Make no mistake, a winch is one of the most valuable pieces of recovery equipment for off-roading and overlanding fans. When you find yourself in the stickiest of situations, i.e. stranded or stuck somewhere you shouldn’t, a winch is your lifeline. It’ll free your 4WD vehicle from the toughest terrain, whether that happens to be mud, sand or a particularly steep incline.
Like any recovery must-have however, a winch is only as useful as its operator. This vital piece of equipment can actually be dangerous in the wrong hands. That’s why we’re here to share our top tips for putting winch safety first.
Know exactly what you’re working with
You have to be familiar with the winch you’re using. One need to know bit of information is your winch’s rated capacity, which will demonstrate how much it can safely pull. Here 4WD Adventurer explains the golden rule when selecting a winch with exactly the right capacity for the recovery of your vehicle:
“It is recommended that you get a winch that is rated to 1.5 times the weight it will be pulling…This is where your GVM comes into consideration. Our 76 Series Land Cruiser has a GVM of 3,060 kgs stock standard without any upgrades. DOT373, our trailer, has a GVM of 1,900 kgs. With our Cruiser we are pretty close to GVM at 3,000 kgs loaded and with two passengers.”
Stock up on the safety essentials
A winch isn’t a standalone product. Safe winch usage depends on several additional accessories, including protective gear like heavy-duty winching gloves and eye protection.
A snapped winch cable or an abruptly shifting vehicle can result in serious injury. By protecting your hands and eyes from fraying cables, sudden tension release and loose debris, you’ll have all the bases covered.
Don’t forget the damper!
Many people rely on winch dampers to prioritise safety when using steel ropes during 4×4 recovery. This simple accessory is placed over the winch cable during operation, and helps to absorb kinetic energy if the cable snaps. A winch damper reduces the risk of the cable whipping back at high speed and potentially causing harm.
Check those anchor points
Another potential risk factor during 4×4 winch recovery is your choice of anchor point. Trees, large rocks and even other vehicles can all serve as anchor points, yet selecting the right one is key to successful recovery. Your chosen anchor point has to be stable and able to handle the force of your winch.
When anchoring to trees for recovery, be sure to protect them from damage by using a tree trunk protector.
Exercise caution when winching
When winching, the phrase ‘nice and easy does it’ certainly rings true. Spooling out the cable should be a smooth process, and so too should maintaining tension during winching. This will stop your winch rope from binding or kinking. You should also avoid sharp angles when pulling, as this can put unnecessary strain on the winch and cable.
It’s recommended that you keep the vehicle running during winching to maintain power to the battery, and engage a low gear to aid the recovery process further. Make sure everyone stands well clear of the winch, the anchor point and the space in-between – you don’t want to be anywhere near this danger zone if something goes wrong.
Invest in a quality winch – and maintain it!
As our comparison of Rhino winches and Warn winches proves, not all 4×4 winches were created equal. Once you’ve found a well-built, durable and reliable winch for your 4×4 or pickup, prioritise winch maintenance.
Your winch shouldn’t just be dug out in emergencies, it should be maintained regularly to stay in tip top condition. The same applies to your winch accessories too. Inspect your winch cable or synthetic rope for frays, kinks or wear frequently. Clean away any dirt or debris from the winch, and ensure that all moving parts are properly lubricated.
Your winch should be tested periodically, even when it’s not in use, so you’re not caught off-guard during your next adventure.
