Driving alone in a secluded area is all fun and games until you fall into a muddy jumble and your vehicle refuses to struggle out of it. The only option that comes to your mind is to winch out, but to your dismay, you realize there is no tree around you.
If you are someone wheeling frequently through desserts or any kind of area that are not forests, it is possible to run into situations often like this. But how to winch without trees?
There are seven other alternatives that you can try out!
So, let’s get started, shall we?
Use A Winch without Trees- How-to
We have put together a couple of things that might come in handy when you need to winch without trees. All of these options are valid but might come with negative surprises (that we will mention).
1. Commercial Winch Anchor
This is the simplest advice. If you anticipate frequent mud-related incidences, it is smart to invest in some good-quality commercial anchors. There are several brands out there manufacturing these, and you need to figure out whichever is the best in your location.
They are great for winching thousands of pounds because they are targeted for industry-grade winching. Installation ease depends on the brand, but some of them might come with an installation kit.
The only downside is that they are expensive. Other than that, it’s a great deal.
2. Stakes
Not great, not terrible- is what we have to say about these. You will need 15 to 20 stakes of metal for the winch. Not only is this a tiresome job, but also a matter of realism. Why would you carry 15 metal stakes with you? If not, then how can you find them in an abandoned area?
The only good thing about this method (and why it’s placed so high on the list) is that they are easy to install. Snow or dessert can be easily dug enough to house the stakes.
3. Spare Tire
This is our favorite alternative. Bury a spare tire, secure rope between the tire and your vehicle, and you can easily winch out. You won’t even need ropes too long as it functions mostly based on tension and grip.
And who doesn’t have a spare tire in their trunk? An effective and feasible option in the context of makeshift winching.
4. Pickets
Call them pickets or wickets, whatever you want. Their appearance should be something similar to that of a racker or a snow mower. Dig the ground to place five or six pickets (that you made from an old axle stand) and secure them with one another with chockers. They should be placed evenly at regular intervals.
This is a good option for winching for even heavier vehicles since the pickets you are using were initially made to elevate robust cars. The only downside is that they are hard to bury.
Hence, if the ground is too soft, the strong pickets will rip through. On the other hand, if the ground is too hard, you won’t be able to dig wide enough to insert the pickets.
5. T Post
Some jeep freaks vouch for this. They carry a T post, a few rakes, and a sledgehammer to implement this in practice. T post allows you great tension and provides amazing strength.
You can even plant a T post further away from your car if the ground near you is frozen or otherwise inaccessible. Remember, you will just require a longer rope to wind around.
6. DIY Ground Anchors
This is your sign to get crafty. There are ways you can make your own land anchors. Not only is this budget-friendly, but also customizable depending on your personal demands. Here is a brief tutorial on how to create one:
Fastfrankd on YouTube demonstrated an amazing way to make a ground anchor. He showed a compartmentalized way to create pieces you will make separately but assemble like a puzzle while working.
Not to mention, he made two robust steel rods (thick enough to be on the window of a prison) with collars. He also made a metal plate that was 1/16th of an inch and had holes of the exact diameter as the said steel rods. There is another thin metal plate with two holes on each margin spaced regularly.
You will have a ground anchor ready to perform when you fit all of them (similar to spooling your notebook pages through a spiral binding).
7. Deadman
We placed this last on the list because this is our least favorite method. But we should learn how to do it just in case the previous ways don’t work out (what can go wrong will go wrong, remember?)
You will need to dig a hole of about 2 feet that you will bury the body of the deadman into. Then you will cover it back with the ground, secure the arms to the secondary legs- at which point it should look like a tent, and connect it to your winch.
We don’t like it because it’s too much digging and much of a rubic’s cube to get done.
And why you should consider it: Great strength and guarantee, unlike the makeshift ones that you can easily screw up.
Bottom Line
We don’t want you to be stuck in the middle of nowhere as your phone dies and your car sits in a mud pool. Out of these seven alternatives from our guide on how to winch without trees, have you found your favorite that you will probably use?
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