Winch Anchor

[wearsabrowncoat]

Background: I've been stuck three times this winter in the snow. Each situation was near identical. I was out on the trails and ran into some deeper snow drifts. My rig does fine until the frame starts to ride up on the snow. If I'm lucky I can catch it before its too late and back out and try a diffent line. Keep in mind this isn't the light powdery stuff I've seen out West. Unless it is a really short drift I haven't been able to just plow through it. Once the weight of the vehicle is sitting on the frame, locking the diffs doesn't do crap. And of course there hasn't been tree within a half mile. So my options have been to get out and do a lot of shoveling to get the snow out from under the frame or call a buddy to give me a tug. Either answer has been a cold time consuming pain. I know some have had luck with burying the spare tire. I tried that this last time since there was a huge tractor tire close by but I couldn't get that deep and the winch pulled the tire right out - I think my time would have been better spent digging under the truck. Anyway this got me to thinking about a comercial solution and I ran accross this winch anchor: Pull-Pal winch anchoring device for 4x4s, Jeeps, SUV, ATV, off-road, military use It looks like a great product but it seems like an anchor shouldn't cost so much. Are there any other brands of winch anchors besides Pull-Pal?

http://www.pullpal.com/aboutPP.html

 

[HntWhtTail]

I hear you about the snow, and being stuck. You can use a deadman set up where you pound two spikes into the ground sort of an X then attach winch, sad part is in the winter will probably take as long to get them in the ground as it would to dig out the truck, also you really need to use about 4 to 5 foot spikes to make sure they stay in the ground.

 

[80 Cruiser Rod]

You may want to look at the Delta Plow Anchor which is used for boats. I have a 22" Grady White which weights about 6,500 lbs. when fully loaded. When the seas get rough it just digs deeper. I'm using the 14 lb. anchor which sells for $126.00 from West Marine.

 

[sandcruiser]

the pull pall is expensive, but they work really well.

you might also look into one of those exhaust jack balloons-- jack up one side of the rig, stuff something under it, drive out (assuming lockers).

I've heard of people down here carrying 4meters of chain link fence (~3ft x 12ft). It give a ton of traction. Never tried it myself.

Search around for traction ladders or sand ladders on MUD, there have been plenty of discussions. Might help ya.

Finally: if you do go with homemade anchor ideas- be careful. If that anchor pulls out suddenly or breaks, you can get a lot of metal flying pretty fast towards your vehicle.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/winching-recovery/191394-instead-pullpal-follow-up.html




I plan on making a couple of larger scale versions of my Golf cart's Winch Buddy

 

[Brentbba]

Do a search on 'anchor' in the Winching section - lots of info. Too many threads to link.

 

[96r50]

Do a search on 'anchor' in the Winching section - lots of info. Too many threads to link.

Flintknapper has a great one made from an old tractor axle. Simple, cheap and effective.

Found it: https://forum.ih8mud.com/winching-recovery/191394-instead-pullpal-follow-up.html

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

Great ideas. I didn't even realize there was a winching section. Awesome resource.

 

[Mark W]

From personal experience....

I would not expect a pull pall or any similar anchor to provide enough grip in snow to winch you put... It will just pull through the snow... and if the ground is frozen, then these type anchors will not dig in.

You will need to use an anchor that you drive (sledgehammer) into the ground. A simple spike can work very well in frozen ground if you have something to drive it in. The "golfcart anchor" pictured above looks like a real good approach for frozen ground. You can forgo the stabilizing legs in frozen ground for that matter... just a spike at an angle and of heavy enough material to resist bending.


Mark...

 

[flintknapper]

From personal experience....

I would not expect a pull pall or any similar anchor to provide enough grip in snow to winch you put... It will just pull through the snow... and if the ground is frozen, then these type anchors will not dig in.

You will need to use an anchor that you drive (sledgehammer) into the ground. A simple spike can work very well in frozen ground if you have something to drive it in. The "golfcart anchor" pictured above looks like a real good approach for frozen ground. You can forgo the stabilizing legs in frozen ground for that matter... just a spike at an angle and of heavy enough material to resist bending.


Mark...

Simple to make, costs nearly nothing, easy to use, works pretty darn good.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/winching-recovery/191394-instead-pullpal-follow-up.html

 

[FJ40_owner]

Background: I've been stuck three times this winter in the snow. Each situation was near identical. I was out on the trails and ran into some deeper snow drifts. My rig does fine until the frame starts to ride up on the snow. If I'm lucky I can catch it before its too late and back out and try a diffent line. Keep in mind this isn't the light powdery stuff I've seen out West. Unless it is a really short drift I haven't been able to just plow through it. Once the weight of the vehicle is sitting on the frame, locking the diffs doesn't do crap. And of course there hasn't been tree within a half mile. So my options have been to get out and do a lot of shoveling to get the snow out from under the frame or call a buddy to give me a tug. Either answer has been a cold time consuming pain. I know some have had luck with burying the spare tire. I tried that this last time since there was a huge tractor tire close by but I couldn't get that deep and the winch pulled the tire right out - I think my time would have been better spent digging under the truck. Anyway this got me to thinking about a comercial solution and I ran accross this winch anchor: Pull-Pal winch anchoring device for 4x4s, Jeeps, SUV, ATV, off-road, military use It looks like a great product but it seems like an anchor shouldn't cost so much. Are there any other brands of winch anchors besides Pull-Pal?

http://www.pullpal.com/aboutPP.html

Always travel with another vehicle.

The Flintknapper anchor IMO will not work in snow. It does not offer any resistance to the snow. And pounding an anchor down to solid ground may allow you to winch to the anchor point location. How will you remove the anchor from the ground? And repeat the process over and over.

I suggest a snow shovel and a smaller hard point shovel to shovel the snow and ice away. Then winch or snatch to your second vehicle. NO CHAINS, NO CHAINS!

 

[Mark W]

Sometimes traveling with a second rig is not happening. Obviously it is a simple answer to stucks. but the whole point of a winch is to have other options and this discussion on winch anchors has to do with that. As already mentioned, a spike is ideal for driving into frozen ground. Of course it will not hold in snow. You can pull it out with the vehicle pulling in the opposite direction. Or in a pinch drive it flush with the ground and leave it there. It is cheap... can be made out of scrap. Pounding any other style anchor into the ground? Show me anything besides a spike that you can pound in, rather than just bashing into a ruin trying.

A spike works in frozen ground. Works well. No other anchor will.

Not speaking "IMO"... speaking "In My Experience".



Mark...

 

[96r50]

You could also use a Hi lift to pull the spike out of the ground after.

 

[shelfboy1]

we have the same snow here it kinda lifts you off the ground .not being much for modern stuff i use an old truck axle with a triangle plate welded to it and carry a bfh .good luck

 

[alia176]

If snow stuck is the main issue, why not get a set of tire chains? A set of heavy lug chains for the rear and a medium lug chain for the front should help out I'd think.

 

[Mark W]

Not all that much... tire chains are for ice or hard icy surfaces covers in packed snow... in deep soft snow they are not very effective. Once your frame and body are resting in/on the show and the weight is off your tires ... very little is going to help move the rig forward under it's own power.


Mark...