2006 Ford F350 Special Off-Road Package Supplement 1st Printing - Page 6

Driver Controls • Tow hooks: Secured properly to your vehicle's frame, tow hooks provide an attachment point for wire hooks, straps and chains. • Tree trunk protector: Typically made of tough, high-quality nylon a tree trunk protector provides an attachment point for the winch rope to a wide variety of anchor points and objects, as well as protect living trees. • Heavy blanket: In certain situations you may decide to throw a heavy blanket or similar object over the wire rope. A heavy blanket such as a quilted mover's blanket can absorb energy should the wire rope break. Place it on the wire rope midway between the winch and the anchor point. Do this before the wire rope is put under tension. Do not approach or move the blanket once tension is applied. Do not allow it to get pulled into the fairlead. If necessary to move or remove the blanket, slack the tension on the wire rope first. • Recovery strap: Used to "snatch" out a stuck vehicle. Never use a recovery strap in a winching operation. The recovery strap is designed to stretch; because of this, it stores energy and could react like a rubber band should your rigging fail. Never attach a recovery strap to the winch hook to the increase the length of a pull. Never attempt to tow a vehicle with the recovery strap attached directly to the winch hook. Never use "bungie" straps that develop tremendous and potentially dangerous amounts of force when stretched. • Shovels and hand tools (i.e., axe or off-road jack): These come in handy when additional assistance is needed during winching activities. • Backup parts: Extra items such as an extra clevis/D-shackle or a remote control unit should be carried in case of emergency. For severe and/or continuous winch use, you may want to consider including an extra wire rope and winch hook. • Toolbox items: Always bring along hand wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and tools to change wire rope. • Jumper cables: It's always a good idea to carry jumper cables in case your battery becomes drained during a winching operation. Also, a dual battery system and a battery isolator kit can be installed to prevent draining the electrical source during winching operation. A fully charged conventional automotive battery with a minimum of 650 cold cranking amp is recommended to obtain peak performance from your winch. Make sure all electrical connections are clean and tight. 6