We are in an area where we do alot of accident recoveries. Sometime over cliffs or down ravines on Weyerhauser land.
These recoveries almost always require more cable than a typical recovery truck carries so here is what we do:
We take an old tire, and wind about 150ft of extra recovery cable into it. 150ft is the perfect length because once we have winched the extra cable up to the back of our truck, we know we have 150ft on the drum to continue the recovery.
Whenever we head-out on one of these recoveries, we just toss the tire onto the rig and we know we we'll have enough cable. 
Ya get smarter in you old age don't ya. 
I think that is a really great idea 
I would have never thought of that......but then again I have only been towing for 2 years now.Thanks for pointer 
When I first started towing I had to learn the hard way,it wasn't easy when you run out of cable.Now when i jump in the truck,i always make sure i have extra goodies on the truck,including wooden blocks etc......also wood for loading lowriders onto a flatbed.
I've had to use hand cuffs from police officers to assist in recovery scenes,i once had three dps units in arizona cuffed to my truck as dead wieght (don't ask) the truck i was driving was a 1968 gmc w/holmes 440,i wasn't about to lose out on a money tow,the cops 0 tow driver 1 they thought i was nuts,but it worked to winch out a town car from down about 200ft.the next closest truck was pheonix. 
$$$$
We also carry an extra 100' & 75' lenth of wire rope on the truck in old dolly tires,wouldnt be without it but what a pain to get in & out, no matter how carefull you wind it in 90% of the time it comes out in a mess, we use the small dolly tires due to the truck being jammed full of recovery equipment, looking for a better storage solution.
I also have had to use hand cuffs in vegas,with assist from metro,but this time the company i'm gonna go to work for has everything a driver could want,including airbag recovery for semis.the only thing i have a problem with is lock-outs. 
great addition to any truck. thanks guys
Thanks for that tip, I would have never thought of it.
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