Winching Basics: Before you pull, spool

[Looper]

During its first use, a new winch rope must be spooled onto its drum under a load of at least 450 kgs. If the winch has been used and the winding has not been done under load this process needs to be followed again. Do it after every use so that you have a chance to inspect the rope as well as there are no overlaps. 

Use the following instructions to properly stretch the winch rope onto the winch drum.

1. Choose a FLAT AND LEVEL location that is large enough to run out almost the entire length of winch rope.
2. Disengage clutch on the winch & grasp hook strap and spool out the winch rope to the last 5 wraps on the drum (10 wraps if synthetic rope).
3. Once the winch rope is spooled out, engage winch clutch.
4. Attach the hook end of the rope to a suitable anchor point.
5. Back the vehicle away from the anchor point until there is very little slack in the winch rope.
6. Set the parking brake, place the vehicle in park & exit the vehicle, power-in the winch until all of the slack is wound onto the winch drum. (Stand approximately 8 ft. away from the winch)
7. With gloves on, hold tension on the winch rope with one hand; carefully push the winch rope to the side of the drum the winch rope is attached to so there are no gaps between each coil on the drum.
8. Be sure to check that the winch rope is winding off of the bottom of the drum or the automatic load holding brake will not function properly.

The following steps should be done using two people for proper safety. If you attempt to tension your winch rope alone, be sure to always set the parking brake, place the transmission in gear or park and turn the vehicle off every time you exit the vehicle to inspect the winch rope. The driver of the vehicle should operate the winch. Instruct your assistant to stand to the side of the vehicle and away from the winch rope.

9. Start the vehicle if switched off and place the transmission in neutral. Then release the parking brake while applying moderate brake pedal pressure.
10. Power-in the winch rope to start winching in. After winching in for approximately 6 ft. (2m), stop winching. Slowly let up off of the brake pedal and then apply the parking brake. This will ensure that there is no load on the winch rope.
11. Exit the vehicle and inspect the winch to make sure that the winch rope is being evenly wound onto the winch drum and not sinking into the lower layer. If the winch rope is sinking, power out the winch rope by pushing the power-out button on the remote control and repeat this step from the beginning with more brake pedal pressure.
12. When you are convinced the winch rope is winding onto the winch drum properly, repeat steps until the vehicle is within 6 ft. of the winch anchor. Once within 6 ft., slowly let up off of the brake pedal and then apply the parking brake. This will ensure that there is no load on the winch rope. Then place the transmission in park and turn the vehicle off.
13. Exit the vehicle. Disconnect the hook from the anchor. While holding onto the hook strap, hold tension on the winch rope and slowly power-in the winch by “pulsing” the power-in button on your remote control until the hook is within 3 ft. of the fairlead. 
14. Stop winching in and attach the hook to a suitable anchor point on the vehicle. Once the hook is suitably attached to the vehicle, power-in the remaining slack in the winch rope by “pulsing” the power-in button on your remote control until there is minimal slack in the winch rope.

Source: Warn Industries

PS: A sabkha or the end point of a drive is an ideal place to do the spooling process. A suitable anchor point is another vehicle with the driver inside holding the brake, as we might not find any trees and such. When I did it for the first time the anchor car was in the desert, on a slightly inclined (up) position from my car. The slight incline and the desert sand gave it an effective anchor point strength and while I winched, I did not apply break, as the incline had the same effect.

Edited September 12, 2022 by Looper

[Frederic]

 

[Looper]

2 hours ago, Frederic said:

 

Thank you @Frederic for this link.