Looking for a winch for my tractor

[John_Mc]

I would love a hydraulic winch that had enough power to drag foot thick pines out of the forest but do it quickly. Almost all used hydraulic winches seem to be quite pricey amd you can't really see them work before you buy them. I would remote control it using a DO3 or 5 valve so I could pull out the cable, hook up a tree and pull it out as a one man operation.

That would work, but if you really want to do any significant logging, get a logging winch. PTO powered seems to be a bit more common around here, but you can find them hydraulically powered as well - I've seen hydraulically powered ones with remote controls. There is more to successfully and efficiently hauling logs than just a winch, and logging winches have that already figured out.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I carry a large come-a-long, and chain. It is always with the tractor.

I have to admit that I thought of this first. Where do you get a Come-a-long that is dependable that does not cost just as much as the electric? Most I have seen, look exactly the same. I have looked at Home Depot,TSC.Rural King and Harbor Freight. They all look almost the same.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I have to admit that I thought of this first. Where do you get a Come-a-long that is dependable that does not cost just as much as the electric? Most I have seen, look exactly the same. I have looked at Home Depot,TSC.Rural King and Harbor Freight. They all look almost the same.

American Power Pull Extra Heavy Duty Cable Puller 3 Ton 152
I have one of these for logging primarily. It is solid.

 

[Redbug]

I have one of these I keep on my tractor. I have had to use it from time to time. You just go slow.

8 lbs. Cable Winch Puller

 

[CobyRupert]

The problem where a pulling cylinder might not work is if you need a long cable to something far away and taking the slack out could be a problem. Or even the stretch in the line.

Yes, but....

I like the idea of a hydraulic cylinder (if one doesn't want to mess with a come-along). You have the motive force right there at the tractor, and ready to plug in hydraulic connections. Typically when one is stuck they only need to go a few feet to get unstuck. Having a chain as the last few feet on a long cable would enable one to keep the "cable" tight as one re-hitches the cylinder if more than one stroke is needed.
However, a "holding" grab hook would need to be offset to the side of the cylinder and a little slack can be given back so you can free the cylinder from the chain when it's being held.

Basically a cylinder pinned to cross draw-bar with a grab hook at the other end that does the pulling, and another holding grab hook on the drawbar bolted off to the side of the cylinder that does the holding when you need to reconnect the cylinder at the end of the stroke.

Hey, it's easy to spend other people's money!

 

[Jstpssng]

American Power Pull Extra Heavy Duty Cable Puller 3 Ton 152
I have one of these for logging primarily. It is solid.

Those are indeed tough. Get an extra handle or two, as they are designed to collapse before you overstress the winch. It's tempting after folding your first handle to use a more rugged piece of 1" pipe; perhaps a bit longer than the original for more leverage. Don't do it, or you risk wearing the pawls, stressing the bushings, perhaps even breaking the cable after overusing it too many times.
And don't ask me how I know that.

 

[WranglerX]

A hydraulic cylinder or winch are only good if you have way to connect it... Sadly my tractor has no power beyond for hydraulics.... SO...Electric or PTO (not)....

Dale

 

[WranglerX]

Those are indeed tough. Get an extra handle or two, as they are designed to collapse before you overstress the winch. It's tempting after folding your first handle to use a more rugged piece of 1" pipe; perhaps a bit longer than the original for more leverage. Don't do it, or you risk wearing the pawls, stressing the bushings, perhaps even breaking the cable after overusing it too many times.
And don't ask me how I know that.

I lift 1,000 pound stamps on 140 year old ore crushing stamp mill at our museum and I will say to avoid the really cheap come alongs.... Most function really well the first time you use it, and it all goes down hill from there, also learn to use it, trying to learn the operation of it is not good as tractor (or whatever) is slowly sinking....

Even my medium priced one needed a little tweak where manufacture cheapen out on up/down (in/out) switching mechanism of ratchet paw...

Dale

 

[MossRoad]

A hydraulic cylinder or winch are only good if you have way to connect it... Sadly my tractor has no power beyond for hydraulics.... SO...Electric or PTO (not)....

Dale

You could put a couple quick connectors in the dump/curl circuit of the FEL and Bob's your uncle.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You have great control over a cylinder. I have used it to straighten bent equipment, and even move a small concrete foundation that wasn't quite poured in the right spot.

Stuck, by myself, using cylinder

After moving this building, I boxed myself into a corner and the turf tires were useless.



The good thing is, if you don't really care what size a cylinder is, they are easy to find used.