The 9 Best Hand Winches
Updated by · How we research
Nine hand winches, come-alongs and boat-trailer winches compared on holding power, line and build. The Wyeth-Scott More Power Puller leads for vehicle recovery. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A hand winch's big number rarely means what it seems: a come-along stamped 5 tons is quoted for one straight pull, and one owner's test found a four-ton chain winch pulling about a quarter of that. Ratings shrink as line piles onto the drum, too. This guide covers off-road recovery tools, boat-trailer winches and pullers for farm and shop.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Wyeth-Scott More Power Puller moves to the top. Most readers arrive looking for an off-road hand winch, and it's the one tool here whose maker rates it for dragging a vehicle, at twice its lift rating. The Hi-Lift X-Treme, the Dutton-Lainson WG2000HEX and the Dutton-Lainson DL600A stay.
The Fulton F2 and the Reese Towpower 74329 have dropped out of stock for good, and the Fulton 142411 shows no price or stock. The Maasdam Pow'R Pull, the Billet4x4 Magnum and the Dutton-Lainson DLB1200A have no current listing at all, which is a shame in the Magnum's case, since nothing else quite fills its role as a crank winch for the trail. In their place are two come-alongs, the Neiko 02256A and the Big Red T32052, plus three boat-trailer winches.
No lab rates hand winches for vehicle recovery. The most useful evidence was an Australian owner's side-by-side pull test that measured a chain winch at a quarter of its label, read alongside the Wyeth-Scott and Dutton-Lainson ratings and instructions.
March 08, 2021:
A good winch is safe, helpful, strong, and durable, and we're happy to report that all of our previous recommendations have stood the test of time, and continue to be good choices, depending on your use case. As anticipated, the Dutton-Lainson DL2500A, Dutton-Lainson WG2000, and Dutton-Lainson DLB1200A are all great fixed options that are built to last. The Reese Towpower 74329 is basically a less costly replica of those two, and as expected, it's not quite as durable, so it's not suitable for big jobs.
Then there are simple options like the Maasdam Pow'R Pulla, which is handy to have around the house and farm for a variety of reasons. The Wyeth-Scott More Power, however, may be the beefiest traditional power puller available to the general consumer. For even more leverage and durability, the Billet4x4 Magnum is a specially designed option meant for use with off-road vehicles. Finally, if you're using it on a boat, it's hard to beat the Fulton F2.
April 21, 2019:
Winches can fill a lot of roles in industrial settings, farms, marinas, off-road vehicles, and more. One of the most popular uses is as a fixed puller to help load boats onto trailers. The Fulton F2 is one of the most refined for marine use, as its smooth operation and protected body make it long-lasting and easy to use. The Reese TowPower is also suitable, and in light of its low price, it's a budget boater's dream. The Dutton-Lainsons are all extremely well made, and we've highlighted some of the most versatile and cost-effective. Near the top of the list you'll see their 2+ ton worm gear model, which is about as reliable of a winch as you'll find, and which provides exceptional mechanical advantage. But anything from Dutton-Lainson will be effective at moving heavy machinery, boats, deer, you name it; they're made with excellent manufacturing consistency. The Maasdam isn't well-suited to pulling boats, but it is great for moving felled trees and a variety of outdoor tasks.
If you're looking to outfit your Jeep or other off-road vehicle with something that can help get it out of a jam, the ARB Magnum is a well-respected choice, though it is among the most expensive. But it offers a relatively easy cranking experience, possibly a better one than all the rest. Considering that most drivers use a winch only as a last resort, the Hi-Lift is a fantastic, if somewhat unconventional, choice. When used with the proper attachments, it serves as a functional winch, and although it is somewhat of a hassle to use, it's both safe and effective when used right.
No matter what you're using it for, though, the Wyeth-Scott More Power is one of the beefiest hand-crank units available. It's rated for lifting 3 tons and pulling twice that across the ground, and its AmSteel Blue rope is an engineering wonder. The unit as a whole feels and operates like a tool that will literally last a lifetime.
Special Honors
Thern Winches and Cranes Thern offers advanced hand winches that use either worm or spur gears and are built to last for years of professional use. They have various models available within each style, and they're aimed squarely at commercial establishments with very specific needs. thern.com
Ratings: Lift, Drag And The Number On The Box
Hand winch ratings aren't measured the same way, so two numbers on two boxes rarely compare.
Hand winch ratings aren't measured the same way, so two numbers on two boxes rarely compare. Wyeth-Scott rates its More Power Puller for a dead lift on a doubled line (4,000 pounds for the 2-ton model, 6,000 for the 3-ton) and says the drag rating for pulling a vehicle is twice that. A come-along's "5 ton" label is usually a maximum straight pull, not a working load you should plan around.
Real pulls can fall far short. In a side-by-side owner test on ExplorOz, a chain hand winch sold as a 4.4-tonne unit pulled about 1.1 tonnes before its shear pin broke, while a crank-style Magnum winch needed about 25 handle strokes for each meter of pull at roughly half the effort. It's one informal test from 2006, but it's the closest thing to a measurement this category has.
Capacity also drops as line builds up on the drum. Dutton-Lainson rates its WG2000 at 2,000 pounds on the first layer of cable, with less on each layer above it. And a boat-trailer winch's strap rating describes pulling a floating hull up rollers, not freeing a truck from mud.
Pick The Type For The Job
For getting a vehicle unstuck, you want a puller rated for drag, a long line and an anchor. A puller like the Wyeth-Scott takes 20 or 35 feet of cable or rope. A come-along gives you somewhere around 5 to 15 feet before you reset, and a Hi-Lift jack used as a winch gains about 4 feet per setup. Hand winching is slow: in one Overland Bound comparison, a Hi-Lift recovery took about 13 minutes against about 5 with a powered winch.
Boat-trailer winches bolt to the trailer post and wind a strap. Strap is kinder to a hull than cable, and a neutral or free-spool setting lets you launch without cranking. Two-speed models add a low gear for the last steep pull.
Worm-gear winches lock the moment you stop turning, which suits gates, hoists and slow, controlled pulls. Spur-gear winches wind much faster but need a ratchet or brake to hold the load. If you want a removable handle or a drill drive, look for a hex or square input shaft.
Safe Pulling
A loaded line stores energy, and a snapped cable or a slipped hook can fly. Stand to the side, never step over the line, and wear gloves and eye protection, as American Rifleman advises in its guide to self-recovery. Drape a heavy blanket or a line dampener over a steel cable under tension.
Use a tree-saver strap around trees, and anchor low and close to the ground. Keep at least a few turns of line on the drum so the end can't pull loose. A Hi-Lift handle can whip upward if the load shifts, so keep your head out of its path.
These winches aren't for lifting people or moving loads over anyone. Dutton-Lainson says so plainly in its warnings. On a boat trailer, the winch strap isn't a tie-down for the road: add a bow safety chain and transom straps before you drive.
How we researched this
We compared 17 hand winches, come-alongs and pullers, read the maker pages and instructions from Wyeth-Scott, Dutton-Lainson and Hi-Lift, weighed an owner's side-by-side pull test and off-road forum comparisons, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls. We found no independent lab test of these winches.
Sources (12)
Frequently asked questions
Can a hand winch pull out a stuck truck?
Yes, if it's rated for drag and you have a solid anchor. A puller like the Wyeth-Scott More Power Puller is built for it. A light come-along or a boat-trailer winch is not, and every hand method is slow.
What's the difference between a come-along and a hand winch?
A come-along is a lever ratchet puller with a short cable that you reset every few feet. A hand winch winds line onto a drum with a crank, so it pulls farther without resetting.
Can I use a boat-trailer winch for off-road recovery?
No. Its rating covers pulling a floating boat up a trailer, and the mount and strap aren't built for the shock of a stuck vehicle.
Can a hand winch be run with a drill?
Some can. The Dutton-Lainson WG2000HEX has a hex shaft for a cordless drill and a removable socket handle for cranking by hand.
Are hand winches safe for lifting?
Some are rated for lifting loads, but none of these are for lifting or carrying people, and nobody should stand under a raised load.
