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The helmet is, without question, the most important accessory for any ATV driver. But, what is the most important accessory on the ATV itself? For many drivers it’s the ATV winch.
Here is an outline of the most useful aspects and conditions of an ATV winch, along with some handy user techniques.
ATV winches are useful for much more than just extracting trapped ATVs. A winch can be used when lowering your ATV down a treacherous ravine or going up a steep slope. You can use a winch to pull another stranded ATV when there are no suitable anchors nearby. It is also handy when towing other vehicles, pulling heavy equipment and clearing trails. There are, in fact, dozens of uses for ATV winches.
Here are a few of the ways that you can use your ATV winch:
Extracting a stuck ATV
First and foremost, put your gloves on to protect your hands from barbs on the wire cables. Next, disengage the clutch, free the winch hook and attach the hook strap. Always remember to use a hook strap, because winch hooks create a tremendous pull and you could puncture your hand if you’re not careful. Now, pull the cable towards the anchor point.
Always choose a natural anchor such as a tree or boulder when selecting an anchor point, and be sure it is strong enough to withstand the pull. Strong, sturdy trees are usually the best choices. Secure the choker around the anchor, and then attach the clevis shackle to both ends of the choker and the hook loop. Next, lock the clutch, connect the remote control and create tension on the wire rope. The winch works best if you create considerable slack by “free spooling” the drum at the start of your winching operation.
With proper tension on the rope, stand back and inspect everything. Check the ATV, the anchor, all connections and your surroundings. Make sure you lay something heavy at the midway point over the wire cable. In the rope snaps loose the object will help to hold the rope down.
Once you are confident with this aspect of your ATV winch, you’ll find that many other situations are similar. If you understand the basic operation and respect the safety measures, you’re off to a pretty good start.
Essentials of the ATV Winch
A winches is priceless in situations when your ATV is stalled, because it is battery operated. Always check the battery load before leaving home.
The most common ATV winch accessories are the choker chain, tree trunk protector and recovery strap. If you are using a tree as an anchor and think you may be damaging the trunk by using the choker chain alone, then use a tree protector. You can also use this accessory on a boulder, although it works best on trees.
Recovery straps are stretchable and not the best choices for winching operations. These accessories are best used to ‘snatch’ hard stuck vehicles.
Filed under: ATV Parts