This article has some assumed knowledge, and when performing a 4WD winch recovery these tips could come in extremely handy giving your winch more versatility and pulling power, whilst slowing the speed of recovery down to give even more precise control when pulling a vehicle offroad.

Let’s get started and go over some of the more modern winching techniques that are getting more and more 4WDers out of trouble

Gear you need:

• 12,000lb Winch (Domin8r X, or Grande MkIII)
• Recovery Dampener
• 8,000kg Rated Snatch Block
• 10,000kg Tree Trunk Protector
• 5,000kg Extension Strap
• 2x 4.7T Bow Shackles

*All recovery accessories above can be found in the Hercules Complete Recovery Kit, and the Hercules Essential Recovery Kit.

Double line pull

The double line pull, technique is the go-to if a regular single line winch recovery fails, through the block and tackle principal you gain double the mechanical advantage over a single line pull.

The double line pull is simple to setup;

set up an anchor infront of the vehicle with the winch, this anchor can be a solid tree, a ground anchor or another vehicle. If you are using a tree ALWAYS use a tree protector to prevent damaging the tree, and setup your snatch block at the base of your anchor with a rated bow shackle.

With your anchor established, release the clutch mechanism and walk out enough winch line to reach your snatch block setup and back to your vehicle. The closer your anchor point can be to your vehicle, the better, as you will have to respool all your winch cable, so use your extension strap if required.

Feed your winch line through your snatch block and fasten everything together using your shackle.
Winch away, with double the pull of a normal single line winch recovery, you will have up to 24,000lb (over 10,000kg) of pulling power

PRO Tip: always back off your shackle a half turn so after you are done, it will release and cover any metal hardware in your recovery setup with a winch dampener to increase safety

Line redirect

A line redirect is perfect for recoveries around a bend in the track and will save your winch line from getting frayed on obstacles found on the track.

A line redirect is also great for winching from a direction that you cannot get the recovery vehicle into, like sideways on the track.

The setup for a line redirect uses identical ground tackle to that used in the setup for a double line pull except the anchor location should be inline with the vector of pull required to recover the stuck vehicle.

A line redirect is perfect for implementing in awkward winching situations and offers an alternative winching method for tight tracks!

PROTIP: Don’t forget a winch dampener anytime you use metal fittings in a recovery situation!

Slingshot winching

This method of winching is ideal for when you are offroad In a convoy and you have a stuck vehicle and recovery vehicle unable to turn around, and facing the same direction.

The same anchoring rules apply as above, hook up your snatch block infront of both of the vehicles, and set them up so your recovery vehicle winch returns back to the stuck vehicle, although you don’t get any additional mechanical advantage, you will be able to redirect the pull to get the stuck vehicle out of trouble with less fuss!

If you need to extend the anchor in this circumstance use the winch extension strap to connect the stuck vehicle to the winch line, this will mean you get more pulling distance out of the setup!

PROTIP: The simpler a setup is the safer it is, so don’t use more shackles or straps than is required for a setup.

Belaying

Belaying is a method used to arrest and control the sideways sliding or rolling movement of a vehicle being recovered. Belaying can be used to great effect in situations where you have multiple winches and winch recovery setups.

Usually belaying is not dealing with the same forces encountered with a line pull described above and is simply preventing unnecessary movement of the stuck vehicle.

Belaying can also be done by attaching an extension strap to a fastening point (chassis rail, bulbar hoop, or b-pillar and door frames in a last resort) .

Belaying is perfect for stopping a rolled vehicle from rolling all the way back over, when being flipped right side up, and can also help in situations where a roll over is imminent and center of gravity risks shifting.