Anyone got any thoughts on this. I have a new PK3, full hard cab and mostly used on the farm. I've own JD Gators for the past 20 years and I've only been stuck in the mud a handfull or so times. But it was no big deal, just wall back to the barn and get the tractor. Now I'm thinking of going other places where I don't have the option on going back to the barn to get the tractor so I been looking long and hard at winches. From what I can tell, all winches for UTV's are made in China, including Warn. All but Ramsey, which is to large to mount in the factory bumper area on the 1000 pioneer.
I have two problems. One I don't like to buy from China and two, the cost and maintenance for an electric winch and all the other items you'll need to run it. I'm not just talking the winch cost. You guys know. Dual batteries, winch mount, voltmeters, cleaning and waterproofing maintenance, etc. And from what I seen, through testing, electric winches kill your battery very fast.
Also, I'm older, and my mud running days are over. I'll go through the mud when I think I've got a 90% chance of making it but not when you have no chance at all. But as life is the unexpected gets you every now and then, and boom, your stuck. So look at this. You don't get hung up much, you don't have all the maintenance and you don't have all the cost of an electric winch. But, when you do get hung up you've got more hand work and more time involved with recovery. Something neat through is your also talking about rear recovery and side recovery with the hand winch. I been weighing the these options and I've went back and forth but I think I've come all the way around again and the hand winch will work better for me. Your thoughts?
I'm a farmer, so the hand winch would be good for other chores around the farm. Pulling stumps, etc. Check out the website of the hand puller I've landed on: Order Online! | The More Power Puller® by The Wyeth-Scott Company.
Here's a picture:
I have two problems. One I don't like to buy from China and two, the cost and maintenance for an electric winch and all the other items you'll need to run it. I'm not just talking the winch cost. You guys know. Dual batteries, winch mount, voltmeters, cleaning and waterproofing maintenance, etc. And from what I seen, through testing, electric winches kill your battery very fast.
Also, I'm older, and my mud running days are over. I'll go through the mud when I think I've got a 90% chance of making it but not when you have no chance at all. But as life is the unexpected gets you every now and then, and boom, your stuck. So look at this. You don't get hung up much, you don't have all the maintenance and you don't have all the cost of an electric winch. But, when you do get hung up you've got more hand work and more time involved with recovery. Something neat through is your also talking about rear recovery and side recovery with the hand winch. I been weighing the these options and I've went back and forth but I think I've come all the way around again and the hand winch will work better for me. Your thoughts?
I'm a farmer, so the hand winch would be good for other chores around the farm. Pulling stumps, etc. Check out the website of the hand puller I've landed on: Order Online! | The More Power Puller® by The Wyeth-Scott Company.
Here's a picture: