Devil's Canyon / Winching & Lifting hands-on (Sun July 31)

[Jim]

RSVP:
www.FrontRange4x4.com/forums/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=1150&day=2022-7-31

Name:
Devil's Canyon / Winching & Lifting hands-on

Date:
Sunday, July 31

Meeting Place & Time:
9am - Idaho Springs - Forest Service building just south of I-70 @ CO-103 (Mt. Evans Byway)

Radio Channels:
....CB: 33, alternative 27
....FRS/GMRS: Channel 6, Code 14 (107.2Hz), alternative Channel 2, no privacy code
....HAM: 146.550, alternative 146.490

Links / Trail Info:
www.TrailsOffroad.com/trails/281-devils-canyon
(possible subscription needed)

[Jim]

Topics we might roll through (time / interest depending)

I see this as more of a "hands-on" event than a teacher-class event - though I do see it to be fairly structured with one item being used (winch / jack / etc) and everyone not directly involved, to be watching. I see several "teachers" involved - but yet not a free-for-all event. Safety in learning is at the fore.

Let's see if we can firm up some list of topics:

Winching:
Safety concerns (catastrophic line breakage, vehicle undesired movement, melted battery terminals [internet fiction?], synthetic vs steel line, soft shackles vs steel D-rings), hooks vs. captive
Straight-line winching
Angled winching (snatch block off of an anchor / tree savers)
Force multiplication winching (something I have yet to do)
Maximum line length pull (how much can be spooled out and winch force vs. "layers of line")
Line length multiplication (adding straps w/o them becoming forced together so they can be readily separated / not using heavy metal when connecting items - should a catastrophic break happen)
Synthetic line abrasion concerns - abrasion sleeve
Re-spooling (perhaps not as important for synthetic, but for metal, a uniform re-spool is recommended)
Steel line lubrication
Steel line kinks / barbs

Lifting / Jacking / Hi-Lift / Farm Jack:
Safety concerns
Lubrication for ease of function
Ratchet strap to hold the jack into the bumper
Chain or strap to attach an axle to a frame before lifting (flat tire issue) so that the hi-lift does not need full length jacking
Using a hi-lift to move a vehicle sideways (stuck in snow/mud)

Does anyone have any hi-lift accessories to use (wheel lift accessory, etc)?

[Tom]

Suddenly got rather quiet.

[Jim]

I found it curious too - folks out wheel'n perhaps - there's time

[Udi]

Looking forward to it.

BTW, Madi and I will be in Breck 2/8-5/8 and will probably be offroading daily up in that ~30 mile radius if anyone wants to join. I don't have specific trails in mind, we usually decide a day ahead of time, depending on the weather and other considerations.

[Steve-O]

I'm traveling around but I'll be there on Sunday. Along with respooling,, lubrication, etc, if there's anything else to know about maintaining a winch/line I'd be very interested. Maybe "when to replace your line" as well. Other than that the list of topics looks great to me

[Jim]

With respect to line care - it differs between wire rope and synthetic. I'm a wire rope winch person. I have not needed to learn synthetic issues.

From what I know:
Wire rope / steel
- respooling is perhaps the important aspect. Why - for when it gets un-spooled and used - under tension - it's recommended to have a clean "drum" of rope to pull down upon and not some rats nest. For, if there's a rats nest of wire, that is when kinks / bends and possibly broken strands are likely to happen.
- Lubrication - I do spray a wet lube on the cable when respooling. I should cover the cable to keep dust/grit from sticking to it - but I don't. It does get pressure washed at the car wash.
- Time to replace - perhaps only when it is rusted or has many broken strands (I do have one broken strand)

Synthetic
- Sunlight (UV rays) degrade the line (time to replace - unknown by me)
- Abrasion is of greater concern than wire rope - try to keep it off of dirt/sand and use the abrasion sleeve where needed.
- De-spooling and washing (to get grit out of it) might be a consideration

[Tom]

Dyneema Is very UV resistant unlike nylon. I understand its warranted against UV issues for 5 years.

It does abrade but the outer sheath is designed to take some abrasion and this actually protects the core. That said one does need to protect it over rock, etc more so than steel.

[Tom]

So as I was gathering together my hi lift stuff I found that the chain used for winching is buried behind a bunch if boxes. My son is moving and they are using our garage for temporary storage. I am not willing to move everything since it looks like everyone has winches and would never use the technique anyway. Several videos on youtube show the technique. I have never actually done it.

I will bring everything but the chain. Its about 20’ in length and 3/8” diameter I believe. Basically a standard tow chain or similar should work. So if you want to try out the technique bring your chain along.

[Jim]

I will have the chain that comes in the Warn recovery bag - [edit: IF] it is the same size / works, folks are welcome to try it.

[Tom]

Jim previously posted:

[The StRanger]

I would love to make it but with the wife surgery I’m home bound till at least Aug 15th.
ya, 2022 has not been a good year for us..

[Jim]

Keep an eye for #2... Carl's interested. We'll see how this event works and improve for another.

[hiimmike]

Bummer, I’m backpacking in Yellowstone during this.

[Tom]

hiimmike previously posted:

[Jim]

www.dailywire.com/news/a-woman-scared-off-a-bear-while-camping-it-returned-that-night-and-killed-her

Food for thought?

[Schmitty]

Carry a big iron in the woods. Never know what you might run in to.

[Tom]

This vid does a good job of showing to use the hi lift winch kit.
https://youtu.be/I-8gFSOTxxA

[Jim]

Weather for Sunday @ Idaho Springs has rain in the forecast. I'm of the thought - let's do this, but bring a rain coat. It's possible we will be complete before rain / lightning is an issue (or that might cause us to scurry off the mountain).

Anyone thinking of NOT joining / desiring to reschedule?

Sunday
Showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...29&lon=-105.52

[Tom]

Jim previously posted: