long as you are happy, that is what counts...

 

[STW]

I currently have some kind of flat link copy of a Factor 55. After considering them all, none of them make any more sense than a brummel eye loop so you can run a soft shackle through it...

this is what I'm thinking too but it's blowing my mind a little and requiring a new way of thinking about recovery gear for me. I need some new skills.

Metal (shackles, hooks) would still be useful for various purposes after I've mostly switched over to soft shackles and winch rope eye. I just don't need them as much as my habits are telling me I do. The metal shackle advantage that occurs to me at the moment is when you need to attach a soft shackle or rope to something with sharp metal edges you don't trust not to abrade your rope. That wouldn't be ideal for metal shackles either, but recovery situations are...situations.

I only switched to synthetic cable a year ago when I sold my TJ with its winch. So many advantages to these new methods, and very few disadvantages.

 

[Vinman]

So nobody uses the standard hook..... ? I just left the standard hook on and I've used it multiple times. It is a hell of a lot safer than the tiny OEM recovery hooks. I dont see much wrong with it. Why spend money on something else?

Same here and have been for 3 decades
There are lots of solutions to problems that don’t exist.

 

[STW]

Just ordered the Yankem. No hook/thimble. Less energy flying around. Have run a hook for many years. I consider running No hook a game changer...

I agree on the advantages of no hook / no thimble but you can do that with any (synthetic ready) fairlead.

The purpose of the Yankum fairlead, as far as I can tell from their video, is to store your rope in a way that prevents it from bashing on rocks you bang the fairlead on. It's a good idea and makes me want to mill out (and polish) my thick fairlead.

Preventing that kind of damage is nothing new and not specific to using a rope eye with no hook.

And there are other easy, safe ways to store a rope eye while wheeling.

...
https://yankum.com/products/winch-hawse-groove-fairlead

 

[mgenbox]

Thanks for posting that you clearly know what you doing to have made that extract. Must have been a really tough pull. I have seen a few myself.

BIL got stuck in mud. I had gone with him 'mudding' so I did not have my Jeep. No one could get him out, so he called a Wrecker and that did work either so that guy called for a bigger wrecker and while we waiting I went over my BIL truck and noticed his big toolbox in there. He had battery powered drill. He was driving his Mud truck, a K 5 blazer, 454 Chevy motor Truck motor. It was the motor out of Chevy HD line of medium-sized trucks like the 5500/6500 + series.

Like the pics above he got stuck in a river bottom in what I call GOO Mud., very slick and stuck to shoes like glue.

The 2nd Wrecker could not pull him out, and the attachment points on the frame were ripped out.. I told my BIL I can get you out. How are you going to do that? easy. I found you battery-powered drill in you toolbox and you got some big drill bits. We drill holes in the bed of the truck. What has happened is the GOO Muc has created a suction with the bed of your truck. Take the size of your bed and convert it to inches X 14.5 psi. For every sq ft you have 2088 lbs pressing down on it? So he took the drill and drilled a lot of holes in that bed and the big wrecker pull him right out . Total weight pressing down on that truck bed was over 50,000 lbs.

I run a Masterpull winch rope, full sheath on the rope and a 5 ft drum guard sheath. My rope is rated at 29,700 lb tensile, it has near-zero stretch so there is no snap back.

Been running this rope for 21 years and have sent it back to Master pull most years for inspection and repair. It started out at 100 Ft and its now down to about almost 80, the working end take a beating. Masterpull does not charge me for this service and they ship it back at their cost by the same manner in which it was shipped to them.

They make the best rope in the industry bar none! https://www.masterpull.com/superline-xd-industrial-winch-line-7-16-12mm/

This is it on my 12k Warn Powerplant winch, on my F 450 truck. On my 2 Jeeps I have the OEM Warn rope.

Historically lots of winches on Jeeps on trail runs, I have taken NOTE that no really wants to winch, so I guess most are for show. I am the trail run leader I am the only one to winch. Seen to much carnage due to somebody wanting to be the SAVIOR only they know nothing about winching, and doing it safely. Seen someone die, lost hands, fingers, leg below the knee.

Steel cable just say NO! Every injury, death or physical damage to the vehicle I have seen in my 40 years has come from a steel cable. 99% of the time due to operator stupidity, mistake or not understanding how to. The other 1% came from equipment failure, kinked steel cable, rusted steel cable, and overloaded steel cable.

ROPE is your friend.

Warn Powerplant 12k

ZEON 10 PLATINUM WINCH - 92810

Warn VR EVO 10 S winch with Warn rope

OldJeeper

Well I can tell you I wish I could say I was as experienced as u but believe it or not that was the first time winching the jeep out!
I read up on steel cables and I used a couple bath towels on the cable to deaden it if it broke
This is my first jeep 2021 Sport and put 35s, Smittylbilt 9500 cable winch n smittybilt bumpers on right away

I could probably write a book about this event and learned so much about this type of situation that should serve me well.

Here’s a short as I can recollection
That Saturday Oct 1st around 4:00 we got to the end of the county road and seen a vehicle trail down to the river side which was a couple hundred feet down.
Thought will let dogs out n enjoy the sun n drink a couple along the river.
Get down there n seen a small creek out of the woods into the Ohio River n thought I’ll hit that n throw a little mud. Big mistake.
Obviously no solid material so get stuck in the Goo. Spent few hours winching thru and seen cable got mashed in a couple spots somehow.
Dark by this time n walking thru woods n find nowhere to get out that way n I’m thinking holy shit. Gotta go back thru.
Throw bunch of big rocks in the mud n try to go back thru and buried it.
Used a 4 way lug wrench and hands til 11:30 digging solid stuff away from the front end cuz tires kept digging down n snapped cable twice so I was done. Luckily the cable flew toward the trees both times.
Sat in the jeep til daylight n went right back to digging.
Called 3 wrecker services n they wouldn’t come out.
Called a buddy with his jeep n brought snacks around noon Sunday. His jeep didn’t budge it. Went home n hauled my uncles 40 hp tractor wouldn’t budge it or lift it
I’m thinking wth am I gonna do now
So then thought need to replace winch cable n seen local harbor freight had 12k winch rope. Bought that and 2 3” x 30’ straps n brought my snatch block and compact tractor to the site to dig out the solid dirt in front of the jeep.
Up the bank and in a tree about 15’ wrapped the straps and hooked the block. This was my last option and after running the winch for a bit it started pulling it out! I was thanking the lord! On top of it, the driver from tire was off the bead cuz the stem was broken off in the mud. Had it out around 2:00 Monday afternoon. What a battle

I agree rope is ur friend.

 

[Old Jeeper]

OldJeeper

Well I can tell you I wish I could say I was as experienced as u but believe it or not that was the first time winching the jeep out!
I read up on steel cables and I used a couple bath towels on the cable to deaden it if it broke
This is my first jeep 2021 Sport and put 35s, Smittylbilt 9500 cable winch n smittybilt bumpers on right away

I could probably write a book about this event and learned so much about this type of situation that should serve me well.

Here’s a short as I can recollection
That Saturday Oct 1st around 4:00 we got to the end of the county road and seen a vehicle trail down to the river side which was a couple hundred feet down.
Thought will let dogs out n enjoy the sun n drink a couple along the river.
Get down there n seen a small creek out of the woods into the Ohio River n thought I’ll hit that n throw a little mud. Big mistake.
Obviously no solid material so get stuck in the Goo. Spent few hours winching thru and seen cable got mashed in a couple spots somehow.
Dark by this time n walking thru woods n find nowhere to get out that way n I’m thinking holy shit. Gotta go back thru.
Throw bunch of big rocks in the mud n try to go back thru and buried it.
Used a 4 way lug wrench and hands til 11:30 digging solid stuff away from the front end cuz tires kept digging down n snapped cable twice so I was done. Luckily the cable flew toward the trees both times.
Sat in the jeep til daylight n went right back to digging.
Called 3 wrecker services n they wouldn’t come out.
Called a buddy with his jeep n brought snacks around noon Sunday. His jeep didn’t budge it. Went home n hauled my uncles 40 hp tractor wouldn’t budge it or lift it
I’m thinking wth am I gonna do now
So then thought need to replace winch cable n seen local harbor freight had 12k winch rope. Bought that and 2 3” x 30’ straps n brought my snatch block and compact tractor to the site to dig out the solid dirt in front of the jeep.
Up the bank and in a tree about 15’ wrapped the straps and hooked the block. This was my last option and after running the winch for a bit it started pulling it out! I was thanking the lord! On top of it, the driver from tire was off the bead cuz the stem was broken off in the mud. Had it out around 2:00 Monday afternoon. What a battle

I agree rope is ur friend.

You brought a smile to my face, you said the magic words (see in bold) and you took a logical approach, tried different things and in the end you were smarter and successful.

Now you understand why, if it my run and lead, only I winch. There is always some guy on the run who just got his winch from WannaBe WInches, Chinese Take Out and Stomach Pump Room. The steel cable looks like guitar strings, the manual is written in Chinese and the hook on the end was made from leftover tabs from beer cans. The guys only experience was he emptied the pencil sharpener in the 6th grade. he runs down to the stuck Jeep and hook his winch cable on the rusted ball from Harbor Fright and starts pulling. The ball breaks and flies back thru the windshield hitting him between the eyes, he dies on the way to the hospital. < YEP seen it happen and that was the result!

I used to give classes on winching and I used this as the basis and had hands on.

https://www.warn.com/basic-guide-to-winching-intro/

 

[El Jefe]

Love the idea of the flatlink, but don't like the extra failure points inserted. I chose the flat splicer instead - the rope itself is providing the strength, not the pin.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Love the idea of the flatlink, but don't like the extra failure points inserted. I chose the flat splicer instead - the rope itself is providing the strength, not the pin.

Jefe, see you are still around, hanging in by hanging out...good on ya...

 

[2rolndice]

Flat E

 

[rdfact]

I run a soft shackle at the end of mine; less weight to kill me if my line snaps...

I do the same. The soft shackle I use is a well used one I found on the trail. Since it’s constantly exposed to the elements I won’t use it for actual winching, I have another 4 or 5 fresh ones I can use.
I attended an off-road recovery class and they were big proponents of eliminating as much metal as possible. They are also fans of roller fair leads, even for synthetic rope, because it reduces friction on the rope.

 

[J0E]

OldJeeper

Well I can tell you I wish I could say I was as experienced as u but believe it or not that was the first time winching the jeep out!
I read up on steel cables and I used a couple bath towels on the cable to deaden it if it broke
This is my first jeep 2021 Sport and put 35s, Smittylbilt 9500 cable winch n smittybilt bumpers on right away

I could probably write a book about this event and learned so much about this type of situation that should serve me well.

Here’s a short as I can recollection
That Saturday Oct 1st around 4:00 we got to the end of the county road and seen a vehicle trail down to the river side which was a couple hundred feet down.
Thought will let dogs out n enjoy the sun n drink a couple along the river.
Get down there n seen a small creek out of the woods into the Ohio River n thought I’ll hit that n throw a little mud. Big mistake.
Obviously no solid material so get stuck in the Goo. Spent few hours winching thru and seen cable got mashed in a couple spots somehow.
Dark by this time n walking thru woods n find nowhere to get out that way n I’m thinking holy shit. Gotta go back thru.
Throw bunch of big rocks in the mud n try to go back thru and buried it.
Used a 4 way lug wrench and hands til 11:30 digging solid stuff away from the front end cuz tires kept digging down n snapped cable twice so I was done. Luckily the cable flew toward the trees both times.
Sat in the jeep til daylight n went right back to digging.
Called 3 wrecker services n they wouldn’t come out.
Called a buddy with his jeep n brought snacks around noon Sunday. His jeep didn’t budge it. Went home n hauled my uncles 40 hp tractor wouldn’t budge it or lift it
I’m thinking wth am I gonna do now
So then thought need to replace winch cable n seen local harbor freight had 12k winch rope. Bought that and 2 3” x 30’ straps n brought my snatch block and compact tractor to the site to dig out the solid dirt in front of the jeep.
Up the bank and in a tree about 15’ wrapped the straps and hooked the block. This was my last option and after running the winch for a bit it started pulling it out! I was thanking the lord! On top of it, the driver from tire was off the bead cuz the stem was broken off in the mud. Had it out around 2:00 Monday afternoon. What a battle

I agree rope is ur friend.

Amazing story. This and the other mud story validates my fear deep mud.

pent few hours winching thru and seen cable got mashed in a couple spots somehow.
We're you using a snatch block? If not, why not? Snatch block puts half the load on the winch, half the load on the cables. Snatch rings are far easier to use and do the same thing.

n snapped cable twice so I was done. Luckily the cable flew toward the trees both times.

How did you fix the first snapped cable?

His jeep didn’t budge it.

Using a tow strap? Did he have a kinetic rope. For mud, you need a 1 ¼” rope, not the standard half sized 7/8 rope.

i used it on this sunken ship right next to the Ohio River in quicksand and it worked just fine ?

Another great story, made better by pictures. Fear the mud.
By using a snatch block/ring, you more than double the pulling power. On the outer most wind, you only have 60% pulling power. Snatch ring doubles pulling power and because more line is pulled out, you have even more power.

I always use a snatch rig, even when it's not needed.

There's a lot of paranoia in these threads about the hook flying at people. I'm guessing most have never actually pushed their lines hard enough to break one. Broken at least a half dozen and seen dozens more break over the years. 99% of the time the line breaks 1 to 10' from the end (the area that gets the most wear). The hook/attachment method drops within inches of where it was when the line popped. It is hard mounted to either the anchor you're pulling to or the vehicle you're recovering and there's virtually no stretch between it and the failure point. The line itself can slingshot some distance especially if it's a long hard pull. The hook doesn't. The other 1% of failures are from cuts/abrasion and again, the hook barely moves. Sure if your attachment point fails it could happen, but whatever you just ripped off the vehicle being recovered is now a projectile anyway regardless off winch line connection. Nobody should be in line with a winch pull period so even there then the risk is minimal.

Broke my rule that I'm the only one who makes the connection. Stuck F-250 insisted he's done it many times and only he can make the connection to his stuck rig. It didn't look bad so I didn't use my 1.25" kinetic rope, I just pulled a tow strap with hooks. After pulling hard, his hook came off and went through my rear window.

 

[J0E]

I agree on the advantages of no hook / no thimble but you can do that with any (synthetic ready) fairlead.

The purpose of the Yankum fairlead, as far as I can tell from their video, is to store your rope in a way that prevents it from bashing on rocks you bang the fairlead on. It's a good idea and makes me want to mill out (and polish) my thick fairlead.

Preventing that kind of damage is nothing new and not specific to using a rope eye with no hook.

And there are other easy, safe ways to store a rope eye while wheeling.

This is how I do it:

It only takes a few seconds to fish it through the hawse fairlead. Jeep is a dedicated crawler and stays in the garage when not wheeling. OCD is forcing me to wrap the exposed rope with tape to protect it from the intense Hawaii UV's. The Yankum fairlead is cool, not sure it's worth replacing my system.

If synthetic line breaks, you just splice it. Tie a knot, whatever it takes in the moment.
Tons of videos out there on this.

But if you don't tie the correct knot, you have a super weak point.

The simplest end on a winch rope is a Brummel loop splice. Anyone that can tie their shoelaces can do it. Once you learn this, you won't forget it and you can do it quickly in the field if the end of your line breaks. You can use it to attach a hook or flat link or an eye thimble or just have it ready for your soft or hard shackles.

The tool in the video is called a fid. Everyone with synthetic rope on their winch should carry one in their recovery gear. If Factor 55 makes anything worth its price, it's their fid. It's a unique fid in that it incorporates a wire chinese fingertrap like some electrician fish lines. But in a pinch, you can use a stick you whittled to a point or a Bic pen, and some tape.



https://factor55.com/product/fast-fid-new/

This seems like the easy trail knot to use. Save the Brummel lock-splice for when you get home.

 

[mgenbox]

Amazing story. This and the other mud story validates my fear deep mud.

pent few hours winching thru and seen cable got mashed in a couple spots somehow.
We're you using a snatch block? If not, why not? Snatch block puts half the load on the winch, half the load on the cables. Snatch rings are far easier to use and do the same thing.

n snapped cable twice so I was done. Luckily the cable flew toward the trees both times.

How did you fix the first snapped cable?

His jeep didn’t budge it.

Using a tow strap? Did he have a kinetic rope. For mud, you need a 1 ¼” rope, not the standard half sized 7/8 rope.




Another great story, made better by pictures. Fear the mud.
By using a snatch block/ring, you more than double the pulling power. On the outer most wind, you only have 60% pulling power. Snatch ring doubles pulling power and because more line is pulled out, you have even more power.

I always use a snatch rig, even when it's not needed.



Broke my rule that I'm the only one who makes the connection. Stuck F-250 insisted he's done it many times and only he can make the connection to his stuck rig. It didn't look bad so I didn't use my 1.25" kinetic rope, I just pulled a tow strap with hooks. After pulling hard, his hook came off and went through my rear window.

Amazing story. This and the other mud story validates my fear deep mud.
***Don’t fear have fun. I wasn’t thinking about the water table level next to river
making for some unreal mud. Big learning lesson***

pent few hours winching thru and seen cable got mashed in a couple spots somehow.
Were you using a snatch block? If not, why not? Snatch block puts half the load on the winch, half the load on the cables. Snatch rings are far easier to use and do the same thing.
***No. Didn’t have it along as we were just cruisin backroads not planning to off-road but now it stays in the jeep. Like I said still learning***

n snapped cable twice so I was done. Luckily the cable flew toward the trees both times.

How did you fix the first snapped cable?
*** The first snap was close to the hook. I was able to wrap broken end around a tree***

His jeep didn’t budge it.

Using a tow strap? Did he have a kinetic rope. For mud, you need a 1 ¼” rope, not the standard half sized 7/8 rope.
*** yeah we didn’t have ideal equipment at the time ***


Another great story, made better by pictures. Fear the mud.
By using a snatch block/ring, you more than double the pulling power. On the outer most wind, you only have 60% pulling power. Snatch ring doubles pulling power and because more line is pulled out, you have even more power.

I always use a snatch rig, even when it's not needed.



Broke my rule that I'm the only one who makes the connection. Stuck F-250 insisted he's done it many times and only he can make the connection to his stuck rig. It didn't look bad so I didn't use my 1.25" kinetic rope, I just pulled a tow strap with hooks. After pulling hard, his hook came off and went through my rear window.

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