How to Use a Winch to Recover a Vehicle

Vehicle recovery is a high-risk activity. However, you can reduce the risk with some training, planning and preparation, and a disciplined approach to the recovery task.

Winches are usually fitted to vehicles to allow for self-recovery, that of another vehicle, or the movement of heavy objects.

A winch is rarely suitable for recovery use without additional equipment, including a snatch block, ‘D’ shackles, a short length of appropriately sized chain, a tree trunk protector, and a shovel.

Using a winch incorrectly is a significant safety risk.

If you have your winch already installed in your vehicle, you must be trained to use it safely and correctly.

Getting the right training and practice in using the winch will ensure you can use it safely and competently in an emergency.

General Safety Precautions

Follow these general winch safety precautions to reduce the risk of incidents when using winches for vehicle recovery:

• Make sure you’re fully trained in using the winch and performing safe winching operations.
• Wear sturdy gloves to protect your hands from injury, particularly when handling the winch rope.
• Never submerge a winch in water. If a winch is submerged, have a technician inspect and service it immediately to prevent corrosion damage and ensure its ongoing safety and reliability.
• Make sure the winch gets regular use and testing to ensure it remains serviceable.
• Check the winch rope and its fittings regularly for obvious damage. Replace any damaged, frayed or kinked winch rope immediately.
• Rewind the winch rope onto the winch drum neatly after use.
• Never use a winch as a hoist.
• Do not use the winch rope as a tow rope.
• Do not use the winch rope to secure cargo to a vehicle.

Vehicles can be recovered from deep mud holes and tight spots with the use of electric winches.

Using an appropriate winch that can perfectly match the requirements of a job is crucial for the successful completion of a job.

If you are looking to buy a winch for your vehicle, you may want to go for a winch that is overrated by 1.5 times.

For example, if your vehicle weighs 3500 kg, you should opt for a winch that can pull a 4000 kg load to give you a little extra safety factor which will account for dynamic loads, etc.

The winches do always have a safety factor already, but professional riggers never like to cut it too close.

Winch Safety Tips

• Wear Gloves to protect your hands from a fast-changing and sharp-edged scenario.
• Never Double the Winch Cable Back or attach it to itself.
• Don’t Step Over the Winch Cable While in a Hurry.
• Don’t Use an Unsecured Dead Tree For an Anchor Point.
• Don’t Choose A Weak or Non-Structural Point on the Stuck Vehicle To Connect.

How To Use a Winch to Recover a Vehicle

Off-roading can be fun, crazy, muddy, heart-pumping, and a myriad of other wonderful things. It can also get your vehicle irreversibly or dangerously stuck unless the proper procedures for using a winch are followed.

Every situation and vehicle is different, but following these steps will enable recovery of the vehicle with minimal damage to it, and to the operator.

No. #1

Evaluate the situation and check if you can identify other options to recover your vehicle.

If you have other people traveling with you, you may want to inform them where cables and chains will be placed to relocate the vehicle to another area.

No. #2

Whenever you handle the metal rope, make sure that you use heavy-duty gloves.

This is mainly because the winch cable wires may come out or splinter, causing injuries to the exposed skin.

Clear the area near the tires by using a hand shovel. Create an upward slope towards the direction of the pull to facilitate movement.

No. #3

Wrap a chain around the body of a sturdy pulling structure and attach your vehicle to it.

If you are using a live tree, use a rubber mat, commonly of five feet square area, to preserve the bark.

Wrap the rubber mat at the backside and make sure that it creates a protective layer between the tree and the metal chain.

No. #4

Next, attach the chain to the winch’s cable hook.

Make sure that you can wind the cable around the drum for at least three full rounds before you exert any power on the winch cable. In case you find the cable too short, use an extension cable with the clevis hooks.

Ensure that individuals are moved away from the path of the cable-pulling winch.

No. #5

It is not a good idea to pull your vehicle at an angle. The cable should be aligned smoothly and evenly around the winch drum. The cable should not get piled up around itself.

No. #6

Attach the snatch block to pull your vehicle in a straight line using a rubber mat and the chain.

This arrangement will rectify the angle of pull. Now attach the snatch block to another tree using the same approach that you have already used to loop the chain around a tree for the first time.

No. #7

Allow the winch cable to be pulled directly into the winch drum by letting the winch cable pass through the pulley of the snatch block.

Notably, you can use this snatch block arrangement to pull any vehicle by using the winch drum assembly most appropriately.

Final words

A proper extrication of the vehicle will begin with a thorough assessment of the situation, which will, in turn, enable you to form a specific plan of action.

After attaching the winch, a thorough examination of the equipment is required, no one wants to get another vehicle stuck!

Careful positioning of the vehicle, along with other precautions will protect both vehicles and all those involved.

Slow steady progress with frequent pauses to inspect connections, equipment, and angle of extrication will soon have you ready for your next adventure.

Remember: If the first attempt does not go as planned, never hesitate to loosen the cable and readjust; patience and caution are the keys.