I just bought the smittybuilt XRC winch. How do you wind this thing up so it looks 1/2 way decent? I also tried winching myslef up my driveway but the cable was winding up on one side, how do I prevent this? My cable is still kind of lose, any tips on how to wind this cable up tight and neat?

 

Tie off the something and put your parking break on a few clicks. Then winch slow and guide the wire with your hand but be sure and don't get a finger caught. Be sure you are winching straight and not at an angle.

 

With no one behind wheel of Jeep?

 

Get a buddy and go to a big parking lot. Either attach to a parked vehicle or a light pole with cement base. Then apply your hand brake and with the winch line out wind it in. I have one person behind the wheel and the othe like ten feet in front of the jeep. You can usually pull/push the line byhand to make it wind smooth. If that doesn't work the guy behind the wheel can be guided to turn left to right to help wind it. Be careful use gloves and stay at a min ten feet in front.

 

I use a dumpster as a tie off and my son behind the wheel to help direct the spooling.

 

I use an empty parking lot, hook up a tree saver to a light post, put my Jeep in neutral, pull up a few clicks on the e-brake and reel my jeep in.

I guide the line in as it spools from in front of the Jeep, making sure not to get my hand any closer than 1 foot from the fairlead. It takes a few times to get it but once you do, it looks great and makes you winch cable last longer.

 

I love my XRC, here is mine mounted. You have to guide the wire by hand to stop it from wrapping on one side. it is easier if you have two people, one to push the wind button and one to guide the wire while wearing gloves.

 

After every time you use it, you have to take the cable all the way out to get it to wind up good again. The way I have done it is pull all the cable out and attach it to my truck on a slight hill. As you bring it in, you direct it with your gloved hand to wind up nice. At the very end, I keep a good hold of it and attach it to a D ring on the front bumper and bring it in tight (not too tight tho!)

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, i will give them a try.