Off Grid Winch: Making a Flip Flop Winch

I first discovered this ingenious flip-flop winch from a YouTube demonstration by Mors Kochanski, the Godfather of bushcraft. A search of flip-flop winches on YT will garner several clips demonstrating the power of using two logs and some rope. So why would I add my video to mix? Because it's only theory until you put it into action by Doing the Stuff!

Thanks for watching!

Keep Doing the Stuff of Self-Reliance!

[kevinnobody]

My Grandpa freed a plow horse out of a mud pit with this very winch.
When he realized the horse was going to need more help than he and I could give it, he didn't say a word he just went about cutting the timber he needed, put the winch together and he and I pulled that horse up out of the mud.
I've never forgotten that and I have admired my Grandpa through my entire life for the expiriences that we shared.
He was a smart man.

[markirish]

As a child this is how i used to get my father out of the pubs here in Ireland 🇮🇪 great video thank you god bless

[keithsusko]

Totally awesome. I wish I had known this 37 years ago when my truck was stuck on a slope at the edge of a ravine. I had a long rope that we tied to a small tree, several 3' and 4' concrete stakes, sledgehammer, and a few other tools. I knew there had to be a way to manually winch it out but couldn't figure it out. Meanwhile, my friend ran back to a ranger station he had seen a few miles back and got them to come with a 4-wheel drive to pull us out. I had everything I needed but the knowledge.

[geoffreybudge]

I always appreciate it when a man tells you the name of the sage he learned from .

[jonathancompton]

One way to help minimize the effects of a rope snapping is to drape a blanket or some type of fabric on the rope or cables being stretched. The hope and tendency is that the broken cord will hit the blanket or fabric that is over it. This does not eliminate risk, but it lessens it, and can help you stay safer in a pinch type situation like this one. Very cool video!

[kevinwilson]

Each time you stepped over that taught rope, my boys both twitched! Thank you Todd.

[SaileAway]

Hi Todd, thanks for the demonstration.
One way to mitigate the danger of line snapping is to make the same configuration using a loop of rope rather than a single line. Then tie paracord or some other line loosely around both of the two strands at intervals, so that, should the line snap at a given location, the encircling paracord nearest to the break will prevent the broken end from flying more than a few feet. Incidentally, using a loop will also nearly double your safe load limit.

[GorgoScrobo]

Thank you for this. I had never seen this or heard of it. I was able to get my son’s hot wheel unstuck from a little mud pit in the backyard sandbox using two toothpicks and dental floss. Life safer!

[hecticheathen]

I have not personally seen this used in the wild, but I commend you for how you explained it. This is an ingenious strategy for a survival situation.

[karymoore]

I'm am 58 yrs old and have been in the woods or close most of my life in 4x4s starting with mom dad uncles and cousins in a willys army jeep at 3 yrs and Chevy 4x4 at 15 when I got my license. This is the first time I've seen this type of wench but needed one more times than I'll say. Thank you. Keep up the great work.

[richardpayne]

Great trick. Good idea would to be have trailing wedges behind the vehicle’s tyres so that it can go forwards but not roll back if the rope breaks. Plus a blanket on the ropes to stop whiplash if it lets go.

[SoulRebelSigma]

I’ve seen this demonstrated in principle in a few of my books, but never in practice. Great video, thanks for sharing!

[jimtyrrell]

This is an amazing tool. Thank you for sharing this information. I couldn't help but thinking about the " ancients" moving huge loads without modern equipment and tools like this show how simple tools can move heavy loads.

[DenKnob]

Thank you for the update with the barrel log stakes and the paracord loops on the load line for the lever log. I used this basic method years ago as a young Marine to get a vehicle back on the road. We had plenty of muscle available but this method worked without anyone getting hurt. I respectfully suggest driving the barrel log stakes in at an angle so that the log is less likely to slide up the stake and spin around. I also suggest using loops of paracord on the stakes for the barrel log. There are deadly forces stored in this device that will break bones and skulls faster than a man can react. I would only move in the areas around this winch where I would be safest if something goes wrong. Thank you for posting

[dottmcse]

“If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” - Our buddy Red!

[albertbatfinder]

Great tip. Wish I’d seen this when I was trying to persuade my St Bernard it was bath time.

[pixiesmate]

brilliant improvised winch, I'll be showing this to the scouts. it's always good to have alternative ways of doing things

[lindenvillage]

I always like to learn new things, this is one more really useful one 👍🇮🇪

[lysergicYK]

out of the countless hours I've spent watching youtube videos, I must say this has been the most informative 12.5 min. I'm impressed.

[katieshields]

My Grandpa taught me how to get out of the mud by tying a log/branch onto the wheel. It increases the surface of the tire and enables you to just drive out of the mud while safely seated in the car/truck. This is a great idea as well. It's definitely going in my bag of tricks. Thumbs up!