Do you have days when you want to haul a heavy load but are too exhausted from the manual work a hand winch requires? If so, you need to try a drill winch, which is a compact winch powered by your regular drill. Read on as we discover how and where you can buy this portable winch.
What is a Drill Winch?
A drill winch is a compact winch you can carry along on a task that requires hauling or hoisting. Unlike a hand or carry-along winch, the drill winch is not manually operated, and you will only need the standard portable drill to power it for hauling.
The drill winch comes with a drill slot on one side, and when you start your drill, it gives the winch the spinning motion to haul heavy weights. When buying a drill winch, you will need to look at some important factors such as ergonomics, the type of rope used, and how much weight it can haul.
Before we discuss these factors in more detail, here are two of the best drill winches in the market today.
1. WARN 101575 Handheld Portable Drill Winch
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WARN 101570 Handheld Portable Drill Winch with 40 Foot Steel Wire Rope: 750 lb Pulling Capacity
- Lightweight and portable handheld drill winch with a 750 lb....
- Powered by a standard, portable drill (not included)
- Includes a 40' (12. 2 m) of 5/32" (4mm) steel rope, integrated...
- Free-spool clutch makes rigging fast and easy
- Available in both steel (wire) and synthetic rope options
This Warn drill winch is powered by a standard portable drill not included in the purchase. It is your best buy when you need to haul about 750 pounds in a few moments. The drill winch comes in a lightweight and compact build with excellent features to make hauling easy.
Image source: Warn
The winch comes with a 40-foot steel wire rope with integrated hawse fairlead and front and rear rigging hooks. In addition, the drill winch also features a free spool clutch to make rigging easy for the single line pulling mechanism.
The winch is easy to carry and comes in an ergonomic design, including the drill slot on the side. The winch also comes from a reputable brand and at an affordable price for the features. This short video will show the best features of this winch:
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2. VISUTI Drill Winch
Max 800 lbs Capacity Hoist Portable Drill Winch - VISUTI Drill Winch with 40 Feet Steel Wire Drill...
- 【Ultimate Quality Assurance】Our Motor utilizes Steel...
- 【PROFESSIONAL SPECS】 - This drill winch Max Weight Load...
- 【STRONG TENSILE STEEL STRAND】 40ft Aviation grade galvanized...
- 【WIDELY USED】Air conditioning installation, home decoration,...
- 【CLUTCH KNOB】Manually unlock for free spooling or lock for...
This Visuti drill winch is the next option to try if looking to haul weights of up to 800 pounds. It comes in an ergonomic design, and the winch also features the strongest construction to guarantee successful hauling.
Image source: VISUTI
The drill winch uses steel planetary gears to run the motor, while it also comes with a 40-foot steel rope. The rope comes with front and rear rigging hooks, and you can also activate free spooling for easier rigging.
This winch is compatible with any drill, so you can use it if stuck off-road, where you will only need a cordless drill to activate it. This versatile pulling tool is quite affordable and easy to use
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Factors to Consider When Buying A Drill Winch
It would be best to have a drill winch to haul weights when you are not close to a power source or when you cannot use a hand winch. Out of the many types of winches available, the drill winch is arguably the easiest to use, but you need to pay attention to some important factors before buying one. They are:
The rope
When buying a drill winch, the type of rope it uses can determine how much weight you can pull and how far you can haul. As such, it is imperative that you look at the material and length of the rope before you buy.
You can choose two types of materials for the rope; the wire rope or a synthetic rope. These ropes are durable and will get you hauling in no time. The wire rope is the most common winch recovery rope as it can stand friction and haul heavy items. On the other hand, a synthetic winch rope may not be as strong as a wire rope, but it does not tangle easily.
When you need to haul, you must work with a safe hauling distance from the vehicle to the item you want to pull. As such, you need to get a long enough rope to meet your requirements. The two drill winches above come with 40-feet ropes that give you enough room to move your machinery.
Drill
While this type of winch is easy to use, the portable drill you need is not included in the purchase. Therefore, it will be best to buy the winch when you have the drill ready or can purpose to buy one. In addition, ensure the drill is powerful enough to activate the hauling motion of the spool.
Hauling capacity
Next, pay attention to how much weight the winch can haul successfully. Before buying, understand the maximum weight it can haul by reading the manufacturer's recommendations. The two drill winches above can haul 750 pounds each, so ensure your hauling needs will not exceed the limit.
Ergonomics
As a portable option, you need to get a drill winch with the most ergonomic design. It should be easy to hold when you can't level it on the ground, and it should also be quite lightweight for good portability.
Rigging hooks
Rigging hooks are vital features to look for in a drill winch. So, ensure the rope comes with the front and rear hooks to attach one end to your vehicle and the other to the weight you need to haul. Also, ensure the hooks are made with durable materials, so they won't snap or break as you haul.
Where Can You Use A Drill Winch?
A drill winch is your best option when looking for an affordable, lightweight, and yet, effective winch to perform your pulling tasks. That said, you can use the easy-powered drill;
- For moving machinery like tractors.
- For moving heavy nursery stock.
- To pull a rolling load onto a trailer.
Benefits of Using a Drill Winch
Compared to other winches, a drill winch has these benefits;
- It is easy to use. The drill winch is easy to use when you power it with a drill and connect your rigging hooks in their respective places. Unlike other drills, the tool does not require a lot of energy to complete a pulling task.
- It is lightweight and portable. A drill winch is your best buy when you need a pulling tool to carry with you to off-road projects. The compact and lightweight winch does not require electricity to function, and you can also use a battery-powered portable drill on the move.
- It is durable. This winch is also quite durable even when you continuously pull heavy loads with it. When you guarantee the rope, hooks, and shaft drive are made with high-quality materials, you will have yourself a tool to use for many years.
Featured image source: drivingline.com