Hydraulic winch

Jstpssng · Dec 10, 2021

I really like my PTO winch, yet many of the things you describe are probably a lot better with the hydraulics. Most particularly pulling stumps; I've never tried that yet it seems like that little bit of "give" from the fluid drive is easier on everything.
Plus mine cost $3000 US... you have much less tied up in yours.

ptsg · Dec 10, 2021

Jstpssng said:
I really like my PTO winch, yet many of the things you describe are probably a lot better with the hydraulics. Most particularly pulling stumps; I've never tried that yet it seems like that little bit of "give" from the fluid drive is easier on everything.
Plus mine cost $3000 US... you have much less tied up in yours.

I don't really like to compare because they really serve two difference purposes even though the main function is pulling. Mine is a recovery winch, so it will never be as fast as a PTO winch and won't give you a way to anchor your tractor like the PTO winch does, however it will indeed give more precise control of the cable.

Just to be clear, I've never used a PTO winch, but I do know how those work, so my opinion is just based on the theory of operation.

I don't think one replaces the other and vice versa. If you do logging, it's definitely worth the investment on the PTO winch and it's one of those implements that really don't lose that much value over time.

Another thing that the PTO winch is superior, is that it uses the tractor as a counterweight and really don't put that much stress on the tractor compared to a recovery winch. This one of the reasons I don't like to pull stumps with the recovery winch and so far I've only pulled a big one and a bunch of smaller and easier to pull ones. For the most part, I just use the backhoe.