If you use a synthetic winch line please read

[doug720]

A small piece of cable or chain through the hook and secured to the bumper with a lock would also work.

PITA, but this is getting to be somewhat common. Someone posted that their entire synthetic winch line and end was stolen recently. Thieves SUCK!

 

[BMThiker]

I keep my winch recovery hook latched to the inside of my All Pro bumper. They welded a hoop inside for just that purpose. The design of this bumper also makes it hard to get access to the line/spool. When I'm finished using my winch I attach the recovery hook inside the bumper and put tension on it. In this state it blocks access to the winch free spool throw lever (Warn 9.5XP). These are all very subtle discouragements, as my rig could still have suffered the same fate as the OP. If I had a steel braided sheath or an internal SS braided cable, it might prevent theft of the hook, but I would also worry about long term chafing, especially unseen on the inside.

 

[swamp-thing]

yea - they would have still made off with your hook, seems like the only solution is a lock of some kind...
I will post a pic of my repaired line tomorrow

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

Just another idea. This is what I have done to both winches on my 80. Mostly to keep me from smashing the lever off the winch, but will slow people down.

Its a stock lever chopped off with a random 1/4" drive socket welded to it. Now you need the 'key' and to release tension to free spool the rope.

 

[Rigger]

Bandit, can you please post more pics of that?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Why not spool in the winch line so that the thimble is right up against the fairlead? That way no one could get their mitts in to mess with the line.

 

[BMThiker]

Why not spool in the winch line so that the thimble is right up against the fairlead? That way no one could get their mitts in to mess with the line.

If the thief can access the clutch/freespool lever, then the thimble-against-fairlead-method won't do a thing.

 

[ThreeEyedBandit]

If the thief can access the clutch/freespool lever, then the thimble-against-fairlead-method won't do a thing.

Incorrect to a point. As long as you have tension on the rope the freespool lever is very difficult(next to impossible to turn).

I ran a test on my old M8000. Winched the rope in with a little tension like always, stuck a pipe over the free spool lever and went at it. Clutch never disengaged, sheared the pin on the inside of the lever off the slides the freespool collar.

 

[73fj40lc]

I have two winches with Syn rope and two with steel cable. I keep all of my winches with the cables and rope pulled in tight to the fairlead. My two full size Warns and the Warns ATV and UTV all will not play out under freespool until I take the pressure off with the remote. I thought that most people did the same. I did have someone many years ago try to steal the winch off my Z71 truck. Lucky for me I had the Warn security nuts under the winch so they couldn't get the winch off. That is the only issue that I have ever in over 25 years. Guess that I have just been lucky or my time just hasn't come up yet. Funny about the dash cam I was thinking about that, but then they just break the window out of the 40 and now they also have a new camera to take.

 

[studawg]

So, I live in Steamboat Springs, a small Colorado town with access to lots of outdoor fun and adventure. Yesterday while visiting a state park, Stagecoach Reservoir, I returned to my parked 80 after a long hike only to find that the winching hook on the end of my Viking synthetic winchline had been maliciously sliced off at the end. Rendering my synthetic line useless, not to mention, relieving me of my winch hook.

This didn't happen in some bad neighborhood....This happened in a beautiful location, with wild Colorado mountains all around, right at the tailwaters of the yampa river....pretty much the last place I would expect it.

Anyway, I'm not sure if this has been covered before by other unlucky mudders, but if you have the synthetic line with hook, thimble or whatever else recovery attached to the end, be aware, apparently there's no end to which people will go to rob others. Mine was yellow... and in being yellow, maybe looked "fancy" or "expensive" I'm not sure what the attraction was??

With one slice of another's knife, my repair bill with new parts and shipping is going to be around $100 and lead time of about a month for backordered parts ( good thing I have no moab plans next week ) The money is really inconsequential compared to the way I'm left feeling about my fellow man right now.

Anyway -- it's a safe bet that you've all been the victim of this kind of thing before.
I guess I just didn't really expect it from another nature lover like myself, in a nice part of the state. So, word to the wise, be vigilant I guess, and maybe paint your winch hooks or thimbles or whatever you have, some hideous color that would-be thieves will not find attractive.

Cheers!

swamp-thing

( pass this thread on to anyone with a synthetic line )

"Boy, I wish I could've caught him doing it. I'd have given anything to catch that a****** doing it. It'd been worth him doing it just so I could've caught him doing it." -Vincent Vega

 

[swamp-thing]

Yea it was a super dick move.

 

[Dragos80]

Don't worry about it.
The enviro-nazis have a new target not. The VW diesel.

 

[matthedingoduk]

One reason I'm going to build my bumper with a receiver instead and just mount my winch that way, when not in use it'll go in the garage. My LC sits in the driveway most of the time and I'd be uneasy knowing it sits out in the open. Sorry that you had that happen, hope karma gets 'em!

 

[swamp-thing]

Karma will prevail!

 

[Output Shaft]

Remove the line when not in use.

Winches rarely get used anyway, and synthetic line is easy to coil by hand and store in the vehicle.

 

[DrivingMissRosey]

Don't worry about it.
The enviro-nazis have a new target not. The VW diesel.

Now they will have to not use their own cars.