Front Mounted Winch Recovery Techniques

[True Bee]

Just a couple brief comments since I’m so late to this conversation.

Your original idea would never work in the real world you will be pulling your truck apart. The rear anchor point would certainly try to shorten pulling your vehicle to the rear, however your winch is also an anchor point. It will certainly try to pull your vehicle forward at the same time. Also remember you doubled the power every time you fold it back on itself so excluding the top one which is only a directional change you achieved at least eight times the power I don’t remember after writing all this.

I recall having another conversation where safety was considered a take it or leave it kind of decision. For safety sake a rule of thumb is whenever possible do not use metal in your system and always always use a dampener of some kind even a tool bag or a jacket.

You are better served carrying something like a
Deadman Off-road
earth anchor over carrying a whole bunch of extra line.

Use care with the exhaust jacks I have seen them work very well and I have seen them violently explode instantly dropping the vehicle.

 

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[pinebaron]

Just a couple brief comments since I’m so late to this conversation.

Your original idea would never work in the real world you will be pulling your truck apart.

I got the idea from the link below.
Using a forward-mount winch to go backwards

 

[True Bee]

I got the idea from the link below.
Using a forward-mount winch to go backwards

I'm not disrespecting you but that guy is using a toy in an attempt to prove physics and he failed miserably. He proves my point a couple minutes in and I had to quit watching. So he's using all these load cells and if you watch closely those are what prove my point. The main thing to consider is the winching line must shorten that's how the winch works the distance between the drum and the connecting rigging shortens, pulling the load along. He accomplishes this with all those load cells; notice they are moving. In the real world I don't believe the vehicle would move whatsoever but you might tear up some trees or move some rocks. No matter what you are applying force, and I believe the exact same force by the way, to both ends of your vehicle so what does not stretch will break. In his world of course the tiny RC with no traction slides along with the load cells, which you can clearly see moving several inches.

It's just a puzzle follow it through. I don't recommend anybody attempted his configuration but certainly everyone is welcome to live their own life. On another note winches move slow to begin with and every time you double it your load will move slower. If you folded it back on itself in front three times your load will move so slow you probably won't even notice lol.

The most important things I could tell you about winching is never allow anyone to stand in line with the line where it can reach them. Always use a dampener of some kind, even if nine times out of 10 a synthetic rope will simply drop out of the way do you want to be responsible for that one time out of 10 it flies through the air with incredible force.
On that note that's why you only want to use metal parts if you absolutely must so soft shackles are your friend.

This is not all inclusive and you obviously are not a man to allow pride to get in your way I completely respect that and recommend a legitimate off-road training which could be a fun experience for you and your wife together. I have seen them as little as an hour teaching you winching safety and technique up to a couple of days running a small convoy through increasingly difficult terrain allowing everyone to familiarize with their vehicles and grow confidence along with their skills.

Oh I almost forgot, verify the load rating on every piece of your structure.

 

[pinebaron]

I'm not disrespecting you but that guy is using a toy in an attempt to prove physics and he failed miserably.

I get it. I had to start somewhere and it was the purpose of this thread, to learn from others and experienced members, provided invaluable advise about recovery equipment etc. I have since, accumulated a fair amount of recovery gear, perhaps adequate for several situations, perhaps not all.

 

[NHAT4SFD]

I get it. I had to start somewhere and it was the purpose of this thread, to learn from others and experienced members, provided invaluable advise about recovery equipment etc. I have since, accumulated a fair amount of recovery gear, perhaps adequate for several situations, perhaps not all.

Buy an old jeep, they are inexpensive, easy to repair and light. Go get it stuck and experiment.. Cheaper and safer than a fullsize truck...

I've been jeeping and recovering for years... and this is my winch mount trying to get out of a deep hole.... the metal bent before the winch failed... I knew I was pushing it, but at the time, I could have easily just done a rear pull with a cradle winch but was being stubborn at the time...

 

[pinebaron]

Buy an old jeep, they are inexpensive, easy to repair and light. Go get it stuck and experiment.. Cheaper and safer than a fullsize truck...

I've been jeeping and recovering for years... and this is my winch mount trying to get out of a deep hole.... the metal bent before the winch failed... I knew I was pushing it, but at the time, I could have easily just done a rear pull with a cradle winch but was being stubborn at the time...

I'll play around with the full size truck and hopefully live to tell the tale; trucks can be replaced.

 

[bookemdanno]

I just watched this video and immediately thought of you @pinebaron
I like helping others spend money

 

[pinebaron]

I just watched this video and immediately thought of you @pinebaron
I like helping others spend money

LOL. I think I’ve run out things to spend on recovery gear. A bunch of more stuff arrived today to help secure recovery gear in the bed.

 

[pinebaron]

I replied to your other post on it bud. Let me know how you like the molle panels. I'm on the fence about getting them, I have heard awesome things about them though.

A bunch of stuff came in but the molle side panel is installed; nothing hanging on it just yet, thats for the next day or two.

 

[pinebaron]

A bunch of stuff came in but the molle side panel is installed; nothing hanging on it just yet, thats for the next day or two.
View attachment 22057
View attachment 22058

For the molle panel's two outer mounts, I still used the cargo tie-down rings and hardware that came with the truck since I did not want to lose use of those tie-downs, I've used them in the past and they are a lot stronger than parts that came with the molle panel.

 

[Johnv76]

How sturdy is the molle panel? What is the panels made of? Looks good bud.

 

[pinebaron]

How sturdy is the molle panel? What is the panels made of? Looks good bud.

Feels light yet sturdy, it’s aluminium it seems.

 

[Johnv76]

Feels light yet sturdy, it’s aluminium it seems.

Which brand did you end up going with?

 

[pinebaron]

Which brand did you end up going with?

Putco; that's what you recommended from what I remember Expensive for sure but they work. Comes with just installation hardware, no molle clamps etc. I had to order them separately from Putco.

 

[pinebaron]

Another large box of goodies with two toolbars, two gas springs and a Quick Fist Clamp mounting kit, from DIAMONDBACK is also here, as yet unopened; I'm waiting for the Rivet Nut Setter kit to arrive from Harbor Freight.
Yet to order/pickup: Farmjack and bolts for Rivet Nuts.