Front/rear mounted portable load-bearing winch

An electric winch mounted to a drawbar having at one end a receptacle and at the other end a stub. The winch drawbar can be connected between a vehicle hitch and a ball-type hitch member which is then adapted for supporting pulling and downward loads. A trailer can be connected to the ball so that the winch can be utilized to pull loads onto the trailer. Because the winch is load bearing, the loaded trailer can be repositioned or towed at low speeds, via the winch, by the vehicle. Front and rear-mounted hitches allow the winch to be releasably attached thereto for self recovery of the vehicle from either direction.