HP 90
We used to do OK with twin drum winches before. Most schools had 2 (1 line schools), some larger schools had 3 (2 line schools). Or kept as a spare. Often the parent unit had a 'ready use' spare which could be brought down at a couple of days notice or swapped out if a major service was required away from the school. The winches were towed on the road by a standard Bedford 4 tonner. Later big MVG winches required a low loader to move on the road and there were no local spares at parent units - so a degree of flexibility was lost.
We used 1 tow out vehicle per winch/pair of cables and this prevented them getting 'crossed' (tangled). Later we used a single vehicle and a spreader bar.
In some respects its better to have a pair of winches - as people have said you don't stop operating if you have an engine problem. Also towing single pairs of cables is easier on the MT and stops the ground getting badly churned up in front of the winch and at the launch point.
Twin drum winches are much lighter - they don't bog down on grass sites where there are no hardstands or peri-tracks - and if they do, you can often do a local recovery - the MVG usually needed a full recovery unit from the parent unit or the white fleet supplier as they weighed so much..........
Some days you could operate a quick and easy operation if you just towed out a single winch and pair of cables..............
You points on costs are however, very valid
Arc