So I'm new to winches and just bought my first. A friend told me to just leave it on year round because it can take the weather no problem (the heat, the snow cold, rain etc). What are your thoughts on this? My last question is, do electric winches work if submerged?

 

i have had mine in the weather with no ill effects for a while. the key is routine maintence. for steel cable you want to keep it oiled. try and keep all the electrical parts either remotely mounted or sealed or covered well. also, use the winch routinely like once every couple of weeks. this will keep the grease moving and wont have a chance to glob up and fall off important parts.

you can buy winch covers on ebay pretty cheap that help with the elements but it should be fine.

the electric winch can work under water as long as the relays dont short. if you have your relays mounted in the engine bay or in the cab then the winch should work. you will just keep to make sure you take it apart and clean it and let it dry out.

-cutts-

 

I don't know if this is advisible, I leave my winches on all year long. As for being submerged... I would expect a 12 vdc winch to function underwater. Heck, I'm counting on it if I get stuck mid crossing. Of course, the last time I was stuck in a snow covered drainage creek (jan 01) I could not reach the clutch controls on my rear winch - so... I don't know if it would have worked or not. Although my expectation is that it would have worked

 

fish Mann - is dead on. Only my winches are mounted externally. The controls are all protected.

You also make me feel bad -- I haven't been doing the maintenance I should

 

Thank you for the responses they helped me a lot.