Is the 12,000 Warn winch I have on the front of the truck. Past weekend saw us at a lake campsite up above Lake Chelan in Washington. Huge wind came up overnight and a large tree was downed blocking the road out. I carry a good pruning saw, so that was in play, then was able to get an angle position. Got it moved around with the first set-up and was able to snap it at the cut on the second. Much of my travels tend to be in out the way places...no cel, etc. So..for me? a great piece of gear. Second time in use.Gary Haupt

Well done! And Gary, it is really good to hear that you are in great shape, cutting trees and winching logs -- it seems like only yesterday that your ankle (?) was giving you a lot of difficulty.But I do have some technical questions:Is there any video of your lumbering heroics? And was that pleasant red-headed young lady around to applaud? (Preferably on camera?)Most importantly, before beginning the job, did you tell the onlookers, "Hold my beer!"

garyhaupt wrote:Best boondocking gizmo so far...Is the 12,000 Warn winch I have on the front of the truck.Way to go!I also carry along a large pruning saw - but boy would it take a lot of muscle and endurance to cut and remove the pieces of a big tree without a winch. I have a hand winch and often thought of packing it along just in case.By the way, you're only the second RV'er I've ever run across who refers to their Class C motorhome as a "truck". Come to think of it, that's really the most important part of what it is.I always enjoy your comments ... so keep on truckin'.

So far, my various pruning saws have always been enough, but in these days of forests full of dead trees a winch sounds like a good thing to have.I usually call my Tiger Class C a truck. 2500HD 4x4...what else could it be?

I hope you have some tow straps (to wrap around things you don't want to damage with a hook and wire cable) and some shackles. If you want to get "fancy" throw a snatch block in to kit, but a good one of these is kind of expensive.

theoldwizard1 wrote:I hope you have some tow straps (to wrap around things you don't want to damage with a hook and wire cable) and some shackles. If you want to get "fancy" throw a snatch block in to kit, but a good one of these is kind of expensive.This is a great point! Tree saver straps will protect both your winch cable and the trees. Don't forget to lay a blanket or other shock absorbing material over the cable. Never "jerk" on a winch cable as the morons in this video did. The result of a broken winch cable is the same if only winching and the cable breaks without something to absorb the shock of a broken cable. Don't be Darwin Award Winner... all you need is a coat laid over the cable while pulling to avoid this... Broken Winch Cable

Best boondocking gizmo so far... | Good Sam Community

Gjac
Explorer III
Jul 02, 2018
I use my electric chain saw all the time to cut firewood but only once to remove a fallen tree. I just cut it in small enough sections to roll them of the way. It is also a good way to exercise genset.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Jun 29, 2018
My two best gizmos are a heavy duty tow rope and a gas chain saw. Use them quite a bit out boon docking in the mountains and foothills (firewood and moving downed trees).
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 29, 2018
riven1950 wrote:
Yeah, just be really carefull as stated before using a winch / snatch block. A local guy here just got out of the hospital because he and a friend of ours were improperly using a cable / block. As I am sure you know, can be very deadly.

There are a few really good YouTube vids on proper winch usage. I got a two day 4x4 course, courtesy of the US Gov't thank ya'll, and they didn't spend a bunch of time...but they sure stressed the blanket on wire and staying out the line of fire. That and stay out of the area once the beer comes out.

YouTube..type 'safe winching' or 'winching safely'.

And then find someone that actually knows what they are doing and run out the line and do a few pulls with instruction.

Gary
riven1950
Explorer
Jun 29, 2018
Yeah, just be really carefull as stated before using a winch / snatch block. A local guy here just got out of the hospital because he and a friend of ours were improperly using a cable / block. As I am sure you know, can be very deadly.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
profdant139 wrote:
Gary, that's a great shot -- you are lucky to have a buddy who looks so cheerful while removing a downed log!

She hasn't stopped smiling about that. Sharon has that squirrel squirrel thing...so..entrusting the controller to her had it's concerns. However...she loves doing stuff like that..just jumps right in and gives it her all.

Gary
profdant139
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2018
Gary, that's a great shot -- you are lucky to have a buddy who looks so cheerful while removing a downed log!
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
huachuca wrote:
Good suggestions here. Synthetic winch line is coming down in price and much safer and easier to work with than cable. I carry a few half inch diameter wooden dowels along to use when joining snatch straps together. When the job is finished, they can be slipped out to provide enough slack to easily separate the straps. And the driver in the video was extremely lucky.

That's what I tell her, all the time.

She was inside for the work..out for the picture.

Gary
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Jun 28, 2018
You don't even need a fancy motorized winch to get yourself into bad trouble. During my volunteer trailwork years, we used a come-along with a nylon strap to move the big stuff. Then there was the time that the strap broke...very scary but fortunately no one was hurt.
huachuca
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
Good suggestions here. Synthetic winch line is coming down in price and much safer and easier to work with than cable. I carry a few half inch diameter wooden dowels along to use when joining snatch straps together. When the job is finished, they can be slipped out to provide enough slack to easily separate the straps. And the driver in the video was extremely lucky.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
Oh gad yes..a blanket over the cable.

I use leather gloves, carry high grade chain and a good strap. And carry 3..yes, 3 snatch blocks.

No..no video..I was busy...the red head was on the controls. A shot is included.

https://imgur.com/a/L1MZfpr

Gary Haupt

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