| Hand winches are great tools. Whether you are pulling | | | | know if you are going to be pulling objects or lifting |
| four wheelers or ATVs out of dirt and muck or | | | | them. Hand winches made as hoists are much |
| hoisting up hay bales, there's a winch that can help | | | | different than ones made to pull. Once you have a |
| you lift the load safely and easily. However, winches | | | | winch, never try to use one that was designed to |
| are still tools and should be used with safely. If you're | | | | pull as a lift or hoist. Hoists have more safety |
| new to winches or just need a little refresher, here | | | | features and better locking mechanisms to make |
| are a few safety tips for using your winch. | | | | sure that their loads don't smash into the ground, |
| First, always know before you use the winch the | | | | destroying the load and possibly injuring people |
| weight for what you are pulling and how much your | | | | around it. |
| winch can support. If the load is too heavy, you can | | | | When you're actually using the winch, always try to |
| use a snatch block or two separate winches. | | | | run the line as straight as you possibly can to reduce |
| Otherwise you risk catastrophic failure of the winch. | | | | stress on the winch and the cable and also to make |
| Luckily, most winches today come equipped with a | | | | the process of winching easier on yourself. It's |
| shear pin that breaks free in the even that you load | | | | imperative that you and any bystanders keep clear |
| your winch with over its allotted capacity. | | | | of the winch cable when you're using it as well. This |
| If you're going off roading, make sure that you take | | | | means stand as far away as you can and do not |
| your gear weight into account, as well as the weight | | | | step over it. In the event of a break, some wire |
| of your cat. If it's possible load up your ATV or off | | | | cables may recoil, resulting in nasty injuries for |
| road vehicle with all the gear and equipment that you | | | | whoever happens to be close. |
| plan on using, including food and fuel and have it | | | | Finally, whenever you're winching, use work gloves. |
| weighed at a weigh station. Doing this will tell you | | | | Work gloves will help to prevent blisters on the hand |
| how much your winch needs to lift, which is | | | | that's doing the winching and also give you a better |
| sometimes up to a thousand pounds more than the | | | | grip on the winch handle. It will also prevent any cuts |
| actual weight of the vehicle! | | | | that you may receive from wire strands that have |
| Along the same lines, before you buy your winch | | | | frayed a little. |