winch anchoring question
- Thread starter LUISJG
- Start date
vengeful
Explorer
Another, substantially less expensive, although probably not nearly as reliable, or safe, product is the Cabela's Earth Anchor.
I would lean towards the Pull-Pal over this, even considering the vast cost difference, because of the design of this one. If it came loose, it would turn into a missile and could potentially cause serious injury or worse. Doesn't quite look like it'll secure itself into the ground as well as the Pull-Pal. It might be OK for an ATV, but I would be very hesitant to use it for a seriously stuck Truck/SUV.
I would lean towards the Pull-Pal over this, even considering the vast cost difference, because of the design of this one. If it came loose, it would turn into a missile and could potentially cause serious injury or worse. Doesn't quite look like it'll secure itself into the ground as well as the Pull-Pal. It might be OK for an ATV, but I would be very hesitant to use it for a seriously stuck Truck/SUV.
mountainpete
Spamicus Eliminatus
x3 on the Pull Pal. It's a lot to carry and it's heavy, but it's one of those items that if it saves you ONCE it's worth it. Most of my travels are solo (no other trucks) so it's something that I have thought of many times.
An emergency method involves a lot of hard, messy work. In quick description, dig a "T" where the bottom points towards the vehicle. The top of the "T" should be at least 3 feet wide and the deeper the better. The bottom of the T should progressively get shallower over about 10 feet towards the vehicle. The idea is to take your spare tire and place it in the hole standing upright at the top of the "T". If the hole is deep enough and the ground is strong enough it makes a good emergency anchor. I've never actually had to do this myself - so hopefully some others may chime in with additional experiences on this type of anchor.
A while back I offered the book "Off Road Recovery Techniques" in the For Sale Forum. It's since gone, but it contained a good section regarding anchors and how to properly bury a spare and/or use anchor stakes. Since winching has potential dangers and if you seriously want to learn the process you may want to check out your local library for that book or pick one up from Amazon.
Hope that helps.
Pete
An emergency method involves a lot of hard, messy work. In quick description, dig a "T" where the bottom points towards the vehicle. The top of the "T" should be at least 3 feet wide and the deeper the better. The bottom of the T should progressively get shallower over about 10 feet towards the vehicle. The idea is to take your spare tire and place it in the hole standing upright at the top of the "T". If the hole is deep enough and the ground is strong enough it makes a good emergency anchor. I've never actually had to do this myself - so hopefully some others may chime in with additional experiences on this type of anchor.
A while back I offered the book "Off Road Recovery Techniques" in the For Sale Forum. It's since gone, but it contained a good section regarding anchors and how to properly bury a spare and/or use anchor stakes. Since winching has potential dangers and if you seriously want to learn the process you may want to check out your local library for that book or pick one up from Amazon.
Hope that helps.
Pete
Scott Brady
Founder
Use the pull-pall or have a shovel, a really strong back and bury the spare tire...
I have done a successful recovery with a small hole (with a flat surface on the side of the stuck vehicle), then digging a narrow slot in the dirt and using a cross style tire lug wrench as a winch connecting point.
The dirt was pretty dense and it pulled me right out. I didn't think it would work, but I needed to dig the hole to bury the spare anyways. Always use a cross piece (like the lug wrench) and never hook directly to the rim, as it will likely be damaged. Looping a tree trap around the spare usually works too.
I have done a successful recovery with a small hole (with a flat surface on the side of the stuck vehicle), then digging a narrow slot in the dirt and using a cross style tire lug wrench as a winch connecting point.
The dirt was pretty dense and it pulled me right out. I didn't think it would work, but I needed to dig the hole to bury the spare anyways. Always use a cross piece (like the lug wrench) and never hook directly to the rim, as it will likely be damaged. Looping a tree trap around the spare usually works too.
Last edited:
vengeful
Explorer
mountainpete said:
The Four Wheeler's Bible, by Jim Allen contains a very good chapter on freeing a stuck vehicle, and has a pretty good section on anchoring a winch. There is a lot of other great information throughout the entire book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who takes their vehicle off-road. Lots of good tips and such in there for the Novice off-roader and lots of good reminders and information for even the most seasoned off-roader, too.
Here's the Link to the book Mountainpete referenced.
Last edited:
kcowyo
ExPo Original
I was out with a friend one time and we buried his FJ62 with no winching point to attach to. We did the dig-************ and bury-the-spare routine.
As much as I like the guy and lust after his '62, I was so beat after digging and had such little faith in this method that I would just as soon have left the POS and him there and walked the 5 miles out for help. The hassle involved with pulling the spare off the roof, digging essentially a grave, covering it, re-digging it up and tossing it back up on the roof rack, and then respooling the line once we got free was such a giant PITA, that he promptly shelled out the bucks for a Pull Pal the next day.
His brother went el cheapo and welded a couple of pieces of rebar together for an anchor point. It worked the one time he needed it and it fit flush on his roof rack but it was this fugly thing that looked like the symbol Prince used when he changed his name.
Pull Pal would be my only choice for the solo traveler. :cow:
As much as I like the guy and lust after his '62, I was so beat after digging and had such little faith in this method that I would just as soon have left the POS and him there and walked the 5 miles out for help. The hassle involved with pulling the spare off the roof, digging essentially a grave, covering it, re-digging it up and tossing it back up on the roof rack, and then respooling the line once we got free was such a giant PITA, that he promptly shelled out the bucks for a Pull Pal the next day.
His brother went el cheapo and welded a couple of pieces of rebar together for an anchor point. It worked the one time he needed it and it fit flush on his roof rack but it was this fugly thing that looked like the symbol Prince used when he changed his name.
Pull Pal would be my only choice for the solo traveler. :cow:
Scott Brady
Founder
i.e., if the lug iron idea didn't work, I needed to keep digging the hole to bury the spare tire (which I knew would work) anyways, so it was worth giving it a try at about 1/3 the effort point. It worked, so I dug a smaller hole and was on my way...
Clear as mud? :sombrero:
Clear as mud? :sombrero:
tdesanto
Expedition Leader
Danforth Anchor
I've also always heard that a danforth anchor is also feasible. It is designed to dig in, just like the pull-pal. They're also considerable cheaper.
I considered this option, but wasn't sure how large or heavy I should go. In addition, there are no working-load ratings or strength ratings on any of the anchors I looked at, so I was a bit nervous about using one.
Has anyone had any experience with one of these as a recovery anchor?
I've also always heard that a danforth anchor is also feasible. It is designed to dig in, just like the pull-pal. They're also considerable cheaper.
I considered this option, but wasn't sure how large or heavy I should go. In addition, there are no working-load ratings or strength ratings on any of the anchors I looked at, so I was a bit nervous about using one.
Has anyone had any experience with one of these as a recovery anchor?
Scott Brady
Founder
The Danforth works well on hardened or tamped earth, but not in mud or sand (in my experience). The Pul-Pal works in pretty much everything.
Sometimes you do need to dig a pilot hole though, in rocky soil.
Sometimes you do need to dig a pilot hole though, in rocky soil.
