Electric Winches
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Winch Accessories
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Electric winches offer pulling power that you need for general utility situations and off-road recovery. It was long believed that hydraulic winches were the only option when it came to winches, but electric winches are making a surge in popularity. Powered by your vehicle's battery, electric winches are much easier to mount to a vehicle than hydraulic winches because you don't have to tap into the vehicle's steering pump. Electric winches also offer more features than you'll find with hydraulic winches, which can make it difficult to choose when you compare electric winches.
Step 2
Choose a winch with the motor that can best handle your application. There are two main types of electric winch motors: permanent magnetic (PM) and series wound (SW). PM motors have a lower amp draw, which means they are more energy efficient. Less power, however, means they aren't for use in extreme terrain or recovery situations. Expect to pay more for SW electric winch motors, but they are for extreme use and they have a large power pull. You may need to upgrade the alternator, battery and other electrical components in your vehicle to operate an SW motor.
Step 3
Buy an electric winch that's the right size. You need a winch capacity that's at least 1.5 times your gross vehicle weight. For example, if you anticipate using a winch on a 5,000-lb. vehicle, you need an electric winch with a capacity of 7,500 lbs.
