Rather than get into which winch is best, which winch line to use - how big a winch I should buy, this week we will talk winching etiquette. This goes for all brands, all winch sizes etc...
This came from yesterdays wheeling day.
I had a new to me group out for a relatively easy wheeling day - for me anyway. I don't go on the trail with new wheelers very often so I kinda skipped a step in a winching process. One driver tried a mud hole and got stuck so I had to unwind my trusty 8274 and drag him out. I should have taken a couple minutes with the driver to make sure he undestood the winching process, that he was looking at me as the winch operator and what we both were trying to do to get his Jeep out of the spot. It was not a hard pull so what happened was I pulled a bit then his tires came unstuck then he drove a few feet forward almost driving over my winch line, he had no tow hooks so we attached to his shackle, then my very fast winch sucked up that line and jerked his Jeep and when I stuck my hand out the window trying to get him to stop he wasn't looking at me and was spinning his tires generally making things worse for his Jeep and for my winching gear, and dangerous for people around.
I had to get the process stopped and go talk to the driver. and get a few things sorted out. He was very new to winching, and really didn't know any better, and I should have known better as well.
Here are some standard winching hand signs, that work if there is a person outside the vehicle directing the driver operating the winch. It can also work in the situation we were in but then both the winch operator (me working in cab controls of my winch) and the driver of the stuck vehicle need to be watching that ground spotter.
The big one missing here is STOP don't do anything or stop everything. If the spotter or ground person holds up his hands to stop, everything needs to stop till its clear to start the recovery or restart. It doesn't mean you have to follow these but what you do need to make sure is that the driver and the winch operator are in tune and understand what you're about to do, when to go, when to stop, direction of tires, keeping the winch line snug so the gear doesn't snatch and grab and get damaged.
Whatever your recovery techniques make sure everyone around knows the proper procedures your about to use. NEVER presume (as I did yesterday) everyone knows how to properly recover a vehicle or operate a winch.
Stay safe and happy wheeling!
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