winch covers also trap all kinds of dirt and salt and water INSIDE the cover, keeping it right next to the winch all season.

 

I agree with this, but I think having a neoprene cover in States that put salt and chemical down would be a good idea. With the same caveat that you'd wash down the winch when you washed your car off. My dad works for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and they had a dump bed on one of the big trucks get pretty much eaten through in one season that wasn't properly cleaned.

I've thought about getting one for my Power Plant, but I just don't think I'll need it here.

 

i second that, my t-max winch came in thrashed from UPS.

 

WD-40 is God's Jeep juice. I have a can of it under my seat and spray my 9.5ti when I think of it... probably every couple of weeks. It's holding up great. The fairlead's getting rusty and scratched but I use it a lot and the WD-40 at least allows the rollers to turn (preventing more scratches). The WD-40 definitely seems to be protecting the cable and keeping it smooth and moist (and not from water).