Sooner or later, every 4x4 driver gets stuck. When it happens, survey the situation, stay calm and be patient. It takes time to recover your vehicle safely.

In mud, snow and sand, the first thing to do is try to reverse out of the problem. Remember that there are two reverse gears in some 4x4s – High and Low. Sometimes using reverse in High Range will free a stuck vehicle, while using reverse in Low Range may just spin the wheels.

If this doesn’t work, try gently rocking the vehicle backward and forward by using a reverse and then a forward gear. Your passengers can help by pushing, but co-ordinate this effort so that you are not reversing when your help is pushing forward! Always be aware of your helpers’ whereabouts when they are near the vehicle.

The important thing to remember is, do not keep spinning the wheels when you are truly stuck. Spinning wheels will only dig the vehicle in deeper and make recovery more difficult.

The strap must be in good condition – no cuts, frays or broken stitching.

Attaching points and their associated hardware on both vehicles must be strong enough to withstand the force applied to them. Attaching points must be secured to the vehicle’s frame.

Bystanders must stay clear.

The recovery vehicle should use an attaching point at its rear. This placement gives the driver more protection than would a windscreen if anything should come loose.

Remove obstacles such as rocks and logs that are in the recovery path.

Do not attach a strap in a way that allows it to become cut or chafed.

Use a strap with enough strength and one that is designed for this type of use. An 8cm x 9m strap is recommended.

Start out with a small amount of slack in the strap and a modest amount of acceleration when tugging on a stuck vehicle. Forces increase dramatically when the amount of slack in the strap and the tow vehicle’s acceleration increase.

Store nylon straps away from sunlight in a clean, dry condition.

Use your winch before you actually need it to become familiar with its operation.

Never attempt to operate a winch without wearing heavy leather gloves.

Never step over the cable, even when it is not under load.

Always stand clear of the cable and load during the winching operation.

While a remote-control lead is plugged into the winch, always keep clear of the drum, cable and rigging.

Keep helpers and spectators at a safe distance. If the cable pulls loose or breaks under load, it can suddenly lash back with tremendous force.

Never use the winch cable as a tow rope. A winch is not designed for this and a sudden jerk can snap the cable or damage the drum.

Always use a tree strap when anchoring to a tree. Cables and chains can severely damage a tree. Never use a nylon strap to anchor around rocks.

When anchoring the pulling vehicle, apply the parking brake and blocks to the wheels. The foot brake will also provide additional holding ability over the parking brake.

Always unspool as much cable as possible when rigging. Double the line with a snatch block or pick an anchor as far away as practical. This will minimize cable damage, such as mashing and kinking, caused from top layers pulling down into the bottom layers when short pulls are made. The greatest pulling power is available at the first layer on the drum, decreasing with each successive layer.

Never winch with fewer than five turns of cable around the winch drum. With fewer turns, the cable may break loose from the drum under heavy load.

Always pull as straight as possible to minimise the build-up of cable on only one end of the drum.

Put a blanket or coat on the middle of the cable when winching. This will help slow the cable down if it breaks and prevent injury or damage. You can also raise the bonnet on the winch vehicle to protect the winch operation from a broken cable or attaching hardware.

Always inspect and carefully rewind the cable after use. Mashed, pinched or frayed areas severely reduce the original tensile strength. For safety’s sake, replace the cable when damaged.

Do not let the cable slide through your hands, even when wearing gloves.

At times, it may be necessary to temporarily respool the cable under no load after use. Hold the remote-control lead in one hand and the cable in the other. Start as far from the vehicle as the remote control will allow, activate the switch, walk in a metre of cable and release the switch. Repeat the process. Always release the switch when you are at least one metre from the winch. And always wear heavy gloves when handling the cable.

Always release the switch when the hook is a minimum of one metre from the winch. Place the hook on a suitable spot on the mounting kit. Then, keeping your hands completely clear of the hook, cable and winch, "jog" the switch intermittently to take up the slack. Do not over-tighten the cable or damage may occur.

When spooling the cable, be sure to distribute it evenly and tightly on the drum. This prevents the top layers of the cable from being drawn into the bottom layers and creating a bind.