Wheel Chocks for Winching

[notnsuv]

Maybe this has been covered and/or ya'll are aware of this methodology but thought it worthwhile to post. Local tow truck uses these on his big rig and his light duty rig. Absolutely anchors the winching vehicle to the ground. They come in aluminum for big bucks but we've been building them with steel bought on Amazon and modifying for the chains (I haven't yet) in our group. Of course it's best to anchor the rig from the rear when possible, but when not an option..
Now to figure out how to haul them w/o gobbling up a bunch of storage space. Maybe mod the jerry can racks on the rear bumper and secure them there.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004V5FFDM/?tag=wranglerorg-20

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[Kid Mechanic]

Ski’s for your Jeep? A rock or even spare tire if desperate should work.

Tow trucks have the luxury of asphalt and spikes on their chocks. Sometimes in extreme pulls they even break loose or break the road.

 

[notnsuv]

Or.. Scotch anchor.

 

[notnsuv]

I'm unclear if he hooked the winch line to the scotch block...not how we do it. Just leave the block attached to the bumper and the winch line to the stuck rig. This shit works.

 

[Kid Mechanic]

Or.. Scotch anchor.
View attachment 305938

OK. Are we talking about a specific recovery operation with vehicles carrying the necessary equipment for the job?

Or is this just more junk to to say you’ve got the gear and just want to spend money?

 

[notnsuv]

OK. Are we talking about a specific recovery operation with vehicles carrying the necessary equipment for the job?

Or is this just more junk to to say you’ve got the gear and just want to spend money?

Oh ye of little faith.

I've been on more than a few recoveries just this winter and have seen this work, quite well. Our offroad club does recoveries in all kinds of terrain and conditions (pro bono) and we save folks anguish and money with our service. I'll be sure to video next time we do this for the skeptics.

 

[Kid Mechanic]

Oh ye of little faith.

I've been on more than a few recoveries just this winter and have seen this work, quite well. Our offroad club does recoveries in all kinds of terrain and conditions (pro bono) and we save folks anguish and money with our service. I'll be sure to video next time we do this for the skeptics.

Like I stated, is this for specific recoveries? I’m not against using proven methods for major recoveries.

You originally posted about those little ski things that just waste space and money.


I have faith and I have seen the light! Can I get a Hallelujah?!

 

[notnsuv]

Like I stated, is this for specific recoveries? I’m not against using proven methods for major recoveries.

You originally posted about those little ski things that just waste space and money.


I have faith and I have seen the light! Can I get a Hallelujah?!

They are "specifically" for recoveries, I dunno what a "specific recovery" is. Anchoring the winching vehicle, whether to another vehicle behind, a tree, a rock, whatever, is critical to avoid dragging it toward the load. But if none of those options are available these WHEEL CHOCKS (with teeth) sink in the ground until they stop, and anchor the winching vehicle to the ground without any further forward motion of the winching rig, unlike the 'SKI things' would. Opposing forces.. as the jeep tries to move forward the chains/straps to the bumper force it downward onto the CHOCKS. Nothing pretentious, pure function.

 

[mrblaine]

Maybe this has been covered and/or ya'll are aware of this methodology but thought it worthwhile to post. Local tow truck uses these on his big rig and his light duty rig. Absolutely anchors the winching vehicle to the ground. They come in aluminum for big bucks but we've been building them with steel bought on Amazon and modifying for the chains (I haven't yet) in our group. Of course it's best to anchor the rig from the rear when possible, but when not an option..
Now to figure out how to haul them w/o gobbling up a bunch of storage space. Maybe mod the jerry can racks on the rear bumper and secure them there.

[URL]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004V5FFDM/?tag=wranglerorg-20[/URL]

View attachment 305931.
View attachment 305932

@macleanflood

Do you have a set up similar to this?

 

[macleanflood]

@macleanflood

Do you have a set up similar to this?

I do not but it's on my list to fabricate.

I'm also somewhat of the opinion that recovery rings or snatch blocks are the answer to everything.

If my Jeep is moving while winching I need more pulleys on a tree splitting more of the load.

We did a recovery on Goodman Creek Road...just finished editing the footage... kicking myself watching the footage because I used one pulley as a redirect. My Jeep kept getting dragged around. I had the test rope you sent me... easily could have added more rope and rings to solve the problem.

This was outside McKenzie Bridge more recently. Straps on the driver side of the Jeep runs about 50' to a large tree.

I've read enough horror stories on bending frames I'm loath to strap my Jeep to a tree or use big, bulky, heavy chocks.

I welcome any and all sage advice and wisdom. Learning as we go and folks keep dumping vehicles in crazier and crazier places.

-Mac

 

[Mike_H]

This is interesting. I need to delve more into the different techniques for lessening the load on the Jeep. Too often, I end up putting an anchor on the rear bumper and I really don't like doing that. Around here, its usually a tree and its not always a good, solid one. I've not thought about the double back to a tree idea to lower the load on the jeep winch line, but that works if you have enough rope. I also like the scotch lock idea too. Not sure I fully understand the physics yet, but I'll do more learnin!

 

[mrblaine]

I do not but it's on my list to fabricate.

I'm also somewhat of the opinion that recovery rings or snatch blocks are the answer to everything.

If my Jeep is moving while winching I need more pulleys on a tree splitting more of the load.

We did a recovery on Goodman Creek Road...just finished editing the footage... kicking myself watching the footage because I used one pulley as a redirect. My Jeep kept getting dragged around. I had the test rope you sent me... easily could have added more rope and rings to solve the problem.

This was outside McKenzie Bridge more recently. Straps on the driver side of the Jeep runs about 50' to a large tree.

View attachment 537867

I've read enough horror stories on bending frames I'm loath to strap my Jeep to a tree or use big, bulky, heavy chocks.

I welcome any and all sage advice and wisdom. Learning as we go and folks keep dumping vehicles in crazier and crazier places.

-Mac

If the tie straps went from the bumper to the front of the chocks, that could do some damage to the frame under extreme conditions. If you combined that with a set of posts that went down like jackstands under the frame corners to the ground, that would just about stop any potential for frame bending. You are no longer depending on the spring perches to hold the frame up.

 

[gbirk]

I do not but it's on my list to fabricate.

I'm also somewhat of the opinion that recovery rings or snatch blocks are the answer to everything.

If my Jeep is moving while winching I need more pulleys on a tree splitting more of the load.

We did a recovery on Goodman Creek Road...just finished editing the footage... kicking myself watching the footage because I used one pulley as a redirect. My Jeep kept getting dragged around. I had the test rope you sent me... easily could have added more rope and rings to solve the problem.

This was outside McKenzie Bridge more recently. Straps on the driver side of the Jeep runs about 50' to a large tree.

View attachment 537867

I've read enough horror stories on bending frames I'm loath to strap my Jeep to a tree or use big, bulky, heavy chocks.

I welcome any and all sage advice and wisdom. Learning as we go and folks keep dumping vehicles in crazier and crazier places.

-Mac

Do you post footage of your recoveries? I would love to watch them.

 

[macleanflood]

but that works if you have enough rope.

Or enough straps...you don't have to have rope from point A to B...you can span a lot of the distance with straps...but...only if as you winch you can safely anchor the load to reset and remove straps and the patience to reset a lot of rigging.

In my picture above we had a 30' and 20' strap to a tree on the left...and another 20' strap down to a wrecked Chevy Blazer.

-Mac

 

[macleanflood]

Do you post footage of your recoveries? I would love to watch them.

https://youtube.com/@trashandtrail

For the sake of argument and discourse...these videos aren't on my scheduled rotation until end of July...but I'll make them unlisted so you can watch me completely screw up and struggle.

This is part 1:



And this is part 2:



They're probably too long...but it took a long time to edit down two eight hour days of footage. And since I don't have a film crew all I can do is set up cameras and get everything...makes it a royal PIA to go through everything and find the good parts.

Enjoy!

Thanks!
Mac