The present invention provides a compact winch system that reduces the required space for a winch after-market accessory for a vehicle by using a small DC motor with a planetary gearbox assembly having at least four planetary stages and a gear control assembly that together provide a choice of a low range gear reduction and a high range gear reduction that allows the motor to retain the pulling power of a conventional winch system. Alternatively, the compact winch system creates its compactness through the use of a set of spur gears that multiply the torque of the motor while simultaneously offsetting the motor in order to create space for its motor controller.

An automatic resetting mechanism for a winch engaging-disengaging switch includes a winch bracket, a motor drive assembly, a gear box, a drive shaft, a planetary gear set, and an engaging-disengaging assembly. At least one gear ring locking portion is disposed circumferentially on an outer circumferential wall of a gear ring of the planetary gear set. The engaging-disengaging assembly includes an engaging-disengaging seat, an engaging-disengaging shaft, and an engaging-disengaging toggle sheet. The engaging-disengaging seat is fixed on the gear box. A positioning step is disposed on the engaging-disengaging seat. The engaging-disengaging shaft is penetrated into the engaging-disengaging seat. An engaging-disengaging pin is disposed on a sidewall of the engaging-disengaging shaft. The engaging-disengaging pin is abutted against the positioning step. A resetting drive component in transmission cooperation with the engaging-disengaging toggle sheet is disposed on a planetary gear side plate of the planetary gear set.

A winch includes a motor, a gear reduction unit, a tie structure, an external power cable, and a rotatable drum. The motor includes a motor housing with a motor case and a first drum support attached to the motor case. The gear reduction unit is drivingly attached to the motor and has a gear housing including a gear case and a second drum support. The tie structure connects said first and second drum supports. The external power cable having a first end and a second end. The first end of the external power cable is configured to be coupled to an external power source. The second end of the external power cable is coupled to a bus bar. The rotatable drum is drivingly connected to the motor and supported by the first and second drum supports.