Vehicle recovery and winching

                                   

Recovery and winching (even towing) is an important skill to be learned. And yes, they are dangerous and has to be carried out with safety in mind.

For both, be sure you wear safety equipment:  goggles, eyewear, long pants, and safe shoes.

1.  In winching:

     1.  When handling the cables, always wear gloves.  There could be frayed wires that can puncture your hand like hypodermic needles or even worse.

    2.  Stay clear of the cable when winching.  Place a piece of canvass to slow down the speed of cable in case this snaps.   A flaying cable can injure you badly, or even kill.  I learned this lesson the hard way.  A tow rope slipped from the bushes and ran smack into my leg.  I was badly hurt and could not walk for  a week.

    3.  Use tow straps rather than rope.  They are stronger and would not injure you as bad as a rope.

    4.  Use the vehicle frame or the snatch hook or tow hook as anchor point for towing -  do not anchor on the suspension:  spring or even the  steering.  You may wreck these expensive components if the force of towing becomes excessive.

     5.  Use shackles whenever you can.  They are available in most hardware stores.  Always have pliers ready to unshackle after towing because it is difficult to release the nut after a tow.

When you tow, it is better to tow from behind the stuck vehicle.  There is less weight at the back.  Be sure you are assisted by the stuck vehicle in diff lock and on 4 low.  This was tactic we used when we recovered by the stuck vehicle of Kuya Kim on the way to Ambuklao from Aritao NV. (Yes Kuya Kim owned a Def 110!)


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