Winches Considering a hydraulic winch

[KentT]

My lot has some beaver-downed trees in the edge of the lake, and I've been looking at winches such as the Warn Works 3700 or larger, in order to pull them out...

Ran across these hydraulic winches on eBay... looks like a good winch for that price.

New Mile Marker 9,000lb Hydraulic Winch

I'd never heard of this brand, but then I started digging deeper. Come to find out the military uses some of these, and they seem to get good reviews from offroad magazines. Overall, a much nicer looking winch than PT sells, for much less $$....

Anyone have firsthand experience with this brand?

 

[RAW]

I use a 12K lb. Milemarker on my offroad truck. It does quite well. My only complaint is about my truck's crappy hydraulic pump (steering). The Milemarker has never let me down.

And since it's hydraulic, it doesn't use the winch line to dissipate heat; so you can use a synthetic line, which doesn't store as much energy and is easy to lug up and down inclines. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SnowRidge]

Nice find Kent. 100 ft of 3/8 line versus 50 ft of 1/4, not to mention more than twice the rated pull, and it looks like it has real controls. I don't see any on the PT winch, which makes me think you have to use the PTO switch.

You've got me thinking about getting one myself.

 

[J_J]

This brand has been around for quite a while. Last time I checked on the price at Truck Options. it was around $1050
Sound like a good deal. I am curious about the 1500 psi rating. If that is the limit, we would have to reduce the psi on the PT, or maybe it can take more. He has 15 available, with $50 on shipping.

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Sound like a good deal. I am curious about the 1500 psi rating. If that is the limit, we would have to reduce the psi on the PT, or maybe it can take more. )</font>

I was thinking that you just run the engine at 1/2 throttle or thereabouts, since you'd be stationary when using it anyway...

Thanks for the input guys. I was just thinking that for a couple hundred dolllars more than the little Warns that this would be a "serious winch" that I wouldn't have to worry about burning up dragging trees with it...

 

[SnowRidge]

I've dragged a couple of trees with the PT itself, but a winch would be handier, and you would have better control, I think. Of course, if the working location doesn't allow you a straight run with the machine, a winch becomes real handy.

I wonder if it comes with cable? It doesn't really say.

Still thinking about one for myself. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I wonder if it comes with cable? )</font>

I asked the seller that question, in addition to a couple more., including cost of mounting kit(s).

Thinking of getting one with a receiver mount, then having a receiver mount welded up to a QA plate, so I won't "tie up" a QA plate for just this one purpose...

Then the QA plate with receiver mount could be used to spot trailers, etc., as others do....

 

[J_J]

That hyd winch does come with cable according to Mike on Ebay.

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( That hyd winch does come with cable according to Mike on Ebay. )</font>

Yes, I had that same answer sitting in my personal email box at home (can't read personal email from work). Once I see what this week's trip to East TN costs, I'll decide whether to order one or not...

 

[Rip]

I use a Warn 6000 series industrial hydraulic winch with 150ft 1/4" high strength cable on my 1845 to pull whole trees up steep slopes to where I can cut them up and use the graple to carry them off.

I use the PTO circuit feeding a motor spool valve that controls the direction and speed of the hyd winch which also has a freewheel lever to pull cable out quickly. It is rated for 2800 PSI and 12 GPM.

Running the engine slower reduces the flow, but not the pressure. A 1,200 or 1,500 rated hyd motor will work for a while at higher pressure, but will blow a seal at some point.

The MileMarker hyd winches are very good when used as designed running off a vehicle power steering pump. They are the only type I would use on a full size SUV or PU for serious winching. When used with a higher pressure or flow power source however, something is apt to fail.

Rip