When you’re out exploring or working in the great outdoors, there’s no telling what kind of tricky situations you may find yourself in. That’s why it’s best to be prepared for whatever life throws your way. A winch can get you out when you find yourself stuck, but some situations may take a little more ingenuity and finesse. Here’s where your winching tools come to the rescue. The three most basic winching tools you should always keep at hand are a snatch block, tree strap, and D-shackle.
1. Snatch Block
Whether you need to straighten out the cable on a side pull or you need some extra “oomph” for a really good stuck, a snatch block gives you the power and flexibility you need. As an added bonus for heavy pulling, they also reduce amp draw and heat buildup.
In order to truly double the capacity of your winch, the snatch block capacity should be double the maximum capacity of your winch. For most ATV or UTV winches, which generally run up to 4000 lbs, an 8K pulley block is more than sufficient. For recovery winches, double your winch capacity to find the capacity you need for the snatch block. Make sure the snatch block can handle the diameter of your cable.
2. Tree Strap
If you’re hooking up to a natural anchor point such as a tree or rock, a tree saver strap will come in handy. Tree straps soften the impact on the environment, unlike choker chains, which can damage or kill trees.
Your cable itself should never wrap around an anchor point and hook back onto itself. This can severely damage your cable. A tree strap saves your cable from rubbing against abrasive surfaces and gives you a secure hold on your anchor point.
3. D-Shackle
A clevis D-shackle (D-ring, anchor shackle, etc.) works as a link between the tree strap (or other anchor point, such as a tow hook) and your cable hook. Check the working load of your D-shackle to make sure it can handle what you put it up against.
With these basic winching tools and a little know-how, you can winch your way out of tricky spots with little effort.
Tags: D-Shackles, Snatch Blocks, Tree Straps, Winch Tools
