Winches

What is a Winch?

A winch is a device used to pull or lift heavy items. They often have a chain or rope wound around a rotating drum and can be operated by a hand crank or motor.

Why buy a winch?

If you are regularly towing a boat, trailer or manoeuvring heavy equipment with your car, a winch is a great way to help you load heavy items safely and with ease. Winches make it much easier to pull, lift or hoist bulky equipment into place saving you valuable time so you can enjoy the things you really love doing. Winches are sleek, innovative and easy to use and can do all of the hard work for you.

What do I need to consider?

There are multiple types of winches available so it can be tricky to know which one you need. A good place to start is to think of what you want to use the winch for as this will help establish the best winch for the job. With so much choice, it's useful to understand the difference between each type of winch to help you decide which is best for you.

Electric or manual

Electric winches are motorised so you can operate them at the touch of a button which makes them extremely easy to use. Whereas manual winches require you to turn the ratchet crank or lever by hand and are a great choice if you don't have a power source.

Pulling or lifting

Pulling winches are designed to pull loads horizontally, like loading a boat onto a trailer via a ramp. Lifting winches, however, can lift things vertically like a crane and suspend them in mid-air before moving them into position.

Single or two-speed

Single-speed winches are either geared or non-geared and are designed to meet the toughest of pulling demands. They have a two-way ratchet that can pull the rope in and slowly wind it out again. Two-speed winches have a fast speed for pulling and a slower speed for increased mechanical advantage. They use higher gears to pull in a load quickly when the resistance is low and a lower gear when the resistance is high to give more power when pulling heavier loads in slowly.

Brake or utility

Braked winches are used for heavy lifting and hoisting to raise and lower heavy loads. Utility winches are powered by a motor and are ideal for loading trailers, positioning cargo or moving vehicles.

Can I install a winch myself?

Installing a winch is pretty easy if you have the right tools and know what you're doing. It shouldn't take more than 2 hours and some common hand tools to install your winch onto a car or trailer. If you are unsure and want to use your winch with confidence, you can always look for a local garage or fitter who will be able to install it for you.

Winches Range

We have a wide range of winches available from market-leading brands including Fulton, Reese, Rola and Bulldog. The range includes marine, utility, manual, motor, brake, single and two-speed winches so there really is something to suit every need.
Not sure which winch is best for you? Our team is happy to help if you have any questions about our winches range.

Why should I buy a winch from Witter Towbars?

As a leading manufacturer of towbars and towing accessories, we only stock products from other brands that meet our standards of safety and reliability. Not only can our team offer help and advice on which winch best suits your needs, but we also have a nationwide network of Witter-approved mechanics and fitters. A professional fitter can fit your winch with ease if you don't know how.