Master Lock 2953AT 12-Volt DC Portable Winch

Master Lock 2953AT 12-Volt DC Portable Winch

  • 12-volt portable winch with remote and hand crank
  • Attaches to ball mount or a flat surface with plate
  • Capacities: 2000-pound pulling, 5000-pound marine, 6,000-pound rolling
  • Includes power battery cables, remote, back-up hand crank and safety hook
  • Convenient built-in carrying handle; 1-year warranty



This review is from: Master Lock 2953AT 12-Volt DC Portable Winch (Tools & Home Improvement)
Let's not get carried away. This is not a big winch like the ones you see fastened to the bumpers of monster 4-wheelers. It is much simpler than that. And for what it is designed to do it works very well. For infrequent light duty winching this is the perfect tool.

It has a built in handle for carrying, detachable power and control cords, and enough cable to get you within 25 feet or so of whatever you are winching. It has a 2000 lb rating, and will pull that much easily. Not quickly, but easily. It has a manual crank that can be attached to the shaft. It also has a very handy mounting plate designed to slip over the ball on a ball-hitch.


The clutch is manual, and drag is set by means of a threaded knob on the shaft. It is very simple to use. Simply connect the power and control cables, loosen the clutch, pull the cable to whatever you need to pull and hook it up. Then tighten the clutch and press the button on the control handle and start winching. Be patient. There is only one speed and it is slow. But it works.


I have tested the winch by hanging it from a beam and picking up the front of a truck with no problem. Then we really put it to the test by using it to pull our garden tractor out of the mud. It was a long pull so we needed to add a tug strap but it was easy enough to hook up. The pull was painless. The winch is slow because it gets it's power through gearing. It is quite a drain on a car battery, so it helps to leave your engine running while you pull.


Not something you would want to use every day but very handy to have around. For my money this is a 5-star tool. Great for the boat owner or for use around the farm. 


This review is from: Master Lock 2953AT 12-Volt DC Portable Winch (Tools & Home Improvement)
While mowing my lawn, my Sears Lawn Tractor got away from me. While I was working to get it unstuck, it rolled down a steep hill. (Had it not hit a tree, it would have gone off a 20 foot cliff). The wheels got stuck behind large rocks. I bought the winch to pull it up a 40 foot hill, with at least a 45 degree incline. I had to use an additional tow rope even though the instructions warn against this. The winch pulled the tractor up and saved me the money and embarrassment of having to call a tow truck. It worked beyond my expectations.