Thread: Pulling a truck with a flip flop winch

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.

windsock
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Join Date Nov 2008 Location Manawatu, NZ Posts 789 Post Thanks / Like

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...





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. 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.


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.


Pulling chain must be longer than holding chain for reason obvious down further.


Start of the pull... you can see my holding chain rattling around in the gravity.


End of A pull, not the last pull most likely several more pulls to go if I have anything to do with it... Fix the holding chain in place and release the load onto it. As below.


Hook the holding chain to the pulled load chain, and undo the pulling chain by letting 'down' the jack one or two clicks.


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. 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...

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.



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

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!

Originally Posted by 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!

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Originally Posted by donh54

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.

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🤔