Portable Capstan Winches

Treadlight Forestry is a UK specialist in portable capstan winches, with over 10 years’ experience supplying winches for forestry, arboriculture, woodland management and other demanding applications.

We first started using portable capstan winches for low-impact forestry work and quickly recognised how useful they are in places where access for tractors and larger machinery is difficult or impossible.

Why use a portable capstan winch?

Portable capstan winches combine substantial pulling power with a machine that can be carried to the work site. They are particularly useful for timber extraction, assisted tree felling, dealing with windblown trees and working on steep or difficult-access ground.

Unlike a conventional drum winch, a capstan winch does not store the pulling rope on the machine. The rope is wrapped around a rotating capstan drum, with friction transferring the pulling force from the drum to the rope. This allows you to use long lengths of rope without being restricted by the capacity of a winch drum.

Our range includes petrol and battery-powered portable capstan winches with different pulling capacities, speeds and features to suit different types of work.

If you’re unsure which winch is right for your application, contact us for practical advice on choosing a winch, rope and accessories.

Which portable capstan winch do I need?

Choosing the right winch depends on more than maximum pulling force. The weight of the machine, pulling speed, type of rope, braking system, power source and how far you need to carry the winch can all be important.

For occasional woodland work, timber extraction or difficult-access sites, a lighter winch may be more useful than a larger, more powerful machine. For regular professional forestry or arboricultural work, greater pulling capacity and different rope-control options may be more important.

We supply petrol and battery-powered winches from Portable Winch Company, EDER and DOCMA.

If you’re unsure which model is best for your work, contact us. Tell us what you need to pull, the type of site you’re working on and how you expect to use the winch, and we’ll help you choose a suitable machine.