4WD Tips - Using an electric winch

If you're driving off road there's a fair chance that eventually you'll get stuck and need outside assistance. Today we're going to look at the electric winch.

To winch the Landcruiser out of this, effectively and safely, you'll also need a kit like this one, which you could pick up from most 4WD specialists…

After chocking the wheels, it's up the hill to find a suitable anchor…

Then disengage the winch and it's up the hill again to hook cable to anchor.

Before starting the winch, it's important to attach a windbreak to the winch cable, which will absorb a lot of the impact if the cable snaps. My kit bag doubles as a windbreak, but you could use a hessian bag, or a jacket.

Then, hook up the power, re-engage the winch, and it's into the driver's seat to release handbrake and put the vehicle out of gear…

Now we're ready to flick the switch… and we're on our way…

Please, remember to wear your seatbelt!

Also, you only ever need to winch the car through the hazard to point that you can drive away.