How to preload/pretension/initial spool winch when it’s hidden under hood?

Question for those of you that have a winch mounted on a slimline/Hiline bumper where you have to lift the hood to access winch controls and see the winch rope.

Been searching and haven’t really found what I’m looking for: Instructions on pretensioning the winch by myself (safely).. Just leave hood up and periodically look inside and make sure it’s wrapping up in an orderly fashion? Any tips? Is it safe enough to leave truck in neutral with parking brake on a little hooked up to winch with me outside the truck watching the line?

 

Are you talking about when the winch is brand new and your doing the first roll on of the cable?

Just get someone to help steer. I would say it's never a good idea to be moving the truck without someone in the driver seat.

 

wife/gf/ or both in truck, engine running trans in neutral, and parking brake just dragging to give tension, winch line hooked to parked stationary tree/vehicle/fat friend... and reel it in, using your hand to guide the rope in(wear gloves!! and keep your damn fingers out of the damn hawse/roller fairlead... pay attention and keep them 3-5 feet ahead of the vehicle/fairlead..)first wrapping should have a heat shield on the rope, and be sure not to winch in much more than 15-30 seconds at a time.. give the motor a little bit of time to cool, this will give you time to check your spooling wraps.