4WD Electric Winches – Are They Worth The Money?

If you happen to own a 4WD then you’ll probably be keen to purchase a winch if you don’t have one. However, you may be still trying to decide between a hydraulic or an electric version. It is generally a good idea you to know the pros and cons of the various options on the market so you can determine which one will suit your needs the best. Keep in mind that there are a variety of factors that will go into determining which item will match your specific requirements, including the specific vehicle that the winch will be used on. The electric variety has turned into the more popular option on the market so let’s see if they are worth the money.

How Does an Electric Winch Work?

This type of winch functions with the use of an electric motor; something that is easily controlled through a switch that will generally be placed close to the winch, and this makes it very easy to work with. On 4WD’s, a winch is generally used as a way to get out of being stuck in mud or sand, and by using the simple switch to get the machinery working, operators don’t have to put a whole lot of effort into the task.

Hydraulic winches, on the other hand, are operated with the use of a hydraulic pump; this is slightly more complicated to operate. You can see more facts regarding electric vs hydraulic here.

Installing Electric Winches

In order to start making use of either a hydraulic or an electric winch, it is important for people to have the appropriate systems installed, particularly if these systems are going to be used on a 4×4. Electric winches are generally tied permanently on onto the front, while hydraulic winches require the installation of a fully functional hydraulic system before they will work; either way, operators should expect to put some effort into getting everything set up beforehand. It is generally easier to install a hydraulic winch if the hydraulic system is in place already; this is sometimes the case when a a boat second hand 4WD is purchased.

When it comes to installation, electric winches definitely win out over their hydraulic counterparts; this is because there isn’t much to the installation process. Electric winches are not only easier to install; they are also cleaner because they don’t have fluids that could end up leaking out.

Repairing Your Winch

Repairing an electric winch, when compared to its hydraulic counterpart, is a more complicated task, which might put some people off the idea. It should be noted, however, that the ease with which the equipment is put to use when the situation calls for it has turned the electric winch into one of the more popular options on the market. Many people wouldn’t recommend electric winches for sustained operation because they could end up overheating; there are many people who don’t consider this to be a problem, however, since they often only require its service for short durations of time. The speed with which they spool in and out is only one of the many facets that make these devices to versatile.

Ultimately, operators need to carefully consider the pros and cons of both options to determine whether electric winches really are worth the expense, although many people have found this to be the case. If you don’t have much experience with operating this type of equipment it’s also recommended to speak with a profressional company such as All Lifting. The more information a buyer has, the more sound their decision will be, however, so it is always worth getting to know everything there is to know about electric winches and what they have to offer.

This guest post was written by Gary Spencery, a renowned expert in the industry with over 50 years experience.