I’ve seen a winch snap and fly right back toward the driver, completely deforming the poor dudes face almost went through him. I’m glad you emphasized how important it is to use a blanket

Do you think when Ronny sleeps he covers himself with all his winch blankets?

I certainly don't want to start an argument, there is absolutely more than one way to skin a cat! With that being said using a shackle with an adequate working load limit is far safer than hooking your recovery strap directly into your winch hook, the hook is designed to pull at the thickest part not at the tip (which is what the recovery strap will do). Shackles are much much stronger than the hook as it is a "closed loop" ie there are no open sides... we all know how strong a circle is and if you remove part of the circle the strength is severely reduced. Just my 2cents from a towing and recovery operator of many many years! Other wise excellent content and awesome advise keep up the great work!

1 week ago: ain't gonna watch this because it's gonna make me want to spend a heap of money on a winch 1 week later: almost broke watching with a 9.5k mounted on my homemade bullbar about to go for some rock crawling. Great content mate! Thanks very much!

Brief, to the point, knowledgeable, clear, no-nonsense, no silly show off stuff - exactly what I was looking for. Your fan from now 😉

Ronnie, thank you for doing such a good job spreading the knowledge!

This is a very good vid. You have an excellent "delivery". I would love to see you doing more videos about everything you know.

Just getting into all of this....so much to learn, Great INFO and advice. Tx Ronny

Thank you for putting a video out there to help people, most of it was good. I am a heavy wrecker operator and have training in heavy recovery. First thing I disagree with is putting your hook in the strap. 1st-most hooks get hooked to hard objects causing burs that will cut the strap and 2nd-tbe radius of most hooks and small winches such as the ones on our personal vehicles is to small to properly hold both ends of a strap. Also I will NEVER go strap to strap without a connecting device, the heat and friction will burn/cut them. Also VERY important when running a double line... To keep it simple math, if your winch is pulling 9,000 the 2nd line is also pulling 9,000 therefore that snatch block and it's connected rigging as well as the tree are seeing 18,000. That is going to be where it fails. Your information was pretty good and will help many people that have no experience, but add this info for your use as well.

Thank you Ronny for taking the time to do this. I learned a lot that I did not know.

This is one of the most thorough videos I've found on anything. You are awesome. Everything is very well explained. Thank you.

I am a newbie to off roading and I have found your video really helpful for someone who has never owned nor operated a winch in his life. Thanks for the well made videos, subscribed and will be checking out more.

Hi Ronny, thanks for taking the time to explain all of these things carefully, especially helpful for newbies and up and comers like me! All to often people are just "expected" to know how to use these things and quite often are afraid to ask for help. Much appreciated mate!

thanks for that ronny, needed to know that extension strap technique.

My dad always used "Whoa!" and "Go!" so we never could tell what he was saying over the engine noise!! :-)

Excellent video! I just installed a new winch on my ATV and learned quite a bit from your video. Thanks!

That was a really great tutorial!! I’ve been in the woods and setting up rigging my entire life, and it looks like you have been to :-) there’s a few things that I’ve gotten Relax on like safety zones it’s good to see this video and remind me to get back on my game. Thanks again brother be safe.

Awesome tips for a winching newbie like myself. Thank you for taking the time to break things down to barebones the way you do.

Top video Ronny. Simple and straightforward.

Just got a winch and this was greatly informative, BTW love your cruiser

Being new to 4x4 and winching your video was very informative and helpful, thanks. I look forward to watching more.

Hands down best winch video! Thanks for sharing.

Great job with this, Ronny. I realize it's five years old but the concepts are still the same. I agree with you regarding the double blankets - especially with the two line - it just makes sense. One thing I don't think people do enough of (from talking to them) is practice winching. The time to figure this out isn't when you're stuck - it's when you know you can just drive out if needed.

Nice job. Very well done. Thanx for sharin'!

What a great video Ronny. I thought I knew how to use a block and tackle but you taught me how to do it correctly. Thank you and best wishes. Len

Thanks Ronny, I'm new to winching and I know safety is number one. I learned much.

right i just wanted to say thank you for making this video i just ordered my first winch and hope to be mounting it soon. I feel that i am now more prepared to perform winching operations. thanks again mate happy trails.

Very comprehensive tutorial. I appreciate alot of your vids . happy trails brotha.

Love this channel, so much common sense and experience, really invaluable, thanks

Excellent! I really appreciate you showing the right way, and the wrong way, to do recovery. Both really help. Thanks!!

Great posting! Just purchased my first winch for my new Jeep and have it installed. Never have used a winch before. I have watched this posting a few times now and I now feel I can use it safely and know what accessories to put in my storage bag. Thanks for posting!

Very helpful information 👌. Recently I bought a Toyota Tacoma and we had to use a winch multiple times during a 16 hour trek on a very difficult trail. Thanks again.

Very helpful video and clear instructions, great tips!! Thank you for taking the time to make it.

This video is a must see for all new winch users and those who are going to new to overlanding!! Excellent information!!!

I simply can't stop watching your vids mate! Nearly watched them all! By far one of my favorite yt places to be!

I have now remembered that I need to use the bow shackle all the time... great movies, thanks for all the efforts you put in

Just bought a new winch for my 2019 polaris rzr xp neing installed today. Thank you for this video,now I lnow what acessories to buy and understand the basics.

Thanks so much for this video. I just got a GMC 2500 4x4 Duramax and it has all the capabilities of winching but I had no idea. This video gave me worlds of great info.

Howdy from Virginia USA, GREAT VIDEO! Just installed a winch on my 97 Ford F350 and new to using a winch. Even though I’ve been in trucking my whole life and learned a lot about blocking, bracing, strapping ,and so on ,which really comes down to knowing how to use equipment to accomplish your purpose, I believe in always being willing to listen and learn from others. I can buy all the equipment, but when it comes down to doing the job, I’m going to watch and follow the professionals and all the tips and tricks of the trade that I can! I say this from the experience of trying to train others in the trucking industry, especially with using the equipment of the trade, like lift gates, pallet jack, etc. Learned a lot and will be watching further videos. Thanks

I learn something from almost every video. Glad it's here.

About to buy my first winch (Tundra) and have never used one before, this video was great. I am much more confident now. Thanks!

Love your videos, straight to the point and full of good info.

Watched this a bunch of times, great refresher before i go out, thanks mate :)

Enjoyed this vid. The bow shackle aka clevis as known in my part of the country should be tight enough not to deform. Never leave it loose as you recommend carry a cresent. Under really high tension it will deform. Using a 20 ton winch and much larger bow shackles you quickly learn pay attention to highly experienced operaters.

Thank you for your time here. I'm new to winching.

This is super enjoyable to watch and listen to. Thank you for putting this together!

You are an excellent instructor ! Thanks so much for making these videos!

Great video and teaching, Ronny. Thanks, mate.

I like your redundant blanket on the line safety tip. Great vid. Cheers!

Great video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

Straight forward, easy to understand. Best winching video ever.

Excellent video, congrats, very helpful, I've seen them all

Much appreciated info Ronnie. I'm new to winching. Saving vid to phone library for play back on the trail.

Ronny, Thanks for the great explanation here. I just mounted my first winch ever (Warn 9.5 cti-s) and your videos are great. No music or fluff, just thorough explanations and great tips! Keep up the good work!

I'm new to this and found the illustrations most helpful..the internet is simply the best. Too bad the world is hell bent on doing crazy to itself. Keep up the good work down under. Jimmy..

Thanks a lot for this awesome video. Lots of great information to make off roading more safe for everyone. Right oh!

Thanks for the great video. I'm looking into buying my first winch soon.

Love your bush skills Ronny. Thanks mate. Stay safe.

Great vid. personally I'd use a shackle inbetween strop around the tree and the winchline, distributes load a bit better and puts the hook under less strain. However, i completely see your point about metal flying everywhere if something were to go wrong!

Solid advice, Ronnie. BTW you gotta love those land cruisers! Thanks from the USA

Very useful and helpful info to know! Thanks!

Thank you for all the good tips mate

I learned a lot from this. Thank you for posting it for me. Tokie Kingsport, Tennessee USA

Thank you for this very insightful compendium of tips that cover so many of the aspects (including SAFETY) of winching. I sincerely believe that you have prevented many injuries to those who are not intimately familiar with all of the possible details of this potentially dangerous activity! You should always be acutely familiar with all aspects of any dangerous activity before you try accomplishing it, in order to prevent serious injuries or death.

Great video. I'm brand new to this. Learned so much. Thank you

Great info, great tips! I'm headed over to view the retensioning video.

I LEARNT a LOT !!! Thank you. APPRECIATED.

awesome video. thank you for putting it out. lots of really good info for us new guys.

Glad to see you use the protective sleeve on such as soft shackles, recovery straps, etc, so many on You Tube don' t seem to know what this sleeve should be used for.... good on you! this and other things are why I use your videos to learn new and safe way"s to recover, etc. Keep the good stuff coming! From the States, MJMcDowell

Great start to my education about using my new winch safely

Thank you for making this video. Very informative. I feel a little more confident now and setting my suburban up with a winch. And for the other equipment I'll need besides.

Great video as well as some of the others I've seen. I'm here in the US and bought a 2014 Rubicon my first 4x4 not too long ago. Haven't had anyone to go on trails with. Man watching all of these videos is pretty overwhelming. So much to know about it all seems complicated when looking at all things one needs to know to handle off-roading techniques and be aware of so you won't screw up your vehicle and/or winch.

Excellent info Ronny and Brian.

As I'm not that experienced wiv recovery etc,I found your tips very helpful,with a great explanation to the how's an whys.thanks

Great video my friend. Thanks for all the tips.

Great coverage of basic winching and blanket placement. Love it when you say now get the hell out of the way.😳✌

Thanks for the video. I'm new to winching, and it was a great first video. Thanks Mate.

Thanks for your video. It helps me better understand how to use the equipment to pull trees out.

Great tutorial, especially being all about safety first!

Very imformative and presented in aneasy to follow format

Being a firefighter and seeing a lot of things I think it’s a good idea for the shackle to be around the tree protector because the hook could cut the strap

Really imformative , well shot & explained video! Thank you)

Well done mate. I watched this video years ago and have yet to get buried, but needed to brush up on my winching. Gracias amigo.

You taught me how to use a hi jack lift years ago, I knew where to go when I bought a winch last week and you didn’t disappoint.

Hi Ronny, Winch newbie here in California. In fact, I am installing my Warn Zeon 10s Winch on my Grand Cherokee tomorrow. Using a hidden winch mount made in Australia (Chief Products). Anyway, Thanks for taking the time to make this video, it helped me with answering some basic questions and I appreciate the focus on safety. I see lots of ego in many of the comments on here; but making a critical comment is easy; taking time to make a comprehensive video takes a bit more effort. I appreciate your contribution for the folks like me. Cheers, Rob

Awesome tutorial. Learned a lot. Thanks!!

that was a wealth of knowledge - thanks Ronny

Hey there Ronnie, just wanted to say thanks for the vids mate. Loads of tips and technique. Cheers.

Thank you mate. Picked up a lot of great info. Thanks for the video.

This is my favourite Vid Ronny Dahl. Simply because it outlines the fundamentals on recovery and safety. Tips are good too for real situations that are likely to occur. two thumbs. :)

Thank you for the video, I am going to use it to help train some members of our special operations division of an emergency medical services agency. Our personnel frequently use heavy duty trucks with 16,500 Warn winches to recover ambulances stuck in snow or mud, along with other rescue situations. This is a great starter video for me to introduce these tactics to new members, thanks again! - Deputy Chief of Training, Sumner EMS, TN

Thanks for making this video, It was very well videoed and fully explained. Certainly lots of helpful tips to keeping safe, which is the most impotant thing

What a great video - never had to use my winch so this is ultra useful.

the Best video on a new beginner winching techniques... thank you very much!! Cheers!!

Good tips mate covered the basics to pretty much any recovery 👍👍👌

Thanks. I will be using this knowledge to setup snatch block cable systems to tow firewood logs out of the bush.

Thanks for sharing mate.... Great info and very well edited! Two thumb up...

cheers mate. quite informative and helpful for a beginner

Thank you for a very informative video. Am due to install a winch on my Jimny so this vid was very helpful

I learned a lot in the video thanks, I hope one day I get a good winch for my Jeep and rescue some stuck vehicles 👍🏻