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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Here at MadMatt 4wd there is everything from 4wd tips and tricks to fixing your four wheel drive. As a professional Four Wheel Driver I am all about educating and building the 4x4 community. If you are passionate about going bush with a 4x4 then this channel is for you. Enjoy and please subscribe & Hit the bell icon to be notified as soon as they're up!!!
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#winching #factor55 #bundera

[@MadMatt4WD]

I’m passionate about helping the 4wd community and I'm developing an online course so i can help as many people as I can to get out there and wheel well on their 4wd adventures. To register your interest and for free and exclusive training videos visit madmatt4wd.com.au/register

[@vitale6633]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

pleasure

[@cammy470]

best 4wd personalty in Australia! thanks madmatt

[@MadMatt4WD]

Well aren't you my new most favourite fan. :) Thanks mate I do appreciate the support it means a lot.

[@yarongolan3560]

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

[@nathanduckeorth806]

I alway wondered if that would work and you just prooved it,thanks Mate❤

[@cyberpleb2472]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

Glad to help. There are heaps of other videos on the channel to help you.

[@donpardo1]

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.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate! Appreciate that.

[@chriscoulthard4947]

I have a steel cable and a roller fairlead. But it's on a 5ton Iveco van so the cable wouldn't go underneath anyway. Great videos.

[@mrpeabodythethird]

Excellent content! Thanks.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Glad you liked it!

[@desertfox3860]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks. It's interesting to see ay.

[@alyamisniper3089]

Very nice we learn new things

[@CGV.69]

My new favourite 4wdriver! Great vids, fun, educational and nice guy. Keep it up Happy new subscriber

[@MadMatt4WD]

Well you are now my most favourite sub. Cheers :)

[@goodtimes3941]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

smashing idea

[@vicc6744]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

This is not something I’d do unless it was my only option.

[@tuddsmithers7101]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

No problem 👍

[@acafwd]

Matt. I would have thought you'd be avoiding that hole by now. Isn't that the third time? ;-) hahahaha!!!

[@MadMatt4WD]

LOL. When your on a good thing stick to it. It's a hole that just keeps on giving.

[@acafwd]

@@MadMatt4WD ;-)

[@waynekerr8003]

Any hole is a goal they reckon

[@tatefelton8966]

Never even thought about this, great video and i love the bundera

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks

[@sonny1597]

I too always wondered .. now I know Thanks

[@LabRatJason]

"Ya get your wife to do it"... good laugh!

[@MadMatt4WD]

I no stupid

[@strofimios]

And if you have to do it in a river foul of crocks get your mother in law down there!!!

[@useryggfdcc]

Excellent. Was wondering about this today.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Ha ha how cool

[@comancheking85]

Seen your videos a few time and always like them, just subscribed as well.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks heaps

[@Reaper4367]

Good stuff mate. Cheers for sharing

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks! I appreciate you commenting.

[@gilbertarnold8666]

Great video thank you!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Pleasure

[@Sniperssx]

Thanks, man you added more experience by this trick :)

[@MadMatt4WD]

Pleasure

[@Thylazine]

Wheel well! I love it!!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Nice

[@silenceofthelaw7567]

Great channel. Been wheeling my whole life. Built a few rigs myself. This is wonderful information whether your a pro or a novice. Thanks

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate

[@papajon6715]

Great video, thank you so very much from Ohio, USA ...

[@MadMatt4WD]

Pleasure

[@DarrylSheather]

"kinda sketchy" - love it!

[@PolarBear00777]

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!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Ultimate setup

[@FILIPINOTUNER]

The next best thing is having a hitch receiver mounted winch and have front and rear receivers. This way, you'll only need one winch. 😁

[@vicc6744]

@@FILIPINOTUNER unless your winch is wedged in front like this one I thought of your idea myself.

[@GuillaumeWolfProfG]

Awesome!

[@Owl566]

That Bundy is mint! I am so jealous!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks mate. many hours of work and it's not finished yet.

[@Owl566]

4WDs are never finished!

[@ericchandler90]

Always wondered if this would work. Thanks!

[@MadMatt4WD]

It's cool ay

[@jailbreakoverlander]

Great info

[@MadMatt4WD]

Cheers! I appreciate you commenting

[@user-gv3nv7jd5p]

I have 2 4wds and both don't have a winch but I do have a hand winch, which I could easily use in both front and rear, plus I've got all the other recovery gears. New subbie here thanks for the tip...👍😁

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks for sharing

[@robertmillar2037]

Great video thanks

[@MadMatt4WD]

Pleasure

[@sixtyfiveford]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes it certainly would have

[@orgtua4x48]

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....

[@MadMatt4WD]

That’s cool.

[@bquade70]

Excellent thank you 👍👍 Lake Havasu, Az. USA

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thank you too!

[@bquade70]

@@MadMatt4WD well crap ya replied so now I have to sub.. Lol... Great vids mate👍👍...

[@mountainconstructions]

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

[@BigMkombe]

And Melbourne

[@hotaxi701]

Ive heard blokes from Sydney are quite fond of a "reach around" 😂😂

[@mountainconstructions]

Its default recovery position for them craig :)

[@samuelanketell8190]

I actually learn more from you and your Bundy than hundreds of four wheel drive shows. I want to start applying your techniques with my bj73 iv just restored but A) I don't want to trash the old girl and B) the main lesson iv learned is diff locks make wheeling 100 times easier and safer. Cool videos mate keep them coming 👍

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks heaps for the kind words. I’m glad I’m helping you.

[@MuddyRuttzz]

Thanks! Liked the video, hope I never have to do it.

[@GVMotoring]

Love the commentary - "protect the bush, you love the bush don't yah?"

[@MadMatt4WD]

LOL I do what I can. :)

[@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!

[@MadMatt4WD]

That’s cool it worked. It also sounds like you looked for ways to overcome the challenges in as safe a manner of you could. Many recoveries are not ideal.

[@kencassyh]

That's great....

[@anthonycoleman1909]

Great video Matt

[@MadMatt4WD]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@juanmarcos1145]

Creative winching!!!!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yep

[@voolandashland2914]

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

[@MadMatt4WD]

😁

[@byronwhitney665]

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.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah for me it was a curiosity rather than something I want to have to use.

[@dirtyoff-roadaustralian5525]

Mad Matt 👌🏼honestly at the start of the video as you were talking about it I was thinking how 🤔 You ripper cheers I was think winch to front tree with a pulley block to a tree behind blew me away

[@MadMatt4WD]

Ha ha. Rippa

[@kadendunn8130]

Great video, have thought of Plenty of times this could be useful but wssnt sure how it would work in practice

[@garychandler4296]

I think for a single winch, you could rig some sort of post-mounted pulley to flip down and push the cable below running gear, mufflers and stuff.

[@backcountryoverland103]

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. .

[@MadMatt4WD]

Wow. What a story

[@fishing_with_chaz]

thanks for the video i was like i wonder how you'd winch yourself out if you'd nosed in somewhere you shouldn't have. In my mind i was like might need this for a mud hole or a snow bank been stuck in situations like that a few times but no winch back then. Thanks for the video

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah I thought along the same lines. So did this to explore if this could it be done in an emergency.

[@riverrat2350]

Nice

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks

[@TonyHeathcote]

Great stuff. I have often wondered how that type of recovery would work.

[@MadMatt4WD]

You and me both!

[@JDPas]

I like the hook and snatch

[@JDPas]

Cool

[@thebaldeagle655]

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.

[@MadMatt4WD]

You need to have a wife with you at all times. 😂😂

[@paulnewton943]

I have used bow shackle from the rear tow bar to help keep cable up and rear of the car down and tracking straight. Especially in muddy clay

[@MadMatt4WD]

The only issue I have with that idea is a bow shackle doesn’t really have a good surface to drag a cable or rope across. Also it’s bend radius is very tight.

[@jonmeray713]

Always wondered about this

[@MadMatt4WD]

Wonder no more

[@donaldmcphail1078]

We’ll all be under our rigs now looking for where we’d run that winch line. Wonder if a snatchblock at the rear would’ve helped as well. In that instance though, if the unit was also in reverse gear, low range, with lockers engaged, it would almost levitate out of that ditch. lol

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah. It’s good to know it can work but I’d be looking at other ways to do it. 😁

[@geoffreyneish7999]

Very cool vid, well done!! I've done this a few times living in Northern Canada lol If concerned about cable wearing on critical components underneath, we lay down wood logs width wise so winch line doesn't touch vehicle or the ground if need be! Just a tip we've learned!! 🤔👍😎

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah ok thanks.

[@fastst1]

Late to the game myself, I've done that several times with the old Warn MX10k, going into a swampy spot with no trees in front of me, low confidence. Hooked the hook on the trailer hitch. got 50 feet and sunk out of sight, hooked up and winched backwards, mangled the license plate a bit.

[@olliehopnoodle4628]

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.

[@MadMatt4WD]

I did that in a previous video. Called winching sideways.

[@d0peshow]

He's got a little Captain in him.

[@jackgarand7284]

Wow, never heard of that before.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Nor had I lol

[@zman92630]

To compensate for friction loss, would it make sense to try a double line pull? Great video! This is a new tool for all of us!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Maybe that would work or maybe add more friction???? I think this is a last resort option.

[@thomasturner5166]

I have a winch with carrier that goes in my rear hitch with an extend cable from the battery to pull from the rear. Works as well as the front winch.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes that can work and saves carrying the winch when you don’t need it.

[@thatairplaneguy]

My first recovery was a backwards recovery. It ruined my rope from all the force from it going around the bottom of my bumper but it got me free.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah it’s a harsh method

[@MadMatt4WD]

This video idea came after I STUFFED UP in the SAME RUT in a previous video . Here is that link kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5i3q4Z3g65mgLs and another idea was Sideways Winching kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGSmmXihiNirpqc

[@randybernhard318]

Hhj

[@officialWWM]

A good argument for using rollers.

[@dannyeugenewaits9486]

How bad ass!!!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Lol. Gotta have a go

[@jimt125]

Great video, do they make a roller for skid plate and rear receiver hitch , something to think about👍🏻🇺🇸

[@MadMatt4WD]

you wold have to make your own thing i think.

[@jackfourbee3609]

Another great vid. Love the reverse pull. You should have told those Nissan drivers NOT to throw the cable over the roof. 😁 keep up the good work Matt.

[@jackfourbee3609]

All good fun. It’s all about getting home safe. 😁

[@jackfourbee3609]

😂 well said👍

[@MadMatt4WD]

Ha Ha Ha You mean this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKW9qX99e7OJaaM

[@MadMatt4WD]

LOL cracka :)

[@MadMatt4WD]

Jack yes it is all about getting home safe and recovering Nissans. :)

[@nonope1774]

Didn't see a comment about using an actual roller fairlead. Would be much better for a metal cable. Also like the idea of using the rear reciever as a guide for the cable, if you have a way to do it.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yeah I didn't think of that. I suppose most run a hawse and synthetic rope these days.

[@HansSoloYolo]

Thank you for another great video! I've got to ask, what year is this beast? Doubt we can get them in the states, but it's a lot like my 2 door Sidekick. Cheers!

[@MadMatt4WD]

Thanks. 1988 rj70

[@blackcat4370]

Hello Matt on the german YT-channel Explorer Magazin they showed a reverse winching from the side of the car. For this reverse winching they needed 3 pulley. One went to the side of the car, one was on the side behind the car, the winch hook was attached to a tree safer on the other side of the back from the car and the third pulley was attached to the back (mountingpoint, tow bar) of the car, so that there was an open triangle behind the car. With rolling in the winch cable the car where taken backwards til the triangle was a straight line. Did you ever heard or tried this winching method? Kind regards from Cologne/Germany BlackCat

[@MadMatt4WD]

Hey. I’ve done the reverse winch before but not a reverse winch setup to pull sideways. That’s interesting. This is one i did. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGSmmXihiNirpqc

[@rcoutlaw8421]

Cool how did you Dow at

[@Schlum99]

Great video and great explanations. I am also wondering if using a snatch block at the tree and hooking up the end of the winch to the rear bumper tow point would help reduce the force needed by the winch to pull you out.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Not really. The winch rope going over the fair lead is the real problem. To solve that you need to do a proper reverse winch setup

[@graemedalgleish8944]

It would reduce the line pull.

[@Corey-pd3mi]

Was waiting for the arse end to flip up and over 😂

[@MadMatt4WD]

Which is a real possibility.

[@unfknknown9678]

thought about doing this the other day but ended up getting pulled out by a local 😂

[@jamesm568]

I've seen people reverse winch, but I think they used like three snatch blocks, but it still didn't make sense but it did work.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes that’s the proper procedure. This was more trying something to see if it would work.

[@Morrison_Builds]

As an owner of 4 1st gen 4runners, I've never seen one of these and I want one

[@MadMatt4WD]

ha ha ha. Just letting you know you can't have mine.

[@user-wg8jb1qx4v]

Just wondering if the vehicle was at a steeper angle would it possibly tip rear over front, maybe run the winch rope through a snatch block off a rear recovery point to help prevent tip over

[@MadMatt4WD]

At some point that could happen. This was no where near steep enough.

[@WheelinPNW]

Hm this gives me an idea. Weld some sort of small roller shackle somewhere out of the way on your axels, so if you ever have to reverse winch you have a nice guide to keep your cable in an safe! Might have to give it a shot on my Hilux

[@MadMatt4WD]

You could certainly do that. For the few number of times you may use this I wouldn’t bother.

[@boltonky]

Nice little video, tbh most of us can do with some practical practice. I always believe have at least twice your winch capacity to your weight and i will still use snatch blocks if i can

[@MadMatt4WD]

Nice

[@tpv59]

THANK YOU, watched it AGAIN. (watched about a year ago) WHAT Model Toyota is that PLEASE ? Regards.

[@MadMatt4WD]

It's called a Bundera. This was an RJ70 but it's had an engine conversion. Theres a few videos with it on the channel.

[@tpv59]

@@MadMatt4WD THANK YOU Matt. Very Much APPRECIATED. Very Much. Thanks again mate.

[@HBButler01]

For my Steel Cable it has a Roller Fairlead so as long as it didn’t get caught in the corner of it, it would likely have a nice radius to come around for a reverse winch! :D

[@Suntzur]

Your fairlead only rolls the Cable over 90 degrees and the diameter is way too small for wire rope. Maybe you’re joking but people think KZbin comments like this are gospel.

[@no0channel0at0all]

@@Suntzur so you’re tell me if you were stuck somewhere you wouldn’t try this with a cable line?

[@Suntzur]

@@no0channel0at0all not at all. I’ve done a lot of things that I wouldn’t recommend other people do and in this case, IIRC, the post I replied to made it sound like this is a good use of a winch system and it is not. Emergency, yup, planned back-up? No way.

[@stevenweatherall1413]

Good demo .. If you were running steel would that not be a roller not a Hauser 🤔? I know mine is . .

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes a steel rope would destroy the hawse. I don’t use steel anymore.

[@lukedearing770]

I like it as a last resort, personally I would probably use a snatch block and hook the cable onto the rear of the car, especially a short wheelbase like the bundy. Purely just to remove any risk of the vehicle "nose-diving"

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes. It’s not my go to solution for sure.

[@Cujo71321]

I had an idea to put a Reece-type receiver on the front of my truck so that I could mount a winch on a bar and make it portable for front or rear, and can be stored when not in use. I already have Anderson connectors with 1-gauge wire on the front and rear of my truck for using with 30-ft. jumper cables, so it would be a quick and easy install when needed. Just plug-n-play!

[@MadMatt4WD]

That’s been done before

[@Cujo71321]

@@MadMatt4WD I am having trouble finding direct-fit listings for a front receiver hitch. I knew I wasn't the only person who would have had this idea, so I am curious why it is so hard to find parts and kits.

[@MadMatt4WD]

I’d have to do the search. Look for winch cradle.

[@matthew6443]

I had to do this the other day, to get back onto a track after ending up on slippery clay. This video was in my head when i was doing it, first time ever using a winch too, and solo haha

[@MadMatt4WD]

Hey Matt, Awesome. glad it worked out. Probably the only time you'll need to do it though. :)

[@nealesmith1873]

We once used a winch to straighten the vehicles tie rod. I watched in horror as the steel winch cable cut through the bumper tube, it went through very easily with so much pressure. The same could happen to other tubes under the vehicle. Using a winch rope, as shown here, would tend to avoid this problem.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes. I don’t touch steel any more

[@donaldraver]

This is why I use a winch on a portable mount. 90% of the time its easier to winch yourself from the direction you came from.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes it is.

[@jeffh7021]

That's why I like roller fairleads. No rubbing.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes

[@jeffh7021]

@@MadMatt4WD thanks for the video. I always knew it could be done. Glad to see you give it a try. Save me from testing it. Haha

[@Professional-truck-driver-HH]

perfect situation for tire winch faster and mor efective

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes it would have worked

[@firebir11]

Put a solid steel tube roller at the base of the fair lead

[@MadMatt4WD]

That would help

[@darkmns]

maybe put a roller under the cable guide to have less friction. nice job

[@MadMatt4WD]

I could do that but probably not worth it given I've never used this technique in anger.

[@landau510]

Could you use a snatch block on the tree and run the thimble back to a rear recovery hitch on the vehicle?

[@MadMatt4WD]

Yes you could.

[@johnterpack3940]

Did I just become your first subscriber? Seems unlikely, but it didn't show a number of subscribers on the button. Anyhow, I subbed because I like the fact you test bizarre, yet plausible, scenarios just to see what can be done. As to the technique tested here... I can see ways of making it more effective and safer. But it would take additional equipment that would have to be custom fabricated. Ideally, you'd want some way of putting a snatch block sticking out from the front bumper so you could better redirect the cable rather than having it wrap so sharply around the fairlead. It could be as simple as a large pulley that slips into a receiver hitch. A couple skidplates underneath could help protect the cable and reduce friction as well. I also feel this video and the one where you winched yourself sideways out of that same ditch really confirm my view that synthetic rope is a waste of money. After this retrieval that rope is now garbage. There's no way I would use it again after rubbing it across all that steel. I know people use synthetic because they believe it to be safer than steel. But steel cable is perfectly safe if you follow the basic common-sense practice of not being where the cable is going to fly if it breaks. A steel cable is practically a one-time investment whereas that synthetic almost needs to be replaced after every use unless you take extra care to not let it touch anything.

[@MadMatt4WD]

Interesting comment about synthetic rope. This rope has been abused like this for heaps of recovery’s and shows no signs of failing yet. It should probably be replaced soon.

[@MadMatt4WD]

I have 9k subs. 😁

[@johnterpack3940]

@@MadMatt4WD KZbin moved the sub counter. I didn't notice until after I realized a bunch of channels I was familiar with suddenly had no subs. Funny.

[@johnterpack3940]

@@MadMatt4WD I know mountain climbers have very strict policies on replacing ropes that show any signs of damage. I work in transportation, we have to treat any securement strap that's nicked or frayed as garbage. I see all the hairs sticking up on that rope in the video and I can't help but think of the yarn my grandma knitted with. It might be just as strong as new but I personally wouldn't trust it. Having seen other videos where they talk about washing the rope to get any grit out from inside the fibers and routine replacement of cut/frayed rope I just don't trust the stuff.

[@spuriouseffect]

I've always wondered why they don't make mounted pulleys for this purpose.

[@MadMatt4WD]

I think most vehicles wouldn't cope with a winch rope underneath. I might make one for the Bundera at some point.