STARTING AND OPERATING
165
Winching (Refer To “Winch Operation”
Winching is most commonly used in the following situ
-
ations: there is no support vehicle available, a high
controlled force is required to recover the vehicle, there
is a high risk of environmental or vehicle damage, or
where nothing else seems to work. A winch can deliver
a high pulling force with a great deal of control. It allows
you to walk the vehicle out of the situation in a slow
controlled manner. This control works well for avoiding
further vehicle damage. Once you decide it is time to
use the winch look for a good anchor point. It needs to
be strong enough to hold more than the vehicle's
weight and provide a direction of pull as straight as
possible. Use block and tackle if necessary to improve
the angle of pull or increase the winch's pulling force. If
the anchor point is a tree use a strap around its base
and hook the cable to the strap. If it is another vehicle,
then place that vehicle in PARK and block the front
tires. If you cannot find an anchor point within reach try
using your spare tire by burying it. Once you have deter
-
mined an anchor point hook up the cable, ensuring
there are a least five wraps of cable left on the drum,
and place a floor mat or something else over the strung
out cable. Placing something over the strung out cable
helps keep the cable on the ground if it breaks. Next,
place the vehicle in FIRST gear and apply a very light
throttle as you power the winch in. Be careful not to
allow slack in the cable as you recover the vehicle. Do
not try to guide the cable into the drum. If it starts to
bunch up on one end, let it. You can re-spool the cable
afterwards. Never use a winch cable as a tow strap and
always stand back while winching.
A
FTER
D
RIVING
O
FF
-R
OAD
Off-road operation puts more stress on your vehicle than
does most on-road driving. After going off-road, it is always
a good idea to check for damage. That way you can get any
problems taken care of right away and have your vehicle
ready when you need it.
Completely inspect the underbody of your vehicle.
Check tires, body structure, steering, suspension, and
exhaust system for damage.
Inspect the radiator for mud and debris and clean as
required.
Check threaded fasteners for looseness, particularly
on the chassis, drivetrain components, steering, and
suspension. Retighten them, if required, and torque to
the values specified in the Service Manual.
Check for accumulations of plants or brush. These
things could be a fire hazard. They might hide damage
to fuel lines, brake hoses, axle pinion seals, and
propeller shafts.
After extended operation in mud, sand, water, or
similar dirty conditions, have the radiator, fan, brake
rotors, wheels, brake linings, and axle yokes inspected
and cleaned as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Never use tow straps with end hooks or link two straps
with a clevis pin. These heavy metal objects could
become projectiles if a strap breaks, which could cause
severe injury. Never leave more than 2 to 3 feet (0.60 to
1 meter) of slack in the strap. More slack than this
greatly increases the risk of injury and vehicle damage.
Always keep everyone at least 30 feet (9 meters) away
from a strapping or winching situation.
WARNING!
Winch cables are under high tension when in use and
can become a projectile if they fail. Never stand over or
straddle the winch cable. Never jerk or overload the
winch cable. Never stand in front of the vehicle while
winching. Failure to follow these instructions can result
in serious or fatal injury.
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