Like Rob said,heat is the killer.

Biggest thing with the HF,Milemarker,ramsey etc..(the ones that look alike-they all come in the same box---the cheaper versions of all of them are made in the same factory in china.I got a milemarker, and a HF for same price and they are 99% identical.)

If the winches Do Not brag about having bearings,they will have bronze bushings that support the armature for the electric motor.When these get hot,they "cook" the lube out of these bushings,with repeated
cycles they can "lock up".Most people think the motor is bad so these winches get a bad name.

Every year i recommend taking the motor apart and cleaning,lubing these bushings(check for gaulding(?)
and smooth out the shaft with fine sand paper etc.

If you use the winch alot this may be needed more often,
this also applies to water/salt etc. damage,salt will corrode the aluminum in the housings(something that could of been fixed at the design table with a simple anodizing process)

Just a little info

Bansil