One of the 2WD vs 4WD threads got me to wondering how useful could a boat anchor be, combined with a winch, to get one out of a sticky situation?An anchor is only as good as the ground it goes into & from my boating experience I have had anchor rode guitar string taught with multiple boats & high winds riding on it.One would not need a heavy anchor as it can be 'set' by somebody putting their weight on it to get it into the ground. Riding chain would not be necessary either as the angle of pull would be very low anyway.It comes down to type & size of anchor. Sizewise I'm thinking suitable for a 30-35' boat. Type I'm thinking the Danforth style but made of aluminium like the Fortress anchors.Thoughts? Maybe the past 4 days of rainy weather has affected my brain.I have a 2WD truck. Only been stuck with trailer twice. Always carry a length of tow rope. Never used it. Never really thought of having a winch before. In 1 of the 2 stuck incidents a winch, long rope & anchor in soft ground might have gotten me out.

Just a thought but you mention having an anchor anchor rode guitar string taught. If it had pulled loose in water it would probably just bounce across the bottom. On a winch in open ground that anchor would probably be snapping back at you like a cannon ball. Snapping a winch cable can happen but I would bet pulling out the anchor would happen much more often. Don't think I would use this except in an extreme emergency.

bdpreece wrote: On a winch in open ground that anchor would probably be snapping back at you like a cannon ball. Snapping a winch cable can happen but I would bet pulling out the anchor would happen much more often. Don't think I would use this except in an extreme emergency.X2

At work we used a Digging Bar. Sink it into the ground about 2 foot at a angle. Never had one to pull out.

When I had a 72 Bronco and did a lot of off-roading I made a 'sand wedge'1/4" steel plate cut in a triangle, 2 1/2' steel bar (1") welded to plate (full length), a 5 lb. mandrel on bar to use as a slide hammer with a 'T' handle at top of bar and a heavy ring welded at top of plate I would drive the wedge at an angle into the sand.......hook up my wench cable to the ring and pull truck towards the wedge....repeat as necessary until out.Got me out of several spots where nothing else was around to strap to.Looked like a short shovel.......just really stout

Get on some off road sites and you will find the Pull-Pal and probably other land anchors rated for land use.http://www.pullpal.com/Use a synthetic winch rope to eliminate the rubber band effect.Even standard steel cable does have some spring back if something goes wrong.

Using an anchor | Good Sam Community

bdpreece
Explorer II
Mar 01, 2014
Just a thought but you mention having an anchor anchor rode guitar string taught. If it had pulled loose in water it would probably just bounce across the bottom. On a winch in open ground that anchor would probably be snapping back at you like a cannon ball. Snapping a winch cable can happen but I would bet pulling out the anchor would happen much more often. Don't think I would use this except in an extreme emergency.
okgc
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
bdpreece wrote:
On a winch in open ground that anchor would probably be snapping back at you like a cannon ball. Snapping a winch cable can happen but I would bet pulling out the anchor would happen much more often. Don't think I would use this except in an extreme emergency.

X2
rv2go
Explorer II
Mar 01, 2014
At work we used a Digging Bar. Sink it into the ground about 2 foot at a angle. Never had one to pull out.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Mar 01, 2014
When I had a 72 Bronco and did a lot of off-roading I made a 'sand wedge'

1/4" steel plate cut in a triangle, 2 1/2' steel bar (1") welded to plate (full length), a 5 lb. mandrel on bar to use as a slide hammer with a 'T' handle at top of bar and a heavy ring welded at top of plate

I would drive the wedge at an angle into the sand.......hook up my wench cable to the ring and pull truck towards the wedge....repeat as necessary until out.

Got me out of several spots where nothing else was around to strap to.

Looked like a short shovel.......just really stout
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 01, 2014
Get on some off road sites and you will find the Pull-Pal and probably other land anchors rated for land use.

http://www.pullpal.com/

Use a synthetic winch rope to eliminate the rubber band effect.
Even standard steel cable does have some spring back if something goes wrong.
Horizon170
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
How much do you think you need something will dictate what you use.
I carry nothing but a Come-A-Long and a chain with me and I carry it in my Toad. If stuck, I bury my spare tire in the sand with a chain attached or if in the desert spare tire covered with a big pile of rocks.
If in dirt dig a trough slanting down away from your vehicle and make a "TEE" at the lower end to put a timber, log, etc crossways with a chain attached.
The person that suggested the BAR driven into the ground had a good idea. To improve on that use several bars in a line and attach the vehicle to the bottom of the nearest bar and hook the top of that bar to the bottom of the second bar, top of 2nd bar to bottom of 3rd, etc until you have enough hold for recovery.
Shearwater
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
i second the concern about using rope - particularly nylon. This stuff stretches 20-25% pretty easily and if it broke it would come back like a rubber band. Chain would be a safer, but much heavier material.
DUNEBUGGYDOUG
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
Just get you a screw in auger ,the type used to fasten mobile homes down,screw it in the ground with the angle away from you ,hook up your winch cable and pull away.This set up has been used in my area for many years and I have never seen it fail to work
Dick_B
Explorer
Mar 01, 2014
I prefer road service.
pnichols
Explorer II
Mar 01, 2014
Dick,

There's no road service out here:

.... but we do carry a spare that could be buried in the sand. I guess we'd better start carrying a manual come-a-long to go with it!