2008 Ford F250 Special Off-Road Package Supplement 1st Printing - Page 7

Driver Controls • Clevis/D-Shackle: The D-Shackle is a safe means for connecting the looped ends of cables and straps. The shackle's pin is threaded to allow easy removal. • Choker chains: These can be used to hook-up another vehicle or sharp objects for an anchor point. Chains, however, will damage or kill trees. • 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. 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. The recovery strap is designed to stretch; because of this, it stores energy and could react like a rubber band should your rigging fail. • Shovels and hand tools (i.e., axe or off-road jack): These come in handy when additional assistance is needed during winching activities. 7 2008 F-250/350/450/550 (f23) Supplement USA (fus)