What exactly is a winch line lock? It is a rigid cylinder that is used to secure and shorten a synthetic winch line.
As you are aware, the most efficient point during winching is the first full wrap after the first layer on the winch drum. Each wrap subsequent to the first of the winch line decreases the max pull of that winch. The problem is when your stuck vehicle is closer than the max useable length of your winch line.
While you don’t always need that full pulling power, increasing the efficiency increases safety and reduces wear and tear on your equipment. Using winch line locks allows you to shorten the line to the point when you are on the most efficient point of your winch.
The Safe-Xtract Winch Line Lock should only be used with synthetic lines and within the working load limit. You can feel confident that it will keep your line shortened.
Using a Winch Line Lock
Use is simple. Basically, you pull out your winch line to that last wrap on your drum. Attach the end of your winch line (or winch line extension) to your anchor point. Then you are going to daisy chain the line from the anchor side (we go from the anchor side to make sure you have enough line to winch and to avoid accidentally pulling the woven rope to the spool).
You will need to pull enough tension to pull the slack out and give you the perfect length. At the last loop in the daisy chain, you will slip the winch line lock through the bight in the line and that secures the attachment.
If you need more line, all you need to do is pull the Line Lock out and feed a loop (or two) from the daisy chain back out, and then re-bight the line and poke the lock through the new hole.
Removing is just as simple. from the tail end of the line, pull out the line lock and unthread the daisy chain.
It is a perfect method for managing the line in general use. While you can do the same thing with an X-Lock, we prefer to reserve those for more complex rope placements and the lock is generally recommended as a simple method for line shortening.
Technical Specifications
The Winch Line Lock is machined in the USA out of a single block of high-strength corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy and is rated at 20,000 pounds. The finished product is a solid rod of aluminum with an inset center that helps keep the line from slipping off the sides. The ends have a pointed bevel to help thread through the last loop in the line.
Safe-Xtract Vehicle Recovery System
The Safe-Xtract Recovery App (Android and Apple iOS versions available) and the Safe-Xtract Vehicle Recovery Training Program work with this device. Before field usage of any recovery equipment, including winch applications, users should be professionally trained – visit https://etservicesconsulting.com/offroad for more information.