capstan winch

Yes they have merit.

But I suppose nothing beats an electric winch for ease of operation and versatility.

A PTO winch is stronger but could be dangerous to operate if on your own

Hand winches are also OK but more physical work is involved.

Capstan type winches are OK but you have to fit them when you are in a bogged situation. Depending which side you are bogged or front or rear you will always have a problem with one wheel spinning. So you need two wheel winches and enough rope or cable. Storage becomes a problem. The old Landrovers used to have a capstan winch mounted on the front bumper/bull bar of the truck. They used to run off a PTO(I think) and were in a horizontal situation. Basically too much stuffing around.

Hi Phantom and Willem

The capstan winch which was fitted to the front of the Landrover worked from the crankhandle key and could be either ran by theengine or very slowly by the crankhandle.

The rear capstan winch ran of the PTO.

They were a great winch, very strong and easy to use, just ground on end, put to loops around the capstan drive and put tension on the rope and the capstan winch would pull, you needed two people as one had to steer as the other held on to the rope.

Regards Ray

Capstans are considered by many not to be safe as there is no locking mechanism for the rope. If you let go of the rope for what ever reason then everything heads south on you. Apart from that they are great.