Ramsey Winch PATRIOT 9500 UT - Manual (Page 3)

3
Techniques of Operation
The best way to get acquainted with how your winch oper-
ates is to make a few test runs before you actually need to
use it. Plan your test in advance. Remember you hear your
winch as well as see it operate. Get to recognize the sound
of a light steady pull, a heavy pull, and sounds caused by
load jerking or shifting. Soon you will gain confidence in
operating your winch and its use will become second nature
with you.
Your winch will not only pull your vehicle up a steep grade,
it will also pull another vehicle or a load while your vehicle is
anchored in a stationary position. The sketches on this
page show you a few techniques.
When pulling a heavy load, place a blanket, jacket or tarpau-
lin over the cable five or six feet from the hook. It will slow
the snap back in the event of a broken cable. Also, open the
vehicle hood for additional protection.
Use the vehicle wheel power to help the winch, but don’t
overtake the winch line. Plan your pull. You can't always
hook up and pull out in one step. Examine all the areas for
anchoring possibilities as well as leverage situations, direc-
tion, and goal.
For basic self-recovery, anchor to a tree or heavy rock.
When anchoring to a tree, always use a tree trunk protec-
tor.
Stakes driven in solid earth and chained together make a
good anchor point for self-recovery when no solid anchor
point is available.
For a solid anchor, bury a log with earth or sand or place it
in a deep ravine.
Winches equipped with cable guide fairleads can pull from
several directions. Pull from an angle only to straighten up
the vehicle-otherwise you can damage structural members
or other parts of your vehicle and cause excess cable
buildup on one end of the winch drum.
For a direct pull of 2000 lbs., hitch truck to a tree or solid
anchor, and take out of gear.
To double the pull, use 2-part line and tie off to chassis.
Take out of gear.