[Aditya]

Learn Offroad (from the founding partner of Offroad Junkie) presents the next edition of Winch Workshop.

You don’t need a winch to attend the workshop. An aptitude for learning the correct technique though is a must.

The workshop has an online theory and an on-field practical component.





Theory is broken up into two sessions of 2 hours each which cover the following:

• What is a Winch
• Different Types winches
• Winch Motors
• Gears
• Components
• Hydraulics
• Selection of a Winch
• Mounting
• Electrical Considerations
• Winch Extras
• Safety
• Tensioners
• Snatch Block
• Principles of Pulleys
• Winching steps and diagrams
• Anchors
• Hand Signals
• Recovery Resistance & Calculations
• Maintenance

Every online session ends with a fun Kahoot Quiz. Following this, whoever can make it, can register for the practical session.















1. It will be a full day workshop
2. First hour we revise what has been taught
3. Then we go over the practical aspects
A. Dos and don’ts
B. Anchoring the vehicle
C. Basic winching signals
D. Basic winching protocols and safety
E. Winch scenarios
F. Usage of snatch blocks
G. Repairing the synthetic line
H. Land anchors and pullpal
I. Tree trunk protectors
4. In between we squeeze in lunch.
5. Then is the exam bit.
6. There will be written Mcqs
7. The practical bit you will be judged individually for scenarios and then you would be broken into two groups and a complicated winch task will be assigned to you.
8. Everyone gets a participation certificate.
9. However, whoever scores 80% and above (combined practical and theory) gets course completion certificate.
80% and above is the international norm. Learn Offroad follows the best practices and will not compromise on that.

Course Instructor: The course is conducted by Dr. Tejas Kothari, Asia’s only International 4 Wheel Drive Trainers’ Association (I4WDTA) certified trainer and the practical sessions happen at the Learn Offroad Training Grounds at Pali, near Mumbai.

Dates:
Online Session 1 - 21st July 2020 (Tuesday). 10 pm to 12 am
Online Session 2 - 23rd July 2020 (Thursday). 10 pm to 12 am
Field Training: 25th July 2020 (Saturday). 9 am to 5 pm.

Event link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/611655756146062/

Responses to last workshop here:
https://www.facebook.com/learnoffroa...type=3&theater

Registration for upcoming courses:
https://www.learnoffroad.com/upcoming-courses

Cost:
For only theory Sessions: Rs. 2,006
For both, theory and practical session: Rs. 7,552

Learn Offroad Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/learnoffroad

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

It's high time I update this thread on how the event went.

Firstly, thanks Aditya for posting it here.

In these trying COVID19 times, all educators realised at online is the media for education. And we adopted the same method.

Ofcourse, some things just cannot be taught online and on field experience is a must.

However, I am a firm believer of the adage that the eye cannot see what the mind doesn't know.

Therefore, I decided on starting online teaching modules with field training for those who can make it.

We are now on our 4th winching workshop amongst the many others that we have done.

The modules are simple. Not more than 15 participants for each module means that there is not too much clutter and too many voices.

The winch workshops are broken down to two online theory sessions.

Each session goes on for nearly 2hours and we go into a lot of detail about winching and this is followed by a quiz session called Kahoot. Kahoot is basically your Kahn banger crorepati format where the question comes on your screen and you need to quickly select the correct answer by pressing the keypad on your mobile app.

Not only does Kahoot mark you on the correct answer, but also on how fast you answer it.

The kahoot sessions are really fun of participants.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

A lot of backend work goes into these sessions.

Ppt of course, then there are models to explain and which require elaborate camera setups.

I use a lot of lego models to demonstrate winch gearings and pulleys for understanding principles of snatch blocks.

We also draw out diagrams and talk about various scenarios.











Lastly, we end all sessions with a survey Completely anonymous and is for me to know my weaknesses and areas to improve.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

After the online session, the folk who can attend the field trainings are invited to register.

Again lot of backend work goes into organising this.



Participants sign indemnity and are provided masks and sanitisers if they do not carry it.



There is an option for basic certification. For that a written exam is conducted and participants need to score a minimum of 70% to clear.





Once this is done, participants exchange papers and grade each other while I discuss the correct answers.

After this we move to the training grounds.

A bit about the training grounds.

I've rented a full mountain at a place called Pali, around 25kms from Imagica Theme Park off the Mumbai - Pune Expressway.

It's a 65 acre property and I've created custom tracks there.

These tracks are graded for difficultly from a complete beginner to advance RFC level obstacles and are technical and you need to apply your mind for the same.

Some pics of the track during the construction.


































I've tied up with a local society a km away where I can do indoor theory sessions.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Coming back to the topic.

The participants now head to the training grounds.

We again hold a small theory session to revise what I'll be teaching in a fantastic venue:









White board helps a lot



Participants get hand outs to keep in the car with various options as a ready guide.




They are taught offroader math to calculate the pulling power required and when to use snatch blocks and how many. Again the glove box size quick reference guide helps:



White board marker works on this guide so it is re usable





We then try out different techniques taught online, like daisy chaining synthetic lines:

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Some more pics from the practicals:

Explaining winch rope repair:




Showing ground anchors



Participants trying the ground anchor:





On trail lunch:



Understanding snatch block redirects:



Pulley concepts:



Tree trunk protectors also need a lot of talking about:



Double line pulls



Then batch is broken into 2 groups for field exam:


Each group given a task to use a winch vehicle and move a broken down vehicle from point a to point b only using winch power.







I sit and observe and mark:



And see mistakes like handling winch cable without gloves:




Finally theory and practical marks are added and participants who pass get certificates. A few posers:





Happy participants:



A lot more pics are there but there will be too many to post. These give the gist of the training.

[DirtyDan]

I have carefully thought about winches and off road recovery, and 4X4 excursions over my years on this planet. So far I have made good use of recovery unit one and recovery unit two shown below. These actually got me around a moderate landslide on the Manali-Leh road (lack of road maybe more accurate). There were twelve vehicles stranded at the slide.
After putting in a few minutes digging and hacking away with the pick and shovel, both my co-driver and I about collapsed for lack of oxygen up there. But the hardy 12 and a few more coming grabbed my recovery units and actually made a short half hour's work out of the debris and we sallied forth to Leh Land.

Two pieces of equipment that caught my eye here:
1.) The cold drinks and sandwiches in the plastic containers. Saw them right off.
2.) I see the JCB. I think what I need to do to go four wheeling is buy a JCB. I have a friend with an Ashok-Leyland tipper. If i got a JCB he and I could burrow a path all the way to UlaanBaatar and back. And, of course, I could move those pesky motorcycles and Altos right out of my way with the power shovel in the crowded cities. They tell me that a JCB can be fitted with with A/C and 3000 watt ICE for those bass notes. I want to play loud Krappy music for my fellow motorists. It's my life's ambition.