Pulling a truck with a flip flop winch

[bob10]

Could be used in a number of circumstances.


YouTube (https://youtu.be/QFDGGht3CQU)

[p38arover]

Useless for me. I can't remember how to tie ropes or knots. The limit of my knot tying is doing my shoelaces (and my wife and a friend laugh at how I do that). When I was in the VRA on Norfolk Island, they wouldn't let me anywhere near a rope because they mainly trained for cliff rescue.

Knots I tie don't stay as knots, they come loose or unravel.

[rovers4]

I didn't like the way he tied to the towball hole. _a dangerous sharp edge. A shackle of suitable rating there and tie to it with a bowline. Certainly it rated a dampener, or two, like all winching.
Not enough power? Put in a snatchblock, albeit a bit slower. But very effective.

[V8Ian]

I didn't like the way he tied to the towball hole. _a dangerous sharp edge. A shackle of suitable rating there and tie to it with a bowline. Certainly it rated a dampener, or two, like all winching.
I was thinking exactly the same.
The was he was stepping over the live line, he hasn't been hit in the vulnerables of late. :woot::arms::woot:[

[bob10]

Semantics aside, the basic priciple works. Matching the size of the rope to the mass being moved, [ methinks a dedicated tow rope ] and following basic safety procedures , which we all should know, would make it doable and safe. A last resort , of course, and finding suitable logs could be a problem, but stuck on your own with a busted , or no, winch, doing something positive is better than doing nothing at all. But then again, a full esky eases the pain as well. [smilebigeye]

[INter674]

Years ago I went 4wd ing with a truckie (girl friends father at the time) who used a similar method to extract a vehicle which had slid down a steep slope lodging against a tree. Hours later it did not work.

Sheepishly I suggested cutting down the tree to allow the vehicle to exit onto a lower track.

Suppose that will work he said🙄

[B.S.F.]

He was moving an unladen car on flat ground, in a location, and under conditions of his choosing, and only just managed it. Forget it.
.W.

[bob10]

I guess you would have to be sensible about when to use the principle , up a steep slope perhaps the size of rope, and length and strenght of the levers would have to increase exponentionally. A better option could be using a high lift jack, with a suitable kit , one of which was posted on AULRO by a NZ member some time ago. Still, doable along the flat, perhaps not so much up a hill.

[bob10]

He was moving an unladen car on flat ground, in a location, and under conditions of his choosing, and only just managed it. Forget it.
.W.


Don't think it is a procedure you would choose to do, if you had a choice. Plus a better rope would have been a good idea. However when all else has failed, it is an option. At the last resort, surely you would unload your vehicle as much as you could. I'll have to have another look at the video, I don't think he mentions his vehicle is unloaded, but perhaps he did.

[B.S.F.]

I guess you would have to be sensible about when to use the principle , up a steep slope perhaps the size of rope, and length and strenght of the levers would have to increase exponentionally. A better option could be using a high lift jack, with a suitable kit , one of which was posted on AULRO by a NZ member some time ago. Still, doable along the flat, perhaps not so much up a hill.

I've got one of those gadgets that enables you to use the Hi-lift as a winch. It's called a Jack Mate. That's why I know what's involved.
.W.

[bob10]

I've got one of those gadgets that enables you to use the Hi-lift as a winch. It's called a Jack Mate. That's why I know what's involved.
.W.

This is a better video, although the procedure still looks clumsy, and dangerous if not done correctly. But doable, as a last resort.

YouTube (https://youtu.be/tmGqf_xOYQk)

[bob10]

I found the post about the Hi-lift jack. Surprising enough it was in the recovery section. Where this should be I guess, but beats talking about THAT virus. Courtesy of Windsock.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/customavatars/avatar19977_3.gif (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/19977.html) windsock (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/19977.html)
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Join Date Nov 2008 Location Manawatu, NZ Posts 789 Post Thanks / Like https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/buttons/collapse_40b.png (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/recovery/83847-alternative-hand-winch-hi-lift-jack-3.html#top)


OK, photo time


OK, finally got back online (faulty server) with photos.

First up, realigning track in the ruts. Slippery stuff and many ruts while cornering can lead to getting crossed up on some of the local tracks...

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/11/645.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/830.jpg

No problems with 60 inches of lift and the right angles...

Now the winch part. Always use non-stretch chains or straps otherwise that will be all you do is use up precious calories stretching a rope. :p I carry two lengths of chain, and can hook up the configuration below in whatever place I find stable between load and anchor point.

First have the right configuration of chain.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/831.jpg
This shows the fitting onto the lift part. Also in that picture you can see my permanent home made 'holding' chain. More on that further down.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/832.jpg
Pulling chain must be longer than holding chain for reason obvious down further.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/833.jpg
Start of the pull... you can see my holding chain rattling around in the gravity.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/834.jpg
End of A pull, not the last pull most likely several more pulls to go if I have anything to do with it... :angel: Fix the holding chain in place and release the load onto it. As below.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/835.jpg
Hook the holding chain to the pulled load chain, and undo the pulling chain by letting 'down' the jack one or two clicks.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/836.jpg
Slide the lift down to take another bite of the pulling chain, take the weight of the load, and disconnect the holding chain... and away you go again... reliable as a good back and a strong arm.

If the back is crook and the arm is weak then even driving off road should be a problem also. :wasntme: I actually have a crook back and can still carefully do the above exercise without busting it further.

Before you know it you are warm, unstuck, and ready for a cold one, much shoulder slapping all round... ;) Of if you are on your own like I am most of the time, a lot of 'blue' muttering about mud etc... :mad: :D

As far as the anchor. If there is nothing 'natural' I use rods of steel as mentioned above. Driven into the ground in either straight line or a 'V' confiiguration and then chained together I can anchor myself in even the most awkward of river bed situations most of the time.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/07/837.jpg

Hope these shots help with a picture of how to sucessfully and easily use a hi-lift as a winch - armstrong style.

[RANDLOVER]

I like how it looks like he actually has a windsock in the back of his Landy. I'll add that one is pro'ly going to need the hi-lift jack to pull those steel rods, (which we used to call recovery pins in the army), out of the ground!

[bob10]

I like how it looks like he actually has a windsock in the back of his Landy. I'll add that one is pro'ly going to need the hi-lift jack to pull those steel rods, (which we used to call recovery pins in the army), out of the ground!

I'd say so. Better than a flip flop winch though, I think. I think I'd save for a winch, all the same.

[Blknight.aus]

the flip flop winch works, but using timbers as thick as those you either need a lot of men and long poles or a light load.


If you use say, the long jack red jack handle as the floping bar and use say 10ft of 2inch water pipe as the tensioning bar it works quite well, but its even slower than a tirfor. you also need pegs and guides and a hauling rope to pull it up and over once the tension really winds on.

[trout1105]

With the cost of electric winches being so low these days why would anyone need to revert to using a high lift jack, Bloody dangerous things to use.
Not only are the high lift jack dangerous and hard yakka to use they weigh not much less than an electric winch loaded up with synthetic rope as well.

This flip flop winch and high lift jacks belong in a bygone era and rightly so as far as recovery systems go, A simple set of maxtracks/Treds will get you out of most bogs and an electric winch is much easier/safer to use that these "Old School" techniques.
My old high lift jack has been gathering dust at the back of the shed for at least 10 years now and I have NEVER regrated not taking it away with me despite the number of times I have had to get myself and others out of various situations[thumbsupbig]

[donh54]

With the cost of electric winches being so low these days why would anyone need to revert to using a high lift jack, Bloody dangerous things to use.
Not only are the high lift jack dangerous and hard yakka to use they weigh not much less than an electric winch loaded up with synthetic rope as well.

This flip flop winch and high lift jacks belong in a bygone era and rightly so as far as recovery systems go, A simple set of maxtracks/Treds will get you out of most bogs and an electric winch is much easier/safer to use that these "Old School" techniques.
My old high lift jack has been gathering dust at the back of the shed for at least 10 years now and I have NEVER regrated not taking it away with me despite the number of times I have had to get myself and others out of various situations[thumbsupbig]I guess it depends on how you grew up.
I have been using wallaby jacks (like a hi-lift, but way, way heavier!), forestry devils, cam-lock chain tensioners and the like since before I got kicked out of school.
There is an element of danger in anything mechanical, especially when under load. However, if you understand the dangers, and how to minimise them, you can use them quite safely.
In many cases, the danger lies in the operator, not the device.

[trout1105]

I guess it depends on how you grew up.
I have been using wallaby jacks (like a hi-lift, but way, way heavier!), forestry devils, cam-lock chain tensioners and the like since before I got kicked out of school.
There is an element of danger in anything mechanical, especially when under load. However, if you understand the dangers, and how to minimise them, you can use them quite safely.
In many cases, the danger lies in the operator, not the device.

I agree with you But I would also say that the vast majority of people that own a high lift jack wouldn't have a clue how to minimise the risks involved.

[Hogarthde]

Ah donh,.....if you grew up using the lovely little wallaby jack and the forest devil, then every thing since then is a school picnic.
The old dad used them,and used them well and looked effortlessly...... well he made it look easy to we striplings.

Blasted great heavy things yet lasted 100years and did the job.

I think dad gave the devil to some logging museum, can’t remember what we did with the trewhella, perhaps I should find it and then carry on the roof rack of my D4🤔

[ramblingboy42]

yes I grew up with the wallaby jack and with a good rigger you could do anything with them.

I don't have a winch and probably never will , have never been bogged enough to need one.

But I do take a come-a-long on long trips and with the amount of recovery gear I have ....which I have never used.....I could get out of any situation.

Of course I'm a chicken track user and a believer in "if I have to select low range , have a think about where you are going"

My adventures are planned around my destinations , not getting there.

[Blknight.aus]

With the cost of electric winches being so low these days why would anyone need to revert to using a high lift jack, Bloody dangerous things to use.
Not only are the high lift jack dangerous and hard yakka to use they weigh not much less than an electric winch loaded up with synthetic rope as well.

This flip flop winch and high lift jacks belong in a bygone era and rightly so as far as recovery systems go, A simple set of maxtracks/Treds will get you out of most bogs and an electric winch is much easier/safer to use that these "Old School" techniques.
My old high lift jack has been gathering dust at the back of the shed for at least 10 years now and I have NEVER regrated not taking it away with me despite the number of times I have had to get myself and others out of various situations[thumbsupbig]


oh they have thier places and uses....

if youve only got a single winch and need to pull up and out at the same time is one I cant think of...

something I've learnt about the things that need "hard yakka" They seem to be the most reliable when you need them most.

[trout1105]

oh they have thier places and uses....

if youve only got a single winch and need to pull up and out at the same time is one I cant think of...

something I've learnt about the things that need "hard yakka" They seem to be the most reliable when you need them most.

Dig/place recovery boards under the wheels and pull up and out with the winch, Dead easy and more importantly FAR safer[thumbsupbig][biggrin]

[Blknight.aus]

Dig/place recovery boards under the wheels and pull up and out with the winch, Dead easy and more importantly FAR safer[thumbsupbig][biggrin]

Which is not the sort of up and out I ment.