Bushranger Seal 9.5TH: 12-volt winch test

THE Bushranger Seal 9.5TH offers the second lowest horsepower motor, slightly higher than the TJM Torq Winch unit.

Given its higher speed final ratios, it sits about midfield with the final overall speeds of 3.45 metres per minute, taking six pulls of 60 seconds to complete the 20m sled pull task.

The constant distance recording for each pull remained very steady at three metres (give or take a bit), suggesting it is a well-balanced winch when it comes to power outputs, gearing and current usage.

Moderate to high-end amperage draw and good low temperatures (up until pull number five) put the Seal in good stead. However, pull number six saw motor temperatures shoot up to 101 degrees, albeit the gearbox remained low at a comfortable 34.

A unique aluminium control box sets the Bushranger apart from the field, as does the one-of-a-kind remote-wired hand control. It features a pair of thermal overload warning LEDs that run green during normal winch use and red when overloaded or overheated.

We kept a keen eye on the LEDs while monitoring both motor and gearbox temps and, during the fourth pull, they switched to red.

Interestingly, we only measured temperatures of 45 and 33 degrees for motor and gearbox. Even after we waited the standard 10-minute cool-down period and recorded a slightly lower 40 and 27 degrees at the start of the next pull, the lights remained red.

We pushed on regardless. The LEDs stayed red for the remainder of the test; although, the winch showed no sign of stalling or untoward electrical or mechanical problems.

The handpiece symbols are simple, with both directional arrows and “in/out” wording to make it obvious which way you should push the toggle-style button.

As opposed to most clutch-engaging levers, the Bushranger opts for a T-piece grip over the common L-shape – neither here nor there, just different.

Bushranger is one of the few to offer a duty-cycle winch time and rest time, while most others glossed over the actual numbers and only suggested users “do not exceed duty cycle” in the warnings.

The hook-end of the black rope includes a protection sheath, while the drum-end is coloured red as a warning for minimum rope rolls left on the drum.

As per most other thimbles around the clevis pin of the hook, it deformed under load in the same manner.

INCLUDED
Wired hand remote control; alloy hawse fairlead; open hook with spring-loaded safety catch and removable clevis pin; safety strap; overload warning LED lights on handpiece; sheath protection for hook-end of rope.