PCW5000 portable winch

[PJ65]

I run a small forestry business, tree removal, small thinnings, wildland interface fuel removal , etc.  On the wildland, thinning side I usually chip on site with tractor and pto chipper.  Was thinking of getting a Farmi type logging winch for the tractor but for my applications I think a little portable winch would serve better.  Any opinions on the PCW5000?  I work mainly in small/medium lodgepole.

[woodman52]

I can't help you with the portable winch but I have a Farmi winch.  It works great. One piece of advice I will give is when comparing winches look at the speed not just the power.  I have worked with some winches that have about the same pulling power as my Farmi but were 10 times slower.  Speed makes a huge difference. 

[Andries]

The idea of a capstan winch on the back of a small tractor is great.
There's some advantage to the stand alone winch, but having it attached to the back of your tractor is appealing. (less lugging a motor and chunk of cast aluminum all day)
The light weight of a 250' rope over a steel cable is an advantage. Using cable chokers would keep the weight down too.
Is ultra-light logging a thing? 😁
.
Have a look:https://youtu.be/Wq-AVYQ3Woc?si=AUWA7D8kzy1KTQQn
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That being said, the folks that use the TCW5000 say it's a great winch, Especially the moose hunters, just don't expect it to be able to winch what a proper pto logging winch will.

[PJ65]

I like the idea of a stand alone.  The chipper is mounted on the 3 point. I figure I can fount the winch on the bucket, winch material in, spin the tractor around and chip. 

[47sawdust]

Scroll down from this post to "similar topics".
You want to read Qubecnewf's posts regarding the portable winch.
I owned a portable winch but found it too slow for my purposes.
I run a Krpan winch on a 45 hp. Kubota.
That works well for my needs.
Good luck, don't know your circumstances but chainsaw and trees seem to attract more equipment.

[John Mc]

I run a small forestry business, tree removal, small thinnings, wildland interface fuel removal , etc.  On the wildland, thinning side I usually chip on site with tractor and pto chipper.  Was thinking of getting a Farmi type logging winch for the tractor but for my applications I think a little portable winch would serve better.  Any opinions on the PCW5000?  I work mainly in small/medium lodgepole.

THe PCW 5000 is a good portable winch, but you should be aware that it operates at a fraction of th speed as a tractor mounted 3 point hitch logging winch. It's also lower pull: 2200# max. You use it with a snatch block and double line for more pulling power, but it will go half as fast. If yo can loive with the lower speeds and lower pull, it is a handy unit.

[peakbagger]

I have the US built Honda Powered Simpson Capstan Winch. Great rig for snaking logs out of the woods but as mentioned its slow. I use it solo and there is a lot of walking back and forth from the log to the winch to get set up. I have a set of straps and snatch blocks to deflect the line around trees. A skidder cone is definitely highly recommended as without one the log can get stuck in the ground or behind a rock. 

I did manage to break mine after close to 10 years on a very heavy pull and I mostly likely caused the break. I just got the parts I needed from them and need to reassemble. 

The one major difference between a Capstan Winch and a regular winch is there is no brake on a Capstan winch. When you let off tension on the capstan drum, the pull rope slackens. 

[beenthere]

I like the idea of a stand alone.  The chipper is mounted on the 3 point. I figure I can fount the winch on the bucket, winch material in, spin the tractor around and chip.

PJ
Read the other thread about "What are the odds". 
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=122881.msg1996009#msg1996009
Has to do with pulling a load from the bucket. Risky that way, as demonstrated in that thread.

[PJ65]

Looks like the bucket was up when he was pulling. My thoughts were tractor parked, bucket down and tilted, and winch attached to grab hooks.

[thecfarm]

Sounds like you won't be using it much for anything that big, if you are chipping it?
No idea about the winch you are looking at. But if you start to winch out stuff 16 inches across, that winch might be a slow way to do it. 
But we all have to use what we got.  ;D