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WINCH GUIDE
These safety warnings and instructions apply if your vehicle came equipped with a winch or
if you choose to add an accessory winch to your vehicle.
Improper winch use can result in SEVERE INJURY or DEATH. Always follow all winch instructions and
warnings in this manual.
Your winch may have a cable made of either wire rope or specially designed synthetic rope.
The term “winch cable” will be used for either unless noted otherwise.
Winch Safety Precautions
1. Read all sections of this manual.
2. Never use alcohol or drugs before or while operating the winch.
3. Never allow children under 16 years of age to operate the winch.
4. Always wear eye protection and heavy gloves when operating the winch.
5. Always keep body, hair, clothing and jewelry clear of the winch cable, fairlead and hook
when operating winch.
6. Never attempt to “jerk” a load attached to the winch with a moving vehicle. See the
Shock Loading section on page 54.
7. Always keep the area around the vehicle, winch, winch cable and load clear of people
(especially children) and distractions while operating the winch.
8. Always turn the vehicle ignition power OFF when it and the winch are not being used.
9. Always be sure that at least five (5) full turns of winch cable are wrapped around the
winch drum at all times. The friction provided by this wrapped cable allows the drum to
pull on the winch cable and move the load.
10. Always apply your vehicle’s park brake and/or park mechanism to hold the vehicle in
place during winching. Use wheel chocks if needed.
11. Always align the vehicle and winch with the load directly in front of the vehicle as much
as possible. Avoid winching with the winch cable at an angle to the winching vehicle’s
centerline whenever possible.
12. If winching at an angle is unavoidable, follow these precautions:
A. Look at the winch drum occasionally. Never let the winch cable “stack” or accumulate at one
end of the winch drum. Too much winch cable at one end of the winch drum can damage the
winch and the winch cable.
B. If stacking occurs, stop winching. Follow step 15 on page 52 to feed and rewind the cable
evenly before continuing the winch operation.
WARNING