Take your recovery winch through a test run before using it in a high-pressure recovery situation.
The best way to get familiar with how your electric winch operates is to make a few test runs before you actually need to use it. In a real recovery situation, you will have little control over the angle of the pull, how badly the vehicle is stuck, and the conditions out on the trail. Learning how to use your Jeep or truck winch in a low-pressure test run allows you to take your time rigging up for the pull and gives you more control over the situation.
Remember that you can hear your winch as well as see it operate. Learn to recognize the sound of a light steady pull, a heavy pull, and sounds caused by the load jerking or shifting. Before you know it, you will feel confident using your winch, and its operation will become second nature to you.
Steps for Operating a Recovery Winch
- Anchor the recovery vehicle in place by setting the parking brake and/or chocking the wheels.
- Turn the clutch on the winch to the freespool position to unwind the cable.
- Using the winch hook strap, pull out the cable to the desired length and connect it to an anchor point, using the appropriate winch tools. Make sure the anchor point is strong enough to withstand the force of the pull. Set up the rigging so that the cable feeds directly into the winch drum and not at an angle. Throw a heavy blanket over the cable to dampen the backlash in case the cable breaks.
- Engage the clutch on the winch motor.
- Double check all cable rigging before operating the winch.
- Clear bystanders from the area. Do not allow anyone to stand in line with the path of the cable or to step over the cable once it is taut.
- Plug in the remote winch control (corded or wireless). We recommend operating the winch from the driver’s position to ensure safe operation. Pass the remote through the driver’s side window to avoid pinching the cord in the door.
- To begin the winching operation, start the vehicle’s engine, place it in neutral, and maintain the engine speed at idle.
- Operate the remote control switch by pressing the IN or OUT button until the vehicle has been retrieved. Regularly check the winch to ensure the cable is winding onto the drum evenly. If the cable begins to pile up on one side of the drum, stop winching, power out the cable, and respool. Then resume the winching operation.
Warnings and Safety Precautions
- Check the winch carefully and thoroughly before operating.
- Never winch with your vehicle in gear or in park. This can damage your vehicle’s transmission.
- Never wrap the cable around an object hook onto the cable itself. This can cause damage to the object being pulled and can kink or fray the cable.
- Keep hands, clothing, hair, and jewelry clear of the drum area and cable when winching.
- Never use the winch if the cable is frayed, kinked, or damaged.
- Never allow anyone to stand near the cable or in line with the cable behind the winch while it is under power. If the cable should slip or break, it can suddenly whip back towards the winch, causing a hazard for anyone in the area. Always stand well to the side while winching.
- Don’t leave the control switch plugged in when the winch is not in use.
