So if you are pretty well stuck, try slipping the clutch a little while in first or second gear to see if a slight movement of the wheels helps, but don't let them spin or you will go down deeper! If all else fails, you will have to get the Jackall out and lift in turn both the front and rear of the vehicle using a large base plate to spread the load in order to 'break suction'.
Now let's look at climbing a steep hill. It is obvious you can't safely climb
the hill as it's far too steep, undulating and slippery. You and your colleagues
walk up first, carrying an assortment of webbing tree strops, the extension
wire rope, various shackles and a snatch block.
At the top, where there is a way out, you are lucky in finding a convenient large tree. Large enough, in fact, to need to use the 4m tree strop. You couple the hook end of the extension wire rope to the bow shackle on the strop and run the rope down the hill. In the meantime, someone freespools the drum on the winch and brings the hook of the winch rope up to meet the splice of the rope hanging from the tree
When using a strop or similar object around a tree, place it at the base
Halfway down the hill, a second tree strop is attached to a tree on the edge of the track together with a tow rope, in preparation to secure the vehicle once it is winched up as far as the extension wire rope.
Don't hold the wire like this as you feed it back in - you could trap your hand |
Never use a damaged webbing strop. Cut it up and throw it away |
Because of the long climb it's thought best to assist the winch by letting the clutch out in first gear to conserve battery power. Be very careful when doing this that you don't accidentally overrun the wire rope. If the rope starts to go slack, slowly depress the clutch so the strain is back on the rope.
(c)Goodwinch Limited 2006
