Vehicle Recovery

Trailmaker · May 11, 2020

olyelr said:
Agreed.

Why not just take the hook off altogether, and when you need to winch get the shackle out and put it through the loop on the cable...is that any different than putting a shackle through a flat link?!

Always want to have tension on the line so that the slack does not get to the 2nd or 3rd wrap or you risk pinching the line on a short pull. But you tie it off using the shackle to the tow hook. Or if you have the synthetic fairlead then you can suck it up tight. I believe a shackle will suck right into a roller.

olyelr · May 11, 2020

Trailmaker said:
Always want to have tension on the line so that the slack does not get to the 2nd or 3rd wrap or you risk pinching the line on a short pull. But you tie it off using the shackle to the tow hook. Or if you have the synthetic fairlead then you can suck it up tight. I believe a shackle will suck right into a roller.

Sounds logical, but in reality, when you relieve the tension initially to unspool, whats the difference? It all loosens up.

I tension my factory hook right to the fairlead. I used to hook it to the tow hook, but its kind of a pain in the ass.

Trailmaker · May 11, 2020

olyelr said:
Sounds logical, but in reality, when you relieve the tension initially to unspool, whats the difference? It all loosens up.

I tension my factory hook right to the fairlead. I used to hook it to the tow hook, but its kind of a pain in the ass.

View attachment 206991

It is to remain taunt till needed. The bouncing around with it lose it what causes it to unspool while driving. I pull mine up like yours, to minimize OV exposure on my rope now. But when I had a wire, I would latch it on the tow hook. If you let it loose or leave it factory spooled and the next/first time you use it and it happens to be only 15-25 feet, then the next time you try to free spool it out, it will not pull out by hand because the cable will embed itself into the loose spool. Been there, done that(it sucks). It is next to impossible to pull it out without hooking it to something and backing out while un-winching. And if you are trying to recover yourself, you are screwed, has you only have 15-20 feet to work with.

judging by the pin in your factory hook, you could not us a large enough shackle to be safe??

olyelr · May 11, 2020

Trailmaker said:
It is to remain taunt till needed. The bouncing around with it lose it what causes it to unspool while driving. I pull mine up like yours, to minimize OV exposure on my rope now. But when I had a wire, I would latch it on the tow hook. If you let it loose or leave it factory spooled and the next/first time you use it and it happens to be only 15-25 feet, then the next time you try to free spool it out, it will not pull out by hand because the cable will embed itself into the loose spool. Been there, done that(it sucks). It is next to impossible to pull it out without hooking it to something and backing out while un-winching. And if you are trying to recover yourself, you are screwed, has you only have 15-20 feet to work with.

Yea, I totally get what you are throwing down. But I keep my wire tensioned...and would even if I didnt have a hook on it.

My original point was flat link or no hook, they both essentially serve the same purpose.

Trailmaker · May 11, 2020

olyelr said:
Yea, I totally get what you are throwing down. But I keep my wire tensioned...and would even if I didnt have a hook on it.

My original point was flat link or no hook, they both essentially serve the same purpose.

Problem with nothing at all it it will pull up into the spool or stay very lose just dangling off the front. You could use a small shackle but I think what would fit in the eyelet would be too small to work with thus causing you to attach another shackle, defeating the purpose... the ultimate or ultra hook has a port for a closed system and the ability to hook straight into a soft shackle or a tow/recovery strap. I think it is worth $150 and not the $250 they are asking, but factor 55 has the patient and the Legacy so they can’t be shopped out at the moment.

TBONE 2018 · May 12, 2020

I went ahead and ordered the factory 55 ultra on Saturday and received it today Through amazon. I guess since I am not spending money at the casino no more since they are all closed I'll spend it on my truck. Thanks for the replays.

bm02tj · May 12, 2020

I use one of these

https://www.daystarweb.com/product/winch-isolator-roller-daystar

Gamedog · Sep 9, 2020

Recovered an older Dodge van that slid off a side road yesterday as a result of the weather turn we're having in Colorado.

No pics, but was an easy recovery as the rear of the van was facing the road and the van had a tow hitch on it. Inserted the extra class IV hitch receiver I have, threw on a shackle, hooked up my winch and pulled them out like butter. All in all took about 10 minutes and they were back on the road. Luckily nothing happened to the van.

Gotta love these PW's!

Trailmaker · Sep 10, 2020

Fellow PW owners,
Let me remind you to stretch the legs on those winches. What happens to motors that do not get used? Some of you have not used your winch in over a year. Pull it all the way out till you get to the last complete wrap ( about 8-10 revolutions around the drum)or until you see the red on your rope for those of you with synthetic cable. Hook it up to another truck or use a tree. Set the parking brake lightly but firm enough to cause resistance. You want to pull it in taunt. And for the last 3-5 feet, pull against it till you hook it on you bumper or pull it back against the fairing.

How sorry would is be to need it, and it be seized up.

Trailmaker · Dec 1, 2020

Winter is here! Check your recovery gear. Run your winch. Fill up you fuel cans(or cycle the fuel in them)make sure you have gloves.

Overlander · Dec 1, 2020

And cycle your lockers! Should be a habit every fuel stop. A moving locker is a happy locker.

Grand Mesa · Jan 24, 2021

Sorry, my Power Wagon had to be recovered yesterday. No excuse. Shame.

I was passing around several cars blocking the roadway and it slid off in a quite similar situation as in the photo below. Fresh snow was up to the passenger side headlight. Got out of my truck to grab my pull strap and fell onto my butt. I deserved it. With both lockers engaged it was pulled right out by a Ford pickup.

Trailmaker · Jan 24, 2021

Grand Mesa said:
Sorry, my Power Wagon had to be recovered yesterday. No excuse. Shame.

I was passing around several cars blocking the roadway and it slid off in a quite similar situation as in the photo below. Fresh snow was up to the passenger side headlight. Got out of my truck to grab my pull strap and fell onto my ass. I deserved it. With both lockers engaged it was pulled right out by a Ford pickup.

View attachment 235048

oh man. Not sure what is worse, falling on you butt or being pulled out by a Ford?

SkeeterBait · Jan 25, 2021

Grand Mesa said:
Sorry, my Power Wagon had to be recovered yesterday. No excuse. Shame.

I was passing around several cars blocking the roadway and it slid off in a quite similar situation as in the photo below. Fresh snow was up to the passenger side headlight. Got out of my truck to grab my pull strap and fell onto my butt. I deserved it. With both lockers engaged it was pulled right out by a Ford pickup.

View attachment 235048

Dang it... That really sucks!! Crowned roads also contributed to that situation.
Happy though that recovery went well.

Grand Mesa · Jan 25, 2021

SkeeterBait said:
Dang it... That really sucks!! Crowned roads also contributed to that situation.
Happy though that recovery went well.

It was a drainage ditch filled with fresh snow along an upward facing mountain slope near our ski area. The road was covered with black ice and so cars were stoppng in the middle to let skiers out. It was recovered immediately.

The ski area is at 8,200 feet elevation. At the 11,000 feet higher elevations it's 500 square miles of flat terrain which can get 30 feet of snow. I carry tire chains, tree straps, shovels, etc. due to getting stuck is OK, but getting stranded isn't.

Overlander · Jan 25, 2021

I was leaving the Mt. Bachelor main lodge parking lot last year and there was a full-size pickup (Chev or Ford, don't remember) taking a nap in the snow bank (on it's side). It was a 'bro truck' (excessive lift, excessive offset, huge rims, etc). It's a 25 mph road. Slick with snow, but completely drivable. He was maybe 300 yards from where he parked. Recovery from legit use should not be a cause for embarrassment. It happens. Road conditions can change quickly. Full retard mode on a public street, OTOH, is a grounds for punishment. Drunk or testosterone, one of the two.

Grand Mesa · Feb 5, 2021

Yesterday, I was driving on Highway 24 near Red Cliff, Colorado and pulled a Jeep Wrangler out of the snow. After thinking about it today, I sometimes forget how beautiful it truly is.

Udy2554 · Feb 21, 2021

Grand Mesa said:
Yesterday, I was driving on Highway 24 near Red Cliff, Colorado and pulled a Jeep Wrangler out of the snow. After thinking about it today, I sometimes forget how beautiful it truly is. View attachment 236615 View attachment 236616

Love those views! I’m jealous!

I NEED to get out there one day! I have a brother-in-law(ex) in Fort Collins! A year(or 2 or 3), I’ll pull my camper out there! (Just gotta save up some gas money!)

1588 miles at 6-7mpg=@[email protected], I’ll be pushing $800+! Just for gas!(I may need to get home too!)

4xdad · Feb 27, 2021

there is lots of video on youtube on winching and recovery slings snatch blocks kinetic ropes shackles of different sizes all stuff I carry at all times not just for me but sometimes other people

4xdad · Feb 27, 2021

the rockies in winter beautiful but can deadly if you are not prepared. thats why I always carry my recovery gear even in the city

Vehicle Recovery

Locked and Loaded

Senior Member

Locked and Loaded

Senior Member

Locked and Loaded

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Locked and Loaded

Locked and Loaded

Senior Member

Senior Member

Locked and Loaded

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page