For the longest time like many of you I'm sure, I have used comalongs, grip hoist , gear drive hand winches which are fine I suppose. But I got this old trencher for cheap on CL. It ran but needed a rebuild, had a wisconsin VH4D engine. But I got the 4bolt 350 for 200 bucks and I have a lathe So I dressed it up made a stub shaft to connect the 350 to the original hydraulic pump. Ditched the trenching arm and chain and use the gear drive as a winch drum. Not sure how much it will pull but with 200ft of 3/8's cable and a snatchblock or two Im sure it will do fine. Ill post more pics when I get off this deployment and put it to work , Im still in the Navy full time. Let me know what Yall think.