The Winch Controller<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’re not running in cab winch controls, you’ll need to connect the winch controller cable to the box on the front of your 4WD. Once you’ve plugged it in, make sure that the controller wiring doesn\u2019t hang loose between the control box and the inside of the vehicle. This is the easy bit, wrap the lead around the upper cross-tube of the bullbar twice. Keep the lead tight, feed it back and around the driver\u2019s side wing mirror and wrap it twice around that too.<\/p>\n Now you can pass it through your open window, and there\u2019s no way it\u2019ll hang loose and risk getting caught by a turning wheel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Selecting an Anchor Tree<\/strong><\/p>\n Selecting a tree to winch off isn\u2019t rocket surgery, but we\u2019ve still seen trees pull out of the ground that at first inspection seemed fine. If you’re planning to anchor a 2 or 3 tonne 4WD to it and then drag that sucker out of mud up to the sills, or even just up a loose, scrabbly climb, the tree you choose needs to be at least a foot in diameter, and it\u2019s preferable if the tree is alive as that means the roots will have spread deep and have a really strong hold.<\/p>\n Always, always use a tree-trunk protector,<\/a><\/strong> even if your winch is equipped with synthetic or dyneema winch rope<\/strong><\/a>, and whenever possible, keep the tree-trunk protector<\/a> as close to the ground as possible.<\/p>\n The exception to the rule of placement of tree-trunk protector<\/strong><\/a> as close to the ground as possible is when you\u2019re winching up and over a rise with synthetic dyneema winch rope<\/a>.<\/strong> It\u2019s great stuff and almost perfectly suited to winch recoveries, but it can easily cop abrasive damage from rocks and tree roots. In this case, it\u2019s better to position the tree-trunk protector<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0up the tree.<\/p>\n The rough equation I use for finding a suitable tree is that for every two feet up the tree the tree-trunk protector<\/strong><\/a> is positioned, the tree should be one foot thicker in diameter than what you\u2019d normally consider okay to winch off.<\/p>\n Mobile Anchor Points<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes (OK, pretty much all the time, thanks for that Murphy) there isn\u2019t a suitable tree around. The next best option is to use one of your mates 4WDs as an anchor point. Secure the winches hook to the rated recovery point on your flash new vehicle anchor. Before winching starts I always ensure I\u2019m in the vehicle with the engine on, the handbrake on and my foot firmly on the brake pedal. If you’re really stuck, it’s always a good option to try and secure the anchor 4WD to a nearby tree as a back-up.<\/p>\n Winching Sideways<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes you simply can’t winch forwards \u2013 you may need to winch off to the side to pull your 4×4 up and away from this bank. Often when you drop into some deep ruts, it’s tempting to try and drive out of them, but all that does is jam your panels hard into the dirt and stuff them all.<\/p>\n Winching at anything up to a 45\u05c4\u00b0 angle is perfectly acceptable, and the Domin8r<\/strong> X<\/strong><\/a> or Grande MkIII<\/strong><\/a> will easily get the job done, but you\u2019ll need to un-spool the winch cable<\/strong><\/a> when you\u2019re back on flat ground and re-spool it in, because it\u2019ll have bunched up on that side you were winching towards.<\/p>\n Recovery Points<\/strong><\/p>\n The 4WD Action team have been beating this drum for a long time, but that’s because it can be literally life or death. Rated recovery points are the ONLY thing to ever connect onto on your vehicle in a recovery situation.<\/p>\n We still see people using tie-down points or towball’s to connect their winch hook to, and worse, people die every year because of it.<\/p>\n It’s easy – if it is welded to the chassis with a couple of small spot welds, it\u2019s a tie-down point for securing the vehicle on a towtruck.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s bolted to the chassis with massive fat high-tensile bolts, or it\u2019s an eyelet on the front of a bullbar that\u2019s one single piece with the bullbar, it\u2019s okay to use as a recovery point. And of course, never recover off a towball, in case of failure a towball can become a cannonball! instead use a tow hitch receiver with a rated shackle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Winch Dampeners<\/strong><\/p>\n Always, always use a winch dampener<\/strong><\/a> when performing a winch recovery. Even when you follow all the right steps or not, sometimes things go wrong and something will let go during the recovery process. A winch dampener<\/strong><\/a> is a failsafe that prevents a failed shackle or recovery point from turning into a deadly missile aimed straight at your head. Never winch without one.<\/p>\n Recovery Accessories<\/strong><\/p>\n A quality recovery kit<\/strong><\/a> doesn\u2019t have to cost the earth these days, and in fact it\u2019s almost better if they don\u2019t. You can score a Hercules Recovery Kit<\/strong><\/a> from 4WD Supacentre for less than $100, which is good because recovery gear <\/strong><\/a>should be replaced regularly if it\u2019s getting used and abused. Mud and grit gets into recovery straps and can weaken them to the point that they will lose strength. If your gear is starting to look faded or frayed you’re better off replacing it than having it fail next time you’re relying on it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bonus Tricks<\/strong><\/p>\n In really tricky terrain, a favourite trick I\u2019m a big fan of is pre-spooling out your winch line and wrapping it around your bullbar or lights. What this does is save you from having to dig your way through thick and smelly mud to get to your winch<\/strong> <\/a>when you need it the most!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.4wdsupacentre.com.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Capture-218.jpg\")
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