1. Dampen the winch cable. During winching, it’s a good idea to lay a coat, blanket or even tie a bag to the wire cable to dampen it in case of failure. If it fails and you don’t do this, the wire rope could potentially become a high-speed whip — crack!

2. Off the hook. When feeding the winch cable (whether its wire or synthetic) back into the winch, never hold the hook (clasp). Warn includes a Warn-signature red hook strap with all its winches. Hold the hook strap when feeding the cable. If your winch doesn’t have one, get one! Warn sells replacements.

3. Add a rock guard sleeve. If your winch cable isn’t protected from sharp objects, add a sleeve. This small open-ended rope “sock” looks like a gray Chinese finger trap, but is a wise addition. In the event you must winch over rough, jagged rocks or other obstacles with sharp edges, the sleeve protects the cable from fraying and damage. If the cable is frayed, replace it.

4. Wear gloves when winching. This rings especially true when working with a traditional wire cable. If there is a barb or fray anywhere on the cable, you’ll know it as soon as your finger get jabbed and the blood flows. Winching gloves, which Warn also sells, will prevent this accident waiting to happen.

5. Go wireless. Whether it’s cell phones, computers or winches, wireless systems are all the rage. A wireless winch operates within a 50-foot radius of your vehicle and improves your recovery options. It has an automatic shut off mechanism and fits in a h...

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