best 4wd hand winch

If you’re after the best 4WD hand winch, think less “gym membership” and more “mechanical advantage you can trust far from phone reception”.

Here’s a quick comparison of the two common options you’ll actually find in Australia.

Tirfor/Griphoist (1.6 t class)

• Pros: bombproof build, smooth load control, pulls in any direction; often rated around 1.6 t WLL
• Cons: heavy (unit ~12 kg plus 20–30 m cable), pricey (new ~AUD $1,200–$2,000; used ~$400–$900)

Ratchet “come‑along” (2–3 t claims)

• Pros: cheap, compact, fine for light straight pulls
• Cons: short cable, can jam under load, ratings are optimistic; not ideal for vehicle recovery

For touring, carry rated tree protectors, a snatch block to double-line, and gloves; technique beats brawn every time. If you’re on a budget, a good used Tirfor on Tradingpost usually embarrasses a bargain-bin come‑along when things get properly boggy.