Winch User Guide

1. Motor – Electrical power applied to the motor operates the winch.

2. Winch Drum – The winch drum rotates to pull the rope; rope is gathered on the drum.

3. Winch Rope – Winch rope (synthetic or steel) connects the load to the powered winch drum.

4. Fairlead – The fairlead guides the rope onto the winch drum.

5. Hook Strap – The hook strap is used by the operator to spool rope on and off the winch drum.

6. Gear Selector – The gear selector couples and uncouples the motor to the drum.

7. Winch Capacity Label – Label indicates rated capacity of the winch.

The wireless remote control allows the operator to control the winch via a wireless connection.

The wired remote control allows the operator to control the winch via a wired connection.

The rocker switch allows the operator to control the winch while inside the vehicle.

Snatch Block Pulley – Pulley used to increase winching efficiency, change winching angle or guide rope around obstacles.

D-Shackle – Connects rigging components with looped ends (winch ropes, tree trunk protectors, snatch block pulleys).

Tree Trunk Protector – Used to wrap around trees and other anchor points without damaging them. The strap is usually made of tough, high-quality nylon, and is designed to handle the winching load.

Wheel Chock – Wedge placed on the ground against the wheel to keep the vehicle from moving.

Damper – A piece of heavy, flexible material used to drive rope into the ground and absorb kinetic energy if the rope fails under tension.

Every winching situation involves an anchor point and a load. The anchor point and the load are connected via the winch rope. The winch pulls the load toward the anchor point using the winch rope.

• Anchor Point: The object that bears the load and remains stationary. It can be a natural anchor (trees, stumps, rocks), the winching vehicle, or a second vehicle.

• Load Vehicle: The vehicle that is meant to be moved toward the anchor point. (Other objects may be loads, however this guide only addresses how to use the winch to move a vehicle.)

• Winching Vehicle: The vehicle equipped with the winch. This vehicle pulls the load toward the anchor point.

Example 1: The winching vehicle is also the load vehicle and pulls itself toward an anchor point.

Example 2: The winching vehicle is also the load vehicle and pulls itself toward another vehicle that is acting as the anchor point (shown using wheel chocks).

Example 3: The winching vehicle acts as the anchor point (shown using wheel chocks) and pulls a load vehicle.

Inspect the rope for damage before use. Depending on the type of winch rope being used (wire or synthetic), there are different indicators for whether the rope is in good condition or needs to be replaced.

Kinks and/or frays in a wire rope are an indication that a wire rope is in poor condition and may break under tension. A kinked wire rope is permanently damaged. Do not use or attempt to straighten a kinked wire rope.

Synthetic Rope

Examples that indicate a synthetic rope should be replaced include:

• Powdered fibers in the inner layers of the rope.

• Localized discoloration (indicates the rope has been exposed to chemicals from the vehicle such as oil or coolant).

• Rope fibers are frayed (fuzzy), or cut.

• Visual damage such as abrasion or cuts.

• Flat areas or lumps on the rope that cannot be eliminated by flexing the rope.

• Glazed or stiff areas caused by fused or melted fibers.

During the first uses of a synthetic rope, outer fibers will break and roughen the surface of the rope and appear to fuzz up. Slight roughness is normal, but if a synthetic rope continues to roughen or abrade it is an indication the rope is damaged and may break under tension.

1. Turn the clutch lever on the winch to disengage the clutch and allow free spooling. On Pro winches, the correct position will be marked with an N (Neutral) visible through the clutch engagement knob. Other winches will be marked “LOCK” and “FREE.” Manual unspooling using this method conserves battery power.

   IMPORTANT

   Do not attempt to turn the clutch lever when the rope is under tension. Damage to clutch lever could occur.
   

2. Grab the hook strap, do not grab the hook or the rope. Use the strap to pull the rope to the load or anchor point. Avoid pulling out more rope than necessary.

   WARNING

   Make sure the minimum length of rope remains wrapped around the drum at all times. Wire and synthetic rope should not have fewer than five rotations on the drum. This provides the friction needed for the drum to pull the rope and move the load. Attempting to winch a load without enough rope on the drum could cause the rope to come loose from the drum resulting in unintended motion or loss of load. Ropes and cables are marked with red paint to signify the minimum safe working wraps. If any red extends through the fairlead, rewind the winch until no more red is visible past the fairlead before applying tension to the rope.

3. Use an anchor point aligned directly in front of the vehicle whenever possible. Avoid winching with the winch rope at an angle to the center line.

4. When attaching the hook to a natural anchor point, use additional rigging components such as a tree trunk protector so the winch rope remains completely straight.

5. When attaching the hook to a vehicle, attach to a part of the frame intended for towing such as a tow loop, tow hook or hitch.

   WARNING

   Improper use of the hook can cause rope failure which can result in serious injury or death.

   • Make sure the hook latch is fully closed. Do not load at the hook tip or latch.

     

   • Never attach the hook back onto the rope.

     WARNING

     Attaching the hook back onto the rope can cause rope failure, which could result in serious injury or death.
     

   • Never attach the hook to a suspension component, brush guard, bumper, hitch ball or cargo rack.

1. Make sure no people are within rope hazard area when winching a load.

2. Turn the clutch lever on Pro winches winch from N (Neutral) to L (Low) to engage the clutch. On standard winches move clutch from FREE to LOCK.

   IMPORTANT

   Do not use H (High gear) for winching. Only use H for spooling rope without a load.
   

3. Use the winch control to remove slack.

4. Put the winch rope under light tension. Press and hold the IN button on the remote control to wind the rope until no slack remains. Do not start pulling the load. Once slack is removed, do not step over the rope.

• Winching involves significant energy consumption. Running the winch too long can cause the motor to overheat and fail. Keep the duration of winch operation as short as possible.

• Allow the motor to cool between uses to prevent overheating.

• The winch can be run for up to five minutes without load (spooling rope in or out).

• The winch should not be run for more than 30-seconds under load. Allow the winch to rest for three minutes between 30-second pulls.

• Stop winching occasionally and check the rope on the winch drum.

• Never let the winch rope “stack” or accumulate at one end of the winch drum. Too much winch cable at one end of the winch drum can damage the winch and the winch rope. If stacking occurs, stop winching. Rewind the rope evenly before continuing winch operation.

• Never winch up or down at sharp angles. This can destabilize the winching vehicle and cause it to move without warning.

• Pinched Rope: If the rope becomes pinched or wedged between other portions of the rope on the drum, do not attempt to fix the rope while under tension. Alternate powering the winch in and out until the rope is no longer pinched.

  NOTICE

  A pinched or bound rope could wind around the spool in the wrong direction when using IN or OUT controls.
  

• Stacked Rope: When winching at an angle the rope can stack up at one end of the drum and damage the winch. Spool out the rope and respool it evenly on the drum. If the rope continues to stack, try a different anchor point or a new winching strategy.

  

• If the winch slows down significantly or stalls, stop winching, relieve tension on the rope, and allow the winch to rest. Consider a different winching strategy so the load does not exceed the pulling capacity of the winch.

• On a long pull it may be necessary to stop winching and reposition the damper to the mid-point of the rope. Always relieve tension on the rope before repositioning the damper.

• Running the winch too long can drain the battery. Even if the engine is idling during winch operation the battery may drain faster than the vehicle can recharge. Make sure vehicle stays running during winch operation to prevent loss of battery charge and possible non-start condition.

• Stop winching before the hook reaches the fairlead.

When the load vehicle is on stable ground and able to be driven, put its transmission in Park (P).

Press and hold the OUT button on the winch control until tension is relieved. Disconnect rigging components.

• If the rope became stacked during winching, unspool the stacked portion before respooling.

• If the rope became pinched or wedged into lower rope layers during winching, unspool the pinched or wedged portion before respooling.

• Spool the rope so it winds evenly across the drum. Keep hands away from fairlead and spool.

  

• When spooling the rope, walk the rope in while holding by the winch strap. Do not let the rope run through a person’s hands. Guide the rope using light tension. A second person is recommended when spooling and unspooling rope.

  

• Store the hook under light tension at the fairlead, or connect to a suitable location on the vehicle.