Warn Industries manufactures both winches and hoists for a variety of applications. While winches and hoists look similar, they are distinctly different products. On top of that, they each have dedicated uses and should only be used for their specific tasks. Let's take a look at what makes these products different.

Winches = Horizontal Pulling

Winches are one of our best-known products. They're great for pulling a stuck vehicle, loading a trailer, or moving a heavy load around the job site. A winch is designed for horizontal pulling and not lifting.

Why is this?

WARN winches have a freespool clutch. This allows the winch drum to turn freely enabling users to easily pull the winch's line out to the item that needs to get moved. But this feature is the reason we don't use a winch as a hoist. If the clutch were to accidentally disengage while a load is attached, it could send the load crashing to the ground potentially causing damage to the item lifted, or worse, injury to a person. Additionally, a winch has a one-way load-holding brake that only works when the clutch is engaged. Do not use a winch as a hoist.

Hoists = Vertical Lifting

Unlike a winch, WARN hoists do not have a freespool clutch. Whether it's a 12V or 24V electric hoist or a hydraulic hoist, the line on these products must be powered in and powered out. This feature increases the product's safety factor as you don't have to worry about a clutch potentially disengaging. Unlike a winch, WARN hoists have a bi-directional load-holding brake. If you need to lift something vertically, you will want a hoist. FYI, Warn Industries' hoists come in capacities ranging from 800 lbs. to 4,000 lbs.

WARN PullzAll Does Both

There is one product within the WARN family of products that is an exception to these rules, and that is the WARN PullzAll. This is a portable pulling product that can either pull or lift up to 1,000 lbs. Available in 120V corded, 120V CSA corded, or 24V cordless versions, this product can be used to pull heavy loads like a winch and can lift items like a hoist. Like a hoist, it does not have a freespool clutch. It's a great product for shops, garage, farms, or ranches that call for versatile, portable power.