Hydrulic vs. Electric Winch
- Thread starter sargeek
- Start date
SunTzuNephew
Explorer
The main problem in off-road work is that hydraulic winches only work when the engine is on.
The main advantage is continuous operation when the engine is working, and more power....usually.
The main advantage is continuous operation when the engine is working, and more power....usually.
Peter_n_Margaret
Adventurer
Hydraulic is not so easily moved from front to back (but it is possible).
Hydraulic is usually quite a lot heavier.
Cheers,
Peter
Hydraulic is usually quite a lot heavier.
Cheers,
Peter
I've used both. Mile Marker is a stout work horse. I've done repetitive full spool pulls through bottomless goo. I've used it to haul logs up hills all day long. Motor just idles away. Works, works, works.....VERY SLOWLY. It will do tasks that electric won't do without overheating.
That being said, for 99% of offroading, I prefer electric. They work VERY well and are a less intrusive install on the vehicle.
That being said, for 99% of offroading, I prefer electric. They work VERY well and are a less intrusive install on the vehicle.
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
The need for a running engine to operate a hyd winch can be over-come, but at some cost and complexity. And you end up with an electric over hydraulic winch.....
As to the merits of each, it has been discussed at length a couple of times. I know that there was some sort of server hick-up at one time, so not all of those threads may have survived.
One aspect of hydraulic winches that rarely gets mentioned is the control system. In the case of the Milemarker control valve, either by design or default, it yields to hydra-boost brake demands on the PS system. Presumably similar results would stem from trying to steer while winching. So no winching while setting on the brake pedal if hydra-boosted, and likely no turning while winching either.
At least that has been my experience with one mounted on a Ford PSD. The no brakes part particularly sucked since the truck is a manual and we were trying to unstuck a really stuck Samurai (double high centered on a log) while parked on a gravel road.
As to the merits of each, it has been discussed at length a couple of times. I know that there was some sort of server hick-up at one time, so not all of those threads may have survived.
One aspect of hydraulic winches that rarely gets mentioned is the control system. In the case of the Milemarker control valve, either by design or default, it yields to hydra-boost brake demands on the PS system. Presumably similar results would stem from trying to steer while winching. So no winching while setting on the brake pedal if hydra-boosted, and likely no turning while winching either.
At least that has been my experience with one mounted on a Ford PSD. The no brakes part particularly sucked since the truck is a manual and we were trying to unstuck a really stuck Samurai (double high centered on a log) while parked on a gravel road.
charlieaarons
Explorer
If you have a heavy vehicle hydraulic is the only viable choice; especially if the vehicle already comes with a full blown hydraulic system.
Electric winches are shockingly (not a pun) inefficient; they average 15% efficiency, the rest is heat:
E = (line pull X line speed)/volts X amps, with appropriate conversion factors.
Hydraulic winches are about 70-80% efficient (line pull X line speed)/(flow volume X pressure). Wasting engine power just warms up the oil a bit, but wasting 85% of the electricity kills the battery.
Charlie
Electric winches are shockingly (not a pun) inefficient; they average 15% efficiency, the rest is heat:
E = (line pull X line speed)/volts X amps, with appropriate conversion factors.
Hydraulic winches are about 70-80% efficient (line pull X line speed)/(flow volume X pressure). Wasting engine power just warms up the oil a bit, but wasting 85% of the electricity kills the battery.
Charlie