In this blog, we will take a look at some of the different types of winches on the market in order to establish how and when it is appropriate to use them.

What are winches and what are they used for?

A winch is a device consisting of a length of rope or chain that's wound around a drum. When the drum turns, the length of rope/chain is either shortened or lengthened (depending on which direction you're turning it in). This relatively simple mechanism has lots of practical applications, but it is most commonly used to move cars, boats, and other heavy loads.

Broadly speaking, operators have a choice between manual and electrical winches. Each option has different benefits, so the right choice for you will depend on the nature of the task at hand.

Hand Winches

Hand winches are a great choice if you're looking for a manually-operated winch. Hand winches can be very useful for arborists who need to carry out work in wet conditions and locations where there are no power outlets, such as woodland areas.

Pictured above is our Heavy Duty 250kg Hand Winch. With its high capacity and automatic brake, this winch is perfect for use in emergencies and small-scale forestry operations.

View all hand winches >

Electric Winches

Electric winches are often a preferable option for arborists working near a power source. Using an electrical winch is less physically demanding, and allows you to focus your attention on the job. An electric winch also allows loads to be moved more steadily because the drum turns continuously - this can be advantageous when moving delicate or sharp objects.

The winch pictured above is our 500kg Electric Winch (110V). This product has a lifting capacity of 500kg and a pulling capacity of 800kg, making it ideal for moving heavy objects such as forest debris. Unsurprisingly, it is one of our best sellers!

View all electric winches >