Abstract: An automatic load responsive winch is disclosed and includes a base, a winch drum rotatable mounted on the base, and a rotatable drive shaft for driving the winch drum. At least two gear trains are mounted between the drive shaft and the drum for rotating the drum in response to rotation of the drive shaft. One of the two gear trains produces a different drum speed than the other gear train. In one embodiment, when a variable torque load is applied to the winch, a mechanism is vertically displaceable. The mechanism engages one of the gear trains at a first vertical position of the mechanism and disengages the one gear train at a second vertical position to isolate the one gear train and provide for rotation of the winch drum by the other gear train. In another embodiment, when a variable torque load is applied to the winch, a mechanism is angularly displaceable.