What is the rating on the winch? If you are pulling, tied to a tree, is your hook up point as close to the bottom of the tree? If it is, and you have the lift arms pressed down in the ground, it doesn't seem like you would raise the back end. I don't think you would ever pull the PT apart. I would replace that hose with a 90 degree fitting, or just add a 90 degree fitting to the hose.