WARNING |
Improper winch use can result in SEVERE INJURY or DEATH. Always follow
all winch instructions and warnings in this manual. |
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.
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.
- Read all sections
of this manual.
- Never use alcohol
or drugs before or while operating the winch.
- Never allow children
under 16 years of age to operate the winch.
- Always wear eye protection
and heavy gloves when operating the winch.
- Always keep body,
hair, clothing and jewelry clear of the winch cable, fairlead and
hook when operating winch.
- Never attempt to
“jerk” a load attached to the winch with a moving vehicle. See the
- Shock Loading section on page 42.
- Always keep the area
around the vehicle, winch, winch cable and load clear of people (especially
children) and distractions
while operating the winch.
- Always turn the vehicle
ignition power OFF when it and the winch are not being used.
- 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.
- Always apply your
vehicle’s park brake and/or park mechanism to hold the vehicle in
place during winching. Use wheel chocks
if needed.
- 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.
- If winching at an
angle is unavoidable, follow these precautions:
- 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.
- If stacking occurs,
stop winching. Follow step 15 on page 40 to feed and rewind the cable
evenly before continuing the winch
operation.
- Never winch up or
down at sharp angles. This can destabilize the winching vehicle and
possibly cause it to move without warning.
- Never attempt to
winch loads that weigh more than the winch’s rated capacity.
- The winch motor may
become hot during winch use. If you winch for more than 45 seconds,
or if the winch stalls during operation,
stop winching and permit the winch to cool
down for 10 minutes before using it again
- Never touch, push,
pull or straddle the winch cable while winching a load.
- Never let the winch
cable run through your hands, even if wearing heavy gloves.
- Never release the
clutch on the winch when the winch cable is under load.
- Never use the winch
for lifting or transporting people.
- Never use the winch
to hoist or suspend a vertical load.
- Never immerse or
submerse your winch in water. Take your winch to your dealer for service
if this occurs.
- Always inspect your
winch and winch cable before each use.
- Never winch the hook
fully into the winch. This can cause damage to winch components.
- Unplug the remote
control from the vehicle when the winch is not in use to prevent inadvertent
activation and use by unauthorized
persons.
- Never grease or oil
the winch cable. This will cause the winch cable to collect debris
that will shorten the life of the cable.