Friday, October 19, 2012

A Primer on Winching, Part 1 [From Badlands Off-Road Adventures]


Rigging a "floating" pulley. 2nd parachute will be added next.

If you spend any significant amount of time in difficult terrain, you're bound to encounter a recovery situation at some point. It could be either your vehicle or someone else's. And a winch may be the proper tool at that time. This is a good time to review recovery, and winching in particular.
The steps that follow are taken from my nifty and exclusive Winch Recovery Bandana. Keep in mind that these tips and the information provided on the bandana are not a substitute for proper training, sound judgment and quality equipment.
Every winching operation should start with a plan in your mind as to how you'll rig it up. Winching is a risky procedure; proceed very slowly and methodically. You're dealing with material and parts that are subject to a tremendous amount of force. A mistake can be fatal, as I pointed out in "Don't Lose Your Head While Recovering a Vehicle." Take your time.
Winching begins with a walkthrough. You want to inspect all parts and lines while the system is under light tension. If everything looks good, you can power up and proceed with the recovery.
The vehicle doing the recovery is kept in neutral with the emergency brake on. Having the transmission in neutral protects the parking pawl. Chock the front wheels if you can. (Some people even anchor this vehicle to a tree or other vehicle.) You do not want that vehicle to move. Start the winch slowly so you take up some of the slack.
Lines that are slack while on ground take on a new dimension when under tension. You need to check them before proceeding with the recovery. The lines may be binding or twisting. They could be rubbing against an edge on the bumper or other body part. In some cases the lines end up right over a taillight. Under load those lines will smash the cover and bulb.
Check all connections. Start at one end of the line and work your way through. Are any connections about to be pulled through the pulley? Adjust as needed.
Keep the engine running, or its battery will be drained dry. Even though the emergency brake is on, someone should be in the recovery vehicle applying pressure to the brakes. Now review the winch cable as it is leaving the winch. Does it leave at greater than a 15 degree angle? If so, it will start to pile up on one side of the drum, causing the cable to snag and possibly break that side of the winch. If you see the cable starting to pile up, stop winching. Disconnect the cable, pull it out manually, and wind it up neatly. Always start with your cable properly wound on the drum. Then, consider moving the recovery vehicle or pulley to decrease the angle of pull.
When you winch at greater than a 15 degree angle, there's a greater chance of the cable rubbing or getting caught on the bumper of the recovery vehicle. There may be times when you have no choice but to winch at a severe angle. Just watch the cable closely.
As you're paying out the cable, remember the Rule of 5: Keep at least five turns of cable on the drum at all times (eight turns for synthetic cable, because it's slippery). If you don't keep a minimum amount, the tremendous force of recovery will pull the rest of the cable right off the drum.
If you have a large blanket, toss it over the pulley. (See image. ) Called a parachute by 4-wheelers, this blanket will absorb some of the energy should the cable snap.
Keep an eye on the parachute during winching. It has a tendency to ride up the cable. You don't need that jamming into the pulley or winch. Stop the winching if necessary to move the blanket.
Position spotters to watch the lines and pulley. (They should off to the sides of the vehicles. No one should be in the path of the lines.) Winch slowly, and pay particular attention to portions of cables nearest the vehicles. You're watching for any binding, rubbing and twisting. Make sure, also, that the vehicle being recovered is behaving properly. You may need to stop the winching and adjust the whole arrangement.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this is just part of the entire winching process. Next month we'll review the corresponding steps, which take more of a strategic view.
Until then, good winching!

Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures


I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-374-8047
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
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Sunday, October 7, 2012

ORE 2012 FREE SHIPPING reminder! - Ends today at midnight.

Hello Rock-Biting Jeepers!

The show's rockin' at Off Road Expo here in Pomona!
Wish you were here! But, if not, at least you can take advantage of the Off Road Expo 2012 Free Shipping Sale...
ORE Free Ship Sale, Metalcloak
Just wanted to take a moment and remind you that the FREE SHIPPING SALE ENDS TODAY!
Just use the online code OREFreeShip2012. (Free Shipping for the lower 48 only and does not include Extended Corner Guards.)

We'll see you on the rocks...
Matson "Matsonian" Breakey
MetalCloak.com
916-631-8071


Friday, October 5, 2012

Off Road Expo, Free Shipping, and some great pics.

Hello Rock-Biting Jeepers!
We're down at the Lucas Oil Off Road Expo which starts tomorrow, Saturday, October 6. It's early on Friday and we're just getting ready to head out to the fairgrounds and set up our booth, showing off some of the components that make the Metalcloak suspension line such a game-changer.
If you are anywhere near Southern California, I urge you to come out to Off Road Expo this weekend. It is a great show with some amazing vendors... and make sure to stop by. I always like meeting our friends.
QUICK REMINDER: FREE SHIPPING is available storewide! Off Road Expo is our excuse, but really we are celebrating YOU, our amazing customers.
Here's the fine print: Free shipping excludes Extended Corner Guards and is for the lower 48 States only (sorry friends in Hawaii and Alaska (and our International customers) call Will to see if we can at least give you a discount. This cannot be combined with any other coupon offer or gift certificate.
FREE SHIPPING is an ONLINE ONLY offer, so use the code OREFreeShip2012.
Matson

FRAME-BUILT BUMPER SALE CONTINUES!
When something is popular, you've just got to keep it going! And so it is with our Frame-Built Bumper Sale!
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For a limited time ALL METALCLOAK FRAME-BUILT FRONT BUMPERS ARE ONSALE AT 15% OFF!
Both JK Frame-Built Front Bumpers and CJ/YJ/TJ/LJ Frame-Built Front Bumpers are now all 15% Off!
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That's an incredible savings!
The Bumper Sale is already programmed in to our site and needs no code.

PICS OF THE WEEK...
A few great pics from our Facebook Page... Check us out at Facebook.com/metalcloak for these and more pics...
Pic of the Week
Pic of the Week
Pic of the Week
Pic of the Week

We'll see you on the rocks!
Matson "Matsonian" Breakey
MetalCloak.com
916-631-8071

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

ORE 2012 Free Shipping Starts TODAY!

Hello Rock-Biting Jeepers!
With the Lucas Oil Off Road Expo coming this weekend, October 6&7, to Pomona, California, we were well prepared to offer FREE SHIPPING to our friends who came by the booth.
But, since I won my debut race at NorCal Rock Racing this past weekend, we decided to celebrate by starting the FREE SHIPPING today!
That's right. Starting today, FREE SHIPPING is available storewide (excluding extended corners) for the lower 48 states (sorry friends in Hawaii and Alaska, call Will to see if we can at least give you a discount.
FREE SHIPPING is an ONLINE ONLY offer, so use the code OREFreeShip2012.
This cannot be combined with any other coupon offer or gift certificate.
Matson

JUST BECAUSE FRAME-BUILT BUMPER SALE CONTINUES!
When something is popular, you've just got to keep it going! And so it is with our Frame-Built Bumper Sale!
Header
For a limited time ALL METALCLOAK FRAME-BUILT FRONT BUMPERS ARE ONSALE AT 15% OFF!
Both JK Frame-Built Front Bumpers and CJ/YJ/TJ/LJ Frame-Built Front Bumpers are now all 15% Off!
Header
That's an incredible savings!
The Bumper Sale is already programmed in to our site and needs no code.

PICS OF THE WEEK...
A self serving pic here... before the racing started I wanted to document the occassion. This was before we had a transmission fire and broke a u-joint... and way before any of us had any clue I'd win my first race.
The man behind me is Will, most of you know him as the guy who answers the phone and takes your orders, and the guy in front is the famous Randy Avery. Without those two the win would not have been possible. But they are only part of the story. We had lots of others help too including Rob, our master welder, Bob, Caleb, Blake and Aaron. As well as our sponsors including Raceline, Reid Racing, PitBull Tires, Ruff Stuff Specialties, Sierra Gear and Axle and so many more great companies.
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We'll see you on the rocks!
Matson "Matsonian" Breakey
MetalCloak.com
916-631-8071