Does it work? Winching Backwards with a Front Mounted Winch!

I have never done this before! I drove into a ditch/rut to test this reverse winching a 4x4 idea to see how it works. Lets see how it goes!!!

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[vitale]

Very nice demonstration of reverse winching, along with the associated reference to the risk involved. Thank You.

[donpardo]

Great demo, Matt. you covered and raised relevant issues with this winch in reverse
usage. Steel cable versus synthetic rope, very good point!! well done.

[goodtimes]

Been there done that matt, we used short cut logs  with chainsaw under the jeep so cable runs along the wood !!!! Woot..

[mountainconstructions]

Nice one Matt
Its called the "Reach Around
Pretty popular in the Sydney 4WD scene

[cammy]

best 4wd personalty in Australia! thanks madmatt

[backcountryoverland]

I actually had an occasion to need to do that. It was my last option with a Ram 2500 CTD and a camper on it buried in some deep mud. Forward was a no go. I ran my cable as you did under the truck to a good solid tree behind me. A 12000 pound Mile Marker with steel cable. The theory was good. The application suffered from friction loss, very hard cable turns, and the extreme suction of the clay like mud. I had minimal movement. The cable length needed to make the hookup ruled out using a snatch block. I did bend the lower roller on the fairlead a touch as well and the winch plate. No catastrophic failures occurred but I was extremely cautious. When another rig happened along to help, the combination of his kinetic rope AND the reverse winch is what got me out. So although reverse winching didn't do it alone, it WAS an aide in the operation.
This experience led me to a conclusion in doing this. I think a simpler "stuck" with the ability to roll, this technique will work better like in your video. For my heavy rig, a rear winch will be added. Reverse winching may be an option when one is in dire straights, but will probably come with consequence in a bad stuck. Just my observation from experience. .

[desertfox]

I'm glad you did this. I always figured it was a viable option.

[yarongolan]

Thanks for the video. This is the first time I've encountered this method.

[olliehopnoodle]

You can also winch backward if you have three anchor points and three snatch blocks. There are some video's on this method as well.

[vicc]

I saw this ONCE and the cable (steel) was pretty much toast after- You made this look easy

[PolarBear]

I had to do that once in an emergency...now I have front and rear winches...my rear winch have saved my bacon multiple times!

[cyberpleb]

Very helpful. I'm new to off roading and wondered about this. Thanks!

[thebaldeagle]

I've actually done this in reverse. Have a 1 ton oilfield winch truck with the winch on the bed of the truck. Had to run the line over the tailboard then under the truck out the front. Hooked to a tree and pulled myself out of the mud hole. Unfortunately didn't have the wife with me as he suggested so I had to get muddy myself.

[mgwaccnt]

I had to do this exact thing in Utah one year with my quad while on the deer hunt to get out of a bad situation that frankly was dumb to have gotten myself into in the first place. That said, it worked great, however there was a little twist in my case. The only tree available to me was off at approximately least a 30 degree angle instead of relatively straight behind the quad and the quad was up against a pretty decent hill on that side. I was concerned that the cable would slice into my tire as it rubbed along on the one side. I didn't have a snatch block or even a pully. The only thing I had to work with was a padlock, so i put it around the cable and locked it to the rear receiver on the quad and it acted as enough of a pully to divert the cable and still pull the quad relatively straight back without rubbing the tire. Maybe someone will find this helpful. Thanks for the video!

[byronwhitney]

This is the first time I’ve actually seen someone do this. Quite interesting. I hope I never have to do this, but it’s good to know if I do.

I would also consider using a snatch block at the tree to get more rope off the spool for added strength.

The angle of the initial pull was quite severe. Thanks for sharing this idea/configuration.

[voolandashland]

I’m amazed that u do the winching without flipping over your vehicle mate. great job.

[AdventuringWithMike]

Glad ya made this. In my mind it would just pull the truck in 2 lol. Didn't think of pulling line under truck of course

[orgtuax]

Yess...we also has tried this method before on our friend Feroza, after ended up with no anchor point at the front, so we decided to use this method, and its workd at least for an emergency case....

[tuddsmithers]

I’ve always wondered about that method and have never seen it tried before, thanks for taking that one on, thanks for sharing!

[sixtyfiveford]

Great video. I know a roller fairlead is rarely seen with rope, but I think it would be a huge advantage here.