Beware The Winch

[vtblazer]

So like a lot of us do, I like to make my blazer useful around the home helping out with the chores and such.

I've been able to use the winch multiple times and it's 'paid' for itself in the wifey's eyes doing so.

Well today we decided to pull out a couple of very mature cedar trees and I had great plans to pull the stumps out with the ever handy winch.

Long story short, always obey the winching rules.
Which I did...thankfully but the blazer took a hit.

 

[AJs72K5]

So....you slipped off the stump as it started to pull out??? Were you inside the truck and it came off shooting at your face? Holy flying tow hook Batman!

 

[ChefBear]

memento

Send me the stump and I'll spin a bowl for ya to commerorate the event.

Glad nobody got hurt and it wasn't any worse than it was. Good lesson for everybody.

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

Glad to see you are alright.

Since the stump drew first blood you aren't gonna give up now are you?

 

[Artemis Entreri]

What exactly IS the good way to pull a stump out with a winch? I mean, i imagine most of the time its just going to slide up and over.

Looks like you notched the wood to slip the cord in and it broke?

And remember, first blood isnt as important as last, lol.

 

[vtblazer]

I'll admit I was in the truck, had to be to apply the brakes so I didn't slide on the grass but I was tucked in behind the cage just in case.

The bark ripped off is what happened, after that I took a madox to it and under-cut the roots in the back.

Slide the strap down below the relief cut and finished up the job.

Pulled on this one a little bit (with a coat over the line this time) but it was a bigger tree & the ground around it is still frozen, I'll get it out next weekend.

So...follow the rules, ALWAYS use protection.

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

I used my winch to pull stumps and tree debris after Hurricane Ike hit here. i found the most secure way to attach to stumps was with chain and then to the winch cable.

A lot of guys on here are very anti-chains for anything but I think they still have a purpose and work well in some situations. I have a couple of good straps and usually keep one and a few shackles in my toolbox on my DD but I still carry a chain as well.

With the stump in vtblazer's pic you could get several wraps with a chain or use an X pattern to put a bite on that stump.

 

[3 on the tree]

A sandbag, laid on the winch cable, is a GOOD thing!!

Glad no one was hurt.

 

[bp71k5]

That's amazing on how exactly targeted on the drivers head that hook was!

Any other winching tips I need to know?

 

[MNorby]

I'm always paranoid when winching and unless I am pulling myself somewhere I open the hood, especially when I have passengers, so if something happens the hood will keep it from coming through the windshield.

 

[Greg72]

That's amazing on how exactly targeted on the drivers head that hook was!

Any other winching tips I need to know?

Synthetic rope = no stored energy

Show pics like this to your S.O. and you'll probably get the go-ahead to spend the money.

Also:

Winch hooks made out of Nerf-ball material would be sweet.

 

[Speedo]

If you're pulling stumps don't use a strap, use cable. Get a choker at least one size larger than your winch cable and double wrap the stump. You don't want to save the tree you want the cable to get a good bite into the stump.

Gus

 

[gaspass]

Ouch!

Dang It! You wasted some perfectly good windshield stickers! lol.

 

[vtblazer]

Dang It! You wasted some perfectly good windshield stickers! lol.

Yeah, same thing I thought when it broke.