Like most tools, it’s not enough to just have it, you need to know how to use it. We’ve put together this Basic Winch Techniques video to give you sort of a quick-start guide to using your WARN winch. This is more of a general overview video on the basics of using your winch. For a more in-depth version, you’ll want to download our Basic Guide to Winching Techniques PDF, which is totally free.
While this video showcases a WARN ZEON 10-S—one of our winches for trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs—the principles apply to pretty much all winches, whether it’s an ATV or UTV winch, or an industrial winch.
And remember, if you ever have questions, you can always contact our Customer Service team at 800-543-9276 or 503-722-1200 (ideal for people outside of North America).
Video Transcript
We’ve included a transcript of the video, so you get a preview of the video content. So, you have upgraded your rig with a WARN winch. You’re ready to get on the trails: climb a few boulders, splash a little mud, and cross the occasional stream. But to really go prepared, you need to understand your winch and how it operates. This video aims to provide you with that basic understanding, and show you a few core winching techniques.
Winch Parts
First, let’s familiarize ourselves with a typical WARN winch. For this demonstration, we’re working with a WARN ZEON 10-S. This winch an electrical motor, powered by the vehicle’s battery. The winch drum is a cylinder onto which the winch rope feeds. The winch rope is wound around the drum and fed through the fairlead. The fairlead is attached to the vehicle’s bumper, and acts to guide the winch rope onto the spooling drum. This is the heart of the winch. In this case, a three-stage planetary gear train converts the winch motor’s power into a massive pulling force. The WARN ZEON 10-S has a manual clutch, which allows the operator to disengage the drum from the gear train. The brake prevents the winch from letting line spool out, which, in turn, holds the vehicle in place. The control pack houses the winch’s electrical controls. Power from the vehicle’s battery is sent here. A corded remote is plugged into the winch control pack. It allows the operator to control the winch direction as well as staying clear of the winch rope while operating the winch.
Winching Accessories
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the basic winch parts, let’s go over a few of the accessories. You’ll need the winch cable damper to prevent rope recoil in the rare event of a rope failure. It’s extremely important to wear protective gloves while operating the winch or handling the rope. Tree trunk protector: this must-have accessory provides an attachment point for the winch rope to a wide variety of anchor points and objects, as well as to protect living trees. For rigging, you will need a shackle to properly connect the looped ends of cables and straps. Always use the hook strap to hold the hook and keep fingers away from the fairlead as the winch rope is being spooled in.
Setting Up for Winching
Now you’re ready to set up your first pull. The following steps describe how to recover your vehicle with a single-line pull, the most basic rigging arrangement. First, put on your gloves. Now, disengage the manual clutch to allow free-spooling of the winch drum. Free the winch hook from its anchor point. While holding the winch hook strap, pull out enough winch rope to reach your anchor point. Try to keep a certain amount of tension on the rope, otherwise it may become twisted and over-wrapped when slackened, leading to winch rope damage. Ideally, you’ll want an anchor point that will enable you to pull straight in the direction the vehicle will move. To get the most power and efficiency from your winch, try to choose an anchor point far enough out to allow you to start at the lower level of rope on the drum. Secure the tree trunk protector around the anchor. For strength, place the rigging as low as possible on the anchor. Attach the shackle to the two ends of the strap and through the hook loop, being careful not to over-tighten. Tighten the pin and back it off a quarter turn. Attach the winch rope and hook to the shackle’s pin with the hook opening facing up. Once attached, do not step over the line in case the rope were to come under accidental tension. Lay the winch damper over the winch rope, midway between the winch and the anchor point. This is an extra safety precaution to protect you in the unlikely event that the winch rope was to snap loose. Lock the winch drum by rotating the clutch lever on the winch to the engaged position. Connect the remote control. Be careful not to let the remote’s cord tangle in front of the winch. Using the winch-in switch on the remote control, slowly wind in the winch rope until no slack remains. Once the winch rope is under tension, stand well clear, and remember—never step over it. Check your anchor. Make sure all connections are secure and free of debris before continuing with the winching procedure. Check the winch rope. The winch rope should be neatly wound around the spooling drum. Make your intentions clear. Be sure that everyone in the immediate area surrounding the winching operation is completely aware of your intentions before you pull.
Winching Procedure
With the winching vehicle’s engine on, the transmission in neutral, your foot on the brake, and light tension already on the winch rope, begin winching slowly and steadily. Be sure that the winch rope is winding evenly, and tightly around the spooling drum. For additional assistance, the winched vehicle can be slowly driven while being pulled by the winch. Avoid shock loads by using the control switch intermittently to take up winch rope slack. Remember to avoid overheating the winch motor. For extended winching, stop at reasonable intervals to allow the winch motor to cool down. If winching from a slight angle, the rope may stack up at one end of the drum. This stacking can become large enough to cause damage to the winch. Stop winching if the winch rope comes close to the tie rods, tie plate, or mounting plate. Continue pulling until the vehicle is on stable ground. Once the vehicle recovery is complete, engage the parking brake and put the transmission in park.
Rewinding the Rope
After the recovery is complete, you will need to rewind the rope. To begin this process, release tension in the winch rope. Do this by spooling the line out until it’s slack. Do not turn the clutch handle under tension. Disconnect the winch line from the anchor. Arrange the remote control lead so it cannot be caught in the winch. And arrange the winch rope so it will not kink or tangle when spooled. Be sure any winch rope already on the drum is wound tightly and evenly layered. Keep the winch rope under light tension and spool the winch rope onto the winch drum in even layers. Stop frequently to tighten and straighten layers as necessary. Repeat this process until the winch hook is the same distance as the full length of the remote control from the winch. Hold the hook strap between the thumb and forefinger to keep tension on the winch rope. Walk the winch rope towards the fairlead, carefully spooling in the remaining winch rope by pulsing the remote control’s switch.
After Winching
Store the hook at the fairlead, or tension to a suitable location to the side. If you do not have the hook strap, use a length of cord or something similar. To prevent serious injury, never put your fingers inside the hook area as you are powering in. Disconnect the remote control cord from the control box and store it in a clean and dry place. Winching operations are now complete. Remember to put the cap on the control box plug. Congratulations: You’re on your way to going prepared. One last word: The information in this video is very general in nature. You should read the user guide that came with your winch for more details and important safety warnings. You can also find “The Basic Guide To Winching” on warn.com.
