Stihl batteries give Portable Winch a 1,500kg pull

Portable Winch is one of several manufacturers making use of Stihl’s battery system to improve the performance of its equipment.

The Canadian firm still offers its winches with a Cramer or Briggs and Stratton powerpack, but while these will summon the strength for a 1,000kg straight pull, the new APW 6000 is good for 1,500kg.

This can be increased to 3,000kg by rigging up a block-and-tackle pulley system, making it one of the most powerful battery-powered winches on the market and better suited to dragging material over roots and stumps.

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It runs on the same AP 300 S or AP 500 S batteries as Stihl’s MSA 300 chainsaws, with the bigger version offering faster preset rope speeds of 10m, 13m and 16m/min.

Buyers will get 100-120m of total pulling distance to a charge at maximum power, and 200-300m during more typical mixed-load work.

Power is provided by a 3kW (4hp) motor with a gear reduction that ramps up output to 420Nm.

This comes with a pull-activated throttle, emergency stop, and a “progress capture system” comprising a pair of gripping cleats to keep the line taut and prevent roll-back when directional felling.

List price is £1,799 excluding the battery. An AP 500 S costs roughly £320.