RAM 1500 Owner's Manual page 608

606 STARTING AND OPERATING
Pulling Wire Rope Under Tension
11. Check your anchor. Make sure all connections are
secured and free of debris before continuing with the
winching procedure.
12. Check wire rope. The wire rope should be neatly
wound around the spooling drum. Improper wind-
ing can cause damage to the wire rope.
Wire Neatly Wound Around The Spooling Drum
In certain situations you may decide to throw a heavy
blanket or similar object over the wire rope. A heavy
blanket can absorb energy should the wire rope break.
Place it on the wire rope midway between the winch and
the anchor point. Do this before the wire rope is put
under tension. Do not approach or move the blanket once