John Craddock Ltd Magazine (General News)
There is an art to using 4×4 winches and there’s a big range of accessories with which to free a stuck Land Rover. The first rule of winching is to be safe and follow good practice to reduce the risk of injury or fatality to you or anyone else in the vicinity. When using a new winch or if you are new to winching the key to success is to practice before being out in the field. These powerful pieces of equipment are essential, but if used incorrectly or overloaded, cables can snap, and components can break under high pressure. The resulting slingshot could be deadly.
Safety Tips for 4×4 Winches
There are plenty of websites and forums online offering safety advice for using 4×4 winches and all have these tips in common:
- A single person should be in charge of the winch – only they will operate the switch and will be solely responsible for the recovery of the winch cable. This reduces confusion and the chance of fingers and limbs getting caught.
- Always wear protective gloves.
- Never step over a strap or cable once it has been attached.
- Take care of the winch cable, make sure it is packed tightly and evenly around the drum. Don’t let it bunch at one end. Damaged cables are weakened, reducing the tolerance making them more prone to breaking. If a cable becomes frayed, wearing gloves stops it cutting your hands.
These are just a few basic tips, but remember safety first at all times. We would recommend learning from experienced off roaders at your local Land Rover Club or find further details online.
All the 4×4 Winches You Need at John Craddock Ltd
John Craddock Ltd stocks an extensive range of 4×4 winches and accessories from recovery straps, snatch blocks, tow strops, bumpers and more. With a selection of winches by heavyweights like Warn, ARB and Superwinch, you’ll be back on the trail in no time! Please contact us with any questions about the products we sell.
