I know the NV4500 has a PTO cover on the side of the tranny and the NV5600 has two covers one on each side

 

I have a Warn 16.5 and have used it several times. The only time that that it performed less that I expected is when my 8 year old factory batteries were unable to provide the current to run it properly.

Replace the batteries with Sears Die Hard Platinums and she runs like a charm. PTO winches need engine running to operate and electric winches need batteries in excellent condition. A 136 amp alternator will not run a Warn 16.5 with any kind of significant load on it. Pick your poison and learn how to keep it running and you will more than likely be happy with your choice.

 

I have used electric, hydroilc power stering and of pto. It depends how much you use and what you do with. a 8000pound will get you out of bad spot if you have enough line and tackel with ****** blocks. but my pto winch cost 4500dol. so if you dont use much electric is cheppest. but i agree that mile marker is a good in between winch. just remember that hydrolic does not work if truck is not runing. I carry a warn 12000pd on reciver for emergencies with long cords, and i can use on my truck or inocent bystander to get me out. just never expect to winch the full cable at with load without beer break.

 

for a 1 ton truck you should have at least a 12,000 lb winch... I have a ramsey re 12,000 and it has pulled my Expedition out of many a ditch or mud hole... I even used it once to pull a semi out of a snow bank..

And to add that if your batteries are not fully charged you will need the engine running for an electric winch as well.... otherwise you will kill the batteries and the winch...

all of the winches have a plus and bad side... just figure out what your needing it for and how you plan on using it and go from there...

 

I second the hydrolic winch. Yes if your engine cuts off it wont work, but if your engine cuts off your time is limited with an electric winch also. An electric winch has a habit of crapping out at the worst times. With that said, I have an electric winch on my hunting truck and the trailer.

This is a chart I have had for a long time, It is a VERY good reference for how much pulling power you need to pull out a stuck truck. It will also show you how easy it is to blow right by the rated working limits of alot of your recovery gear.

 

Excellent!
I will put this flow chart in the lid of my recovery chest. A nice reference list.

 

Ive never used a hydraulic winch so i cant chime in on that debate, but if you go electric i cant say enough about the Warn 16.5ti. My buddy/business partner has one on his F-250 and its never given us a problem. We had a feed truck get stuck after it rained and our tractors were all either tore up or somewhere else, and we winched it out with his winch. The biggest thing is keep it cool, the truck was heavy so we would winch for a minute then let it cool for a minute.


It doesnt really look like it but the ground slopes downhill, and it had been raining for days so the ground was sloppy. That truck couldnt move on its own at all. We had to chock the tires on his truck so it wouldnt slide when we pulled and the back tires would lift off the ground a little. But it did the job.

 

I just saw in Diesel Power magazine that warn has come out with a new winch for the big boys... 25,000 lb winch with synthetic cable... the cable is still about 1.5 inches round.....

 

ive got the warn 15k on my truck and the few times ive used it its worked great...mind u the times ive used it i was just draging stuff around or lifting things.

 

I've got a warn 12,000 electric winch and love it too. I need a better front bumper to hide it behind. Another project for another day.