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ProMark Offroad Blog

Win an ATV Winch from ProMark Offroad!

Facebook Contest

Enter our Facebook contest to win free ATV recovery gear!

Do you like free stuff? Enter our Facebook contest for your chance to win an ATV winch (Grand Prize) or one of our weekly prize giveaways! ProMark Offroad is giving away a 4000lb Outback Series Winch with Synthetic Cable Package to our Grand Prize winner at the end of the 4-week contest. In addition, there will be a random drawing at the end of each week for a ProMark ATV Winch Accessory Kit.

To Enter:

1) Visit Facebook.com/ProMarkOffroad and “Like” our page.
2) Post a picture of your favorite offroad adventure (as long as we can tell it’s an ATV, truck, or Jeep/SUV under all that mud, it counts!)
3) Include a caption or comment with a short description of your photo.

Prizes:

Grand Prize: 4000lb Outback Series Winch with Synthetic Cable Package
Weekly Prize: ATV Winch Accessory Kit

Contest Dates:

February 21, 2012 to March 19, 2012
Grand Prize Winner will be announced on Friday, March 23.
Weekly prize winners will be announced at the end of each week.

Rules:

  • Photos must be submitted on or before Monday, March 19, 2012 in order to be considered for the contest. Grand Prize winner will be announced on Friday, March 23.
  • ProMark Offroad staff will choose the winner based on a random drawing.
  • All winners will be announced on Facebook.
  • Contestants may submit multiple entries, as long as each entry is unique.
  • ProMark Offroad reserves the right to use photos and captions submitted on the ProMark Offroad page for other marketing purposes.

Coming Soon: ProMark Offroad Facebook Contest

Offroad Adventure photos

Post your photo on our Facebook page for your chance to win an ATV Winch Package!

Get ready for the ProMark Offroad Facebook Contest! In a few days, we’ll be launching a photo contest on our Facebook page.

All you need to do to enter is like our Facebook page, post an offroad adventure photo, and add a caption or comment.

You will automatically be entered in the contest to win a ProMark ATV Winch Package (Grand Prize), along with our weekly drawing for an ATV Winch Recovery Kit.

The contest will run for 4 weeks. The weekly giveaway winner announced at the end of each week, and the Grand Prize winner will be announced at the end of the month-long contest.

More details coming soon!

Tools That Should Be in Your ATV Winch Kit

ATV winch kit

Keep these tools in your ATV winch kit just in case.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. If you’re lucky, you won’t need to use your ATV winch kit. But if Murphy has his way, you’d better throw these tools in your recovery winch kit just in case.

  1. Tree trunk protector – A tree strap is made with tough nylon with a loop on each end so you can wrap it around an anchor point and secure the winch rope to it with a D-shackle. Although you can use a chain to connect to the anchor point, if you’re hooking up to a live tree, you should only use a tree strap. Chains can kill trees.
  2. Gloves – Since the barbs in a wire rope can slice into your hands, we recommend keeping a pair of thick, heavy duty leather gloves in your winch kit. Use the gloves every time you handle winch cable.
  3. Hook strap – Always use a hook strap to spool out cable. Never grab the winch hook itself. This keeps your hands free and clear of the winch and cable and prevents you from accidentally getting your fingers caught in the winch.
  4. Snatch block – Need more winch cable out? Can’t find an anchor point straight on? That’s where a snatch block comes in handy. You can rig up a double line pull for more winch power or redirect an angle pull to spool the cable directly into the winch.
  5. Shackles – A D-shackle (or clevis) connects your tree strap / chain to the winch hook. For safety, make sure the clevis is rated to the capacity of the pull.
  6. Choker chain – Use choker chain to hook up to a sharp object (such as a rock) or another vehicle as an anchor point. Chains can kill or damage live trees, however, so use a tree strap if your anchor point is a tree.
  7. Booster cables – If your battery dies while winching, you’ll need a set of booster cables to charge it back up. Booster cables also come in handy for roadside emergencies and helping out stranded motorists.
  8. Toolbox – Bring along any tools you might need for minor repairs on the fly: wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and other tools.

Recovery Winch Ropes: Synthetic or Steel Cable?

Recovery winch with synthetic rope

Synthetic rope is safer than steel cable.

When recovery winches first came out on the market, they all came with steel winch cable. Now there’s a new kid on the block: synthetic winch rope. While some offroaders are skeptical of the long-term durability of synthetic rope, others have made the switch and say they’re never going back.

Winch Rope Safety

What’s so special about synthetic winch rope? The biggest advantage, according to most offroaders, is safety. While steel winch cable can snap back violently if it breaks, synthetic rope is lighter and stores less kinetic energy, which means that it doesn’t go very far if it snaps.

We’ve all heard stories about steel cable shattering windshields or causing serious injuries. No one wants that to happen when they’re out for a trail ride…especially if the kids are along. Synthetic winch rope makes recovery operations safer.

Advantages of Synthetic Rope

Besides safety, there are other reasons you might choose synthetic rope over steel cable. Synthetic winch rope is lightweight (less weight hanging off the front of your Jeep), flexible, floats in water, and is easier on your hands—no barbs, no freezing, and no burning.

What About Steel Cable?

Is steel cable ever preferred over synthetic? Yes, if you mainly use your recovery winch for utility tasks like yard work, landscaping, and farm chores. Wire cable holds up better under abrasive conditions.

Synthetic Rope Care

Synthetic winch rope is more expensive than steel cable and requires more care. The synthetic fibers should be protected from the sun (excessive UV exposure can break down the fibers), and you should never leave the rope muddy or wet when spooled on the drum.