Warn Basic Guide to Winching (Domestic)

BEFORE YOU PULL

Whether you’re recovering another vehicle or pulling a stump from the ground, knowing the proper winching techniques can help keep you and others around you safe. And perhaps the most important part of the winching process, regardless of the situation, is what you do before you pull. In this section, we’ll show you the basic fundamentals for effective winching. However, it is up to you to analyze the situation and make the decisions necessary for the proper use of your winch. Apply your knowledge of your winch and the basic fundamentals you’ve practiced and adjust your techniques to your unique situation. Some keys to remember when using your WARN winch: 1. Always take your time to assess your situation and plan your pull carefully. 2. Always take your time when using a winch. 3. Use the right equipment for your situation. 4. Always wear leather gloves and do not allow the winch rope to slide through your hands. 5. You and only you should handle the winch rope and operate the remote control switch. 6. Think safety at all times. 7. Practice. Practice and practice the steps.

WARNING Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling winch rope. Step 1: PUT ON GLOVES.

How to choose an anchor point: A secure anchor is critical to winching operations. An anchor must be strong enough to hold while winching. Natural anchors include trees, stumps, and rocks. Hook the cable as low as possible. If no natural anchors are available, when recovering another vehicle, your vehicle becomes the anchor point. In this case, be sure to put the transmission in neutral, apply the hand brake and block its wheels to prevent your vehicle from moving. Ideally, you’ll want an anchor point that will enable you to pull straight in the direction the vehicle will move. This allows the winch rope to wind tightly and evenly onto the spooling drum. An anchor point as far away as possible will provide the winch with its greatest pulling power.

WARNING Never engage or disengage clutch if winch is under load, winch rope is in tension or drum is moving.

Step 4: PULL WINCH ROPE TO ANCHOR POINT. Pull out enough winch rope to reach your anchor point. Be sure to keep a certain amount of tension in the wire. It can become twisted and overwrap when slackened, leading to winch rope damage. To prevent loosing the end, hold the winch hook in the hook strap while you work.

Stakes or axles, driven in at an angle and tied together. Spare tire and rim buried deep and the chain secured through the rim. Buried log with chain secured around the log.

Step 2: DISENGAGE CLUTCH. To allow free spooling of the winch drum. Freespooling conserves battery power. *NOTE: WARN® offers multiple clutch control configurations. See your specific winch operator’s guide for details on your particular clutch operation. WARNING Always use supplied hook strap whenever spooling winch rope in or out, during installation or operation to avoid injury to hands and fingers.

Single line pull

Step 5: SECURE TO THE ANCHOR POINT. Once you’ve established your anchor point, secure the tree trunk protector or choker chain around the object. WARNING Never wrap winch rope back onto itself. Use a choker chain or tree trunk protector on the anchor. Step 6: ATTACH THE CLEVIS/D-SHACKLE AND HOOK STRAP. Attach the shackle to the two ends of the strap or chain and through the hook loop, being careful not to over tighten (tighten and back-off 1/2 turn).

Rigging for the Pull The following steps describe how to recover your vehicle with rigging a single line pull. Double or multiple line rigging techniques follow the same basic steps, but use a snatch block to assist the process. WARNING Always keep hands clear of winch rope, hook loop, hook and fairlead opening during installation, operation, and when spooling in or out.

Step 3: FREE THE WINCH HOOK AND ATTACH HOOK STRAP. Free the winch hook from its anchor point. Attach hook strap to the hook (if not attached).

WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES