Winch Recommendations

[Eugene]

Asking for recommendations for a 12 volt winch, 4000 lb capacity.

Plan is to fabricate a mounting plate to drop pin to the BobCat skid steer.

Not overly heavy in case we have to carry it, the snatch block(s), and chains, a 1/4 mile.

Good quality. Probably won't be used very often.

Poor experience using Dad's Harbor Freight winch.

I'm asking here because I know I will get honest recommendations, good or bad.

[SamsFarm]

4000# capacity is not very much! Especially on a skidloader!

On a winch, rated capicity is first wrap of cable on the empty spool, and each time you add another layer of cable, capicity goes down!

My brother and I are partial to the worm gear winches from Ramsey (self braking), available in electric, hydraulic, or pto.

Electric is a model re8000.

My brother took a ramsey hydraulic we bought and made a frame up to fit it to skidloader quick change from one side and 3 point hitch from the other!

Handy!

I think we have the ramsey h-200 hydraulic winch 8000#, which has a 5000 pull on a full drum!

Generally, the wire rope is the weakest link..... Be careful! Buy high quality components!

Electric winches have big amp draws, and need heavy, heavy electric wire and really good connections!

As a example, a Deere pto winch on 350 dozer has a line pull on a empty drum of 14,500# and on a full drum it is down to 9,150#.

Good luck!

[Eugene]

Thanks for the information.

Still looking over the advertised winches.

Looking seriously at the Bulldog name branded winches.

[SamsFarm]

Just be up on the best safety practices! And do not use anything not rated for the load!

Stored kinetic energy in wire rope can KILL in the event of a breakage!