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WINCH GUIDE
Shock Loading
WARNING! Your winch cable is very strong but it is NOT designed for dynamic,
or “shock” loading. Shock loading may tension a winch cable beyond its strength
and cause the cable to break. The end of a broken winch cable under such high
loading can cause SEVERE INJURY or DEATH to you and other bystanders.
Winch cables are designed to NOT absorb energy. This is true of both
wire-rope and synthetic-rope winch cables.
1. Never attempt to “jerk” a load with the winch. For example, never
take up slack in the winch cable by moving the winching vehicle in
an attempt to move an object. This is a dangerous practice. It gener-
ates high winch cable loads that may exceed the strength of the
cable. Even a slowly moving vehicle can create large shock loads in
a winch cable.
WARNING! SEVERE INJURY or DEATH can result from a broken winch cable.
2. Never quickly turn the winch ON and OFF repeatedly (“jogging”).
This puts extra load on the winch, winch cable, and generates
excessive heat from the motor. This is a form of shock loading.
3. Never tow a vehicle or other object with your winch. Towing an
object with a winch produces shock loading of the cable even when
towing at slow speeds. Towing from a winch also positions the
towing force high on the vehicle. This can cause instability of the
vehicle and possibly lead to an accident.
4. Never use recovery straps with your winch. Recovery straps are
designed to stretch and can store energy. This stored energy in the
recovery strap is released if a winch cable fails making the event
even more hazardous. Similarly, never use elastic “bungie” cords
for winching.
5. Never use the winch to tie down a vehicle to a trailer or other
transportation vehicle. This type of use also causes shock loading
that can cause damage to the winch, winch cable, or vehicles used.
Your winch cable is designed and tested to withstand the loads
produced by the winch motor when operated from a stationary
vehicle. Always remember that the winch and winch cable are NOT
designed for shock loading.