Posted by Paul Cook on Friday, March 25, 2005 at 10:42AM :
In Reply to: Winching question posted by Mark S. on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at 12:17PM :
TM 9-808, 3/4-TON 4x4 TRUCK (DODGE) Section IV, AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT CONTROLS AND OPERATION, January 1944, Paragraph 10. WINCH CONTROLS, d. To Pull. (5) If the winch is being used to assist the vehicle on which it is mounted, place the transmission gearshift lever in the first speed (or reverse) and utilize the driving wheels of the vehicle to assist in pulling the vehicle.
DODGE POWER WAGON 2005 Owner's Manual, Starting and Operating, Winch, 15. Begin Winching. With the winching vehicles engine on and light tension already on the wire rope, begin winching slowly and steadily. Be sure that the wire 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.
Paul's comments: Manuals for DODGE trucks with factory supplied winch, 1944 through 2005, agree that the vehicle can assist the winch.
Mike is correct about liability issues. That's why I never provide safety related infomation "ex anus" and always quote authoritative sources.
Information in Army Technical Manuals was written by Army experts or often supplied by the manufacturers of vehicles and auxiliary equipment.
The information in the POWER WAGON Owner's Manual was undoubtedly coordinated with Warn Winch who supplied the winch for the POWER WAGON. Paragraph 13 discusses using a heavy blanket or similar object over the wire rope.
Reference using reverse gear, since the winch on the WC-52 is in the front, pulling the vehicle out backward would have been accomplished by running the winch cable under the vehicle. This would require rerouting the cable behind the long bolt that supports the ends of the cable guides and possibly using pieces of wood to provide bearing surfaces for the cable to protect various parts of the undercarriage. Pulling out backward is theoretical since I've never seen it done. (Clint???)
I've seen the recovery vehicle back up while winching a stuck vehicle. I know it can be done. I'm not sure if it should.
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