Winching

The understanding in the use of a snatch block is important.  Using a snatch block in winching does two things: it halves the energy (effort) required to winch an object; but it doubles the time required.   Add another snatch block and the effort is halved yet again, but the time taken is doubled yet again.

Not only can a snatch block be used to reduce effort, but it can be used to change the direction in which you want the winched vehicle to go, or it can change the direction of the winch cable if no suitable anchor point is in front of the winched vehicle.

Simple Use of a Snatch Block

Above we have an electric winch fitted to the front of the vehicle.  The cable is pulled from the winch, thru a snatch block which is attached to a tree by a tree trunk protector using a shackle, and the cable then is drawn back and connected to the vehicle's tow point.  If the tow point is an enclosed loop, you'll need to attach the cable to the tow point using a shackle, otherwise the tow point is assumed to be an open hook whereby the cable is looped over the hook.

Using Two Snatch Blocks

Above is shown the use of two snatch blocks to further reduce the effort placed on the winch.  The cable is drawn out of the winch, thru a snatch block which is attached to one end of the tree trunk protector.  The cable is then drawn back to the vehicle and thru the second snatch block which is attached to the vehicle by a shackle.  The cable is then drawn away from the car and attached to the other end of the tree trunk protector using a shackle.

Hand Winching

The above diagram shows the use of a hand winch and snatch block.  One end of a cable is attached to a tree trunk protector using a shackle, and then the cable is drawn thru a snatch block that is attached to the vehicle tow point using a shackle.  The tow cable is then drawn thru the hand winch.  The hand winch is attached to the other end of the tree trunk protector using a shackle.

Changing the Direction of the Cable

In the above diagram, no suitable winch point is in the front of the vehicle.  You may not be able to connect the cable directly to either tree, as the strain on the winch may be too great.  In this case, you connect the snatch block to the tree by shackles and a cable just long enough to have the snatch block in the path of the vehicle.  You run the cable through the snatch block and over to the second tree.

Changing the Direction of the Tow

Using a snatch block, a vehicle on the same side of a hazard can tow another vehicle to the opposite side of the hazard - see the following:

In the above diagram, assume that two vehicles are on the same side of a river (or any hazard).  A cable is taken across the river and attached to a tree and snatch block, then brought back to be hooked up to another vehicle to be towed.  When the towing vehicle retrieves the cable using its winch, the other vehicle is towed across the river to the opposite bank.  In the above diagram, the cable is from the towing vehicle's winch.  If that vehicle does not have a winch, the cable would be connected to the towing vehicle's tow point, and then the towing vehicle would simply reverse.  This method can be used to retrieve a vehicle that is already stuck in a hazard, or to aid the vehicle to negotiate the hazard so that it does not become stuck.  Once the first vehicle has been towed across in the above manner, the first vehicle would then simply use a standard tow (without a snatch block) to help the second vehicle across.

Making your own Winch Point

What happens when you don't have a tree handy as a winching point.  Unfortunately, not many alternatives are easy.  Most require a bit of digging and sweat.

The diagram below shows an easy way to create a winch point using your spare tyre and a hole in the ground.  Dig a hole large enough to accommodate your spare wheel - dig into the hole so that the front slopes away as it goes down.  Now dig a narrow trench from the middle of the hole up at an angle towards the vehicle.  This trench only needs to be wide enough for the cable.  Attach the cable to the tyre and then lower it into the hole - you can loop the cable thru the wheel hubs hole and then hold the cable in place by a thick branch or similar strong object.  The slope in the hole plus the angled trench stops the wheel from being pulled up and out of the hole.  There is no need to fill in the whole with dirt before  winching, but of course fill in the hole once you have finished with it (need I say this?).

The above method can use your spare wheel, or a suitably large log can be used.

There's a neat device called the Pul Pal, which was designed in the States.  Simply insert the plow-point into the ground.  As the winch cable tightens, the point embeds itself deeply and firmly into the ground and frees your vehicle with the assistance of the wheels in motion (much the same principle as a kellick anchor for boats).