Abstract: A winch includes a rotatable drum unit (11) for carrying a load hauling cable wound therearound. The drum unit (1) is rotated by a motor (25) connected to a gear assembly (41). The drum unit (11), motor (25), and gear assembly (41) are carried by a supporting structure including first and second stands (12, 13) arranged on each side of the drum unit (11). The first stand (12) comprises a hollow bearing body (26) mounted to a yielding member (56) of the stand (12). The bearing body extends into the drum unit (11) and has axially spaced external bearing means (31, 32) for journalling said drum unit (11). The bearing body (26) also includes means (29, 30, 49) for carrying said motor (25) and at least partly said gear assembly (41) which is located in the drum unit (11).