GO PREPARED™
5
WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
GO PREPARED™
4
WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
CAUTIONCAUTION
NOTICE
CAUTION CAUTION
CAUTION
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT
HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions
could lead to minor or moderate
injury.
General Safety:
• Always Know Your Winch. Take time to fully
read the Installation and Operations Guide,
and Basic Guide to Winching Techniques, in
order to understand your winch and its
operation.
• Never operate this winch if you are under
16 years of age.
• Never operate this winch when under the
influence of drugs, alcohol or medication.
• Never exceed winch or rope capacity listed on
product data sheet. Double line using a snatch
block to reduce winch load.
• Never use winch or rope for towing.
Installation Safety:
• Always choose a mounting location that is
sufficiently strong to withstand the maximum
pulling capacity of your winch.
• Always use factory approved mounting
hardware, components, and accessories.
• Always use grade 5 (grade 8.8 metric) or
better hardware.
• Never weld mounting bolts.
• Always use care when using longer bolts
than those supplied from factory. Bolts that
are too long can damage the base and/or
prevent the winch from being mounted
securely.
• Always mount the winch and attach the hook
to the rope’s end loop before connecting the
electrical wiring.
• Always position fairlead with WARNING label
on top.
• Always spool the rope onto the drum in the
direction specified by the winch warning label
on the winch and/or documentation. This is
required for the automatic brake (if so
equiped) to function properly.
• Always prestretch rope and respool under
load before use. Tightly wound rope reduces
chances of "binding", which can damage the
rope.
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT
HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions
could lead to minor or moderate
injury.
Winching Safety:
• Always inspect rope, hook, and slings before
operating winch. Frayed, kinked or damaged
rope must be replaced immediately. Damaged
components must be replaced before
operation. Protect parts from damage.
• Never leave wired remote control plugged into
winch when free spooling, rigging, or when the
winch is not being used.
• Never hook rope back onto itself. This
damages the rope.
• Always use a choker chain, choker rope, or
tree trunk protector on the anchor.
• Always remove any element or obstacle that
may interfere with safe operation of the
winch.
• Always take time to use appropriate rigging
techniques for a winch pull.
• Always be certain the anchor you select will
withstand the load and the strap or chain will
not slip.
• Never engage or disengage clutch if winch is
under load, rope is in tension or drum is
moving.
• Always select an anchor point as far away as
possible. This will provide the winch with its
greatest pulling power.
• Never touch rope or hook while in tension or
under load.
• Never touch rope or hook while someone else
is at the control switch or during winching
operation.
• Always stand clear of rope and load and keep
others away while winching.
• Always be aware of stability of vehicle and
load during winching, keep others away. Alert
all bystanders of any unstable condition.
• Never use a winch to secure a load.
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT
HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions
could lead to minor or moderate
injury.
Winching Safety:
• Always keep wired remote control lead clear
of the drum, rope, and rigging. Inspect for
cracks, pinches, frayed wires or loose
connections. Replace remote control if
damaged.
• Always pass wired remote control through a
window to avoid pinching lead in door, when
using remote inside a vehicle.
• Never leave remote control where it can be
activated during free spooling, rigging, or
when the winch is not being used.
• Always require operators and bystanders to
be aware of vehicle and or load.
CUT AND BURN HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions
could lead to minor or moderate
injury.
To avoid injury to hands or fingers:
•Always wear heavy leather gloves when
handling a rope.
•Never let rope slip through your hands.
•Always be aware of possible hot surface at
winch motor, drum or rope during or after
winch use.
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT
HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions
could lead to minor or moderate
injury.
• Always use a hook with a latch.
• Always ensure hook latch is closed and not
supporting load.
• Never apply load to hook tip or latch. Apply
load only to the center of hook.
• Never use a hook whose throat opening has
increased, or whose tip is bent or twisted.
AVOID WINCH AND EQUIPMENT
DAMAGE
• Always avoid side pulls which can pile up
rope at one end of the drum. This can damage
rope or winch.
• Always ensure the clutch is fully engaged or
disengaged.
• Never use winch to tow other vehicles or
objects. Shock loads can momentarily exceed
capacity of rope and winch.
• Always avoid “powering out” rope for
extended distances. This causes excess heat
and wear on the winch motor and brake.
• Always use care to not damage the vehicle
frame when anchoring to a vehicle during a
winching operation.
• Never "jog" rope under load. Shock loads can
momentarily exceed capacity of rope and
winch.
• Never use winch to secure a load during
transport.
• Never submerge winch in water.
• Always store the remote control in a
protected, clean, dry area.
• Always double line or pick distant anchor
point when rigging. This maximizes pulling
power and avoids overloading the winch.
