A winch strap is the woven rope and metal hook that attaches to a boat, truck or trailer for towing purposes. They are often used for towing other vehicles.

But you’d be surprised at how many people don’t know what the red strap on their WARN winch is actually for. It’s made to keep your hands and fingers far away from the winch and fairlead when spooling line in.

Registered. Note: The cable should always pull from the bottom of the drum. A minimum of eight wraps is required on the drum for all winching.

The heavier the vehicle, the more powerful winch you’ll need. Your winch should be able to pull at least 1.5 times the weight of your vehicle. You can calculate it by taking the gross vehicle weight and multiply it by 1.5. This is the minimum rating, but certain factors can make your winch capacity be exceeded.

Winch line extensions are similar to tow straps because they do not stretch. Most winches have 100 feet of cable, and you need to keep at least a few wraps of cable on the drum for safety. If there is nothing within 100 feet, an extension can be useful to get to that elusive tree or a vehicle on firm ground.

Samson recommends at least four wraps always be left on the winch drum. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to their low coefficient of friction and high strength, AmSteel®-Blue lines must be worked with at least eight wraps on the drum at all times.)

The rated line pull of 2,000 lbs. will pull a rolling load of 10,050 lbs. If you will be winching any vehicles that are not rolling, the weight capacity will be only what the rated line pull is for that winch, in this case 2,000 lbs.

Trailer Winch Capacity

Yes, The “Snatch” strap stores energy by stretching and when used as a “Tree saver” with a winch could throw metal objects around.

Using your winch as a snatch strap can cause damage and potentially result in equipment failure and/or injury. In most bogging scenarios, a recovery rope or strap is all that is needed. Most of what you are fighting against is suction. Getting stuck in the mud can also be a very common and frequent occurrence.

RISK MANAGEMENT & ASSESSMENT FOR OPERATING A WINCH HAZARD RESULT PRECAUTIONS OPERATOR Untrained Inexperienced Impatience No Safety Equipment or Attire The load may not be prepared for winching properly. The rope may not be properly attached to the load. The load may not be secured properly for transport. May be a danger to others.

Winching for shorter periods will keep your winch and electronics from overheating. This will save your winch for future use. The winch pulls loads of power and can kill your vehicle’s battery quickly. So, never pull for a longer period.

The winch operator must be trained to perform safe winching. While handling the winch cable, sturdy gloves must be worn to protect your hands from injury. You should dress appropriately for winching Winches should never be drowned or submerged in water.

Choose the Right Tool Choose the right tool that is rated for your job. Consider your vehicle’s weight before buying a winch. Select a winch that has enough pulling power to recover your vehicle. If the winch is rated at 1 ton, then you should never use it to move a 2-ton object! Choose other recovery equipment that is right for the job.