3
General Safety Information
1. READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS MANUAL
BEFORE OPERATING YOUR WINCH. After
installing the Winch, practice using it before the
need arises. NEVER ALLOW PERSONS
UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS PRODUCT TO
OPERATE IT. ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY
GLASSES WHILE WORKING WITH
MACHINERY.
2. DO NOT EXCEED RATED CAPACITY OF THE
WINCH. DO NOT OVERLOAD! DO NOT
ATTEMPT PROLONGED PULLS OF HEAVY
LOADS! Overloads can damage the Winch
and/or the wire rope and create unsafe
operating conditions. FOR LOADS OVER 75%
OF THE RATED WINCH CAPACITY, WE
RECOMMEND THE USE OF A PULLEY BLOCK
(not included) TO DOUBLE LINE THE WIRE
ROPE . (Figure 2). This reduces the load on the
Winch, the strain on the wire rope, and electrical
system.
3. THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHOULD BE
RUNNING DURING WINCH OPERATION. If
winching is performed with the engine turned
off, the battery may be too weak to restart the
engine.
4. DO NOT operate your vehicle to assist the
Winch in pulling the load. The combination of
the Winch and vehicle pulling together could
overload the wire rope and the Winch.
5. WHEN IN USE, ALWAYS STAND CLEAR OF
WIRE ROPE, HOOK AND WINCH.
6. INSPECT WIRE ROPE AND EQUIPMENT
FREQUENTLY. A FRAYED, KINKED OR FLAT-
TENED WIRE ROPE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED
IMMEDIATELY. Periodically check the Winch
installation to ensure that all bolts are tight.
7. USE HEAVY LEATHER GLOVES when
handling wire rope. DO NOT LET WIRE ROPE
SLIDE THROUGH YOUR GLOVED OR
UNGLOVED HANDS. ALWAYS USE THE
HAND-SAVER STRAP when guiding the wire
rope in or out. (Figure 3)
8. NEVER WINCH WITH LESS THAN 5 WRAPS
OF WIRE ROPE AROUND THE WINCH DRUM
since the wire rope end fastener may NOT
withstand full load.
9. KEEP CLEAR OF WINCH, TAUT WIRE ROPE
AND HOOK WHEN OPERATING WINCH.
NEVER STEP OVER TAUT WIRE ROPE.
10. NEVER HOOK THE WIRE ROPE BACK
ONTO ITSELF. This could damage the wire
rope. Use a nylon sling for this type connection.
(Figure 4)
11. It is a good idea to lay a heavy cloth (such
as a blanket or tarp) over the wire rope near the
hook end when pulling heavy loads (Figure 5). If
a wire rope failure should occur, the cloth will
act as a damper and help prevent the wire rope
from whipping.
12. NEVER USE YOUR WINCH FOR LIFTING
OR MOVING PEOPLE!
13. YOUR WINCH IS NOT INTENDED FOR
OVERHEAD HOISTING OPERATIONS.
Your TraKker
™
Winch is a very powerful machine.
If used unsafely or improperly, serious personal
injury and/or property damage can result.
WARNING
Figure 3
Figure 2
Figure 4
Figure 5
