D4 winch debate: Hyster D4 towing winch vs Hyster oil field winch

I have a spec sheet but scanner wont work, it is used for Utility Service, for raising towers and poles, and whenever large line capacity and smooth control of brake and clutch are important. Bare drum line pull bare drum low gear 14,700lbs line pull with heavy duty 15/30 drive gear ratio and 3700lbs pull with 130/151 gear ratio for high speeds. Net weight is1450lbs. So hard or extreme pulling may not be recommended, such as pulling stumps or towing a really heavy object.

@Romekg - thanks for the quick reply, that was very useful information. The D4 won't be for any real heavy work, my 955H is the real work horse. The information you gave was more than anything I found online, all I could find was that it could be run from the seat or right rear of the tractor, there was also a remote throttle located back there as well.

Where are you located in Ohio? I grew up near Akron and we will probably be heading back to Dayton for my final assignment in the Air Force next summer.

Nick

Your use on the farm should be a towing winch with or without an elevated tower.  1/2” -5/8” cable.  Don’t fill your spool over 2/3 full.  If it is not long enough, you can improvise.  Most folks that have not used one put too big of a cable on a full spool.  I was guilty of both!
      Don

D4 and D4N winches don't free spool, which will get annoying for long pulls if you are working by yourself. D4D was the first version of that size towing winch to free spool. Just bought one for my 7U for that exact reason.

RomeKG - Thanks for the additional info and scan, that is exactly what I was looking for sir. This D4 is located in PA and I'm probably going to have my dad go check it out. I spent many summers up on Lake Erie and in the Toledo area so I know that place pretty well. It will be nice to get back home in Ohio from our current assignment in Florida

Don - Thanks for the advice, I have a bit of expierence winching with smaller winches but nothing this size. I've only run my 955's winch a handful of times for function checks.

PNW Hillbilly - Matt! thanks for the note, I honestly did not know that. I assumed they were like my 955's winch (D4D style) and like you, I am most always working alone so free spool would be a nice feature but isn't a deal breaker. we get around that in the military with a small electric winch with free spool to "pull out" the larger winch cable without free spool. My big military wrecker truck has a 45k winch on the back and it doesn't free spool either, 3/4 or 1" cable is a beast to drag but the electric winch makes short work of it.

BTW - You did an amazing job on your D4 resto, I was so excited to see it fire right up and move under it's own power! I'll be tuned in to see how the excavator work goes for sure.

- Nick

From personal experience:
The D4N in the neutral selection will spool out manually - brake works to apply some drag if needed, it will be a hard pull;
The D4D in the free spool position is completely free spool - the brake does not work so you get to completely rewind the coil every time you use the free spool.