Don't bother with an electric winch on your tractor for skidding logs. It might work for getting yourelf unstuck, but there are a number of problems:
- Duty Cycle: many electric winches have only a 5 or 10% duty cycle. This means you might run it for 90 seconds at full load, then need to let it cool for 13.5 minutes (10 % duty cycle). When you consider that under full load, it's probably only moving 6 or 7 FPM, that's a lot of sitting and wait to accomplish a 50' pull.
- Amp Draw: a 9000# winch draw in excess of 300 Amps at full load. Many compact tractors have a 40 or 50 Amp alternator (and they'll only get that rating at high RPMs). You are likely to ruin your battery under such abuse. Evan at half rated load, they are likely pulling 200+ Amps.
- Limited cable length (50' max is typical)
- They are SLOOOOOW
If I were in your shoes, and just could not swing a 3 Pt Hitch logging winch, I'd be looking at a Portable Capstan Winch, like the
PCW5000. 100% duty cycle, no strain on the tractor's electrical system, length of pull is limited nly by the length of rope yo have available, pulls at 40 FPM (stil slow compared to a logging winch, but it beats the electric winches. As an added bonus, You still may fins you have a use for it even after you eventually get a 3 Pt Hitch logging winch