I have never had a PTO winch. I do have an electric winch, 8,000 pound Ramsey. I made a frame for it that allows me to mount it in the back of my flat bed '66K20 or on my car trailer. When it works, I really am glad I have it. I have learned that constant use or months without don't matter. I need to take all of the wires off, clean the terminals, and reassemble it at least once a month. I usually have it in the back of my truck to pick up 2,000 pound round bales of hay. Rainy weather makes for heavier bales of hay and electrical corrosion. I hate having to spend so much time on preventive maintenance and still have it give me troubles. I have completely rebuild the winch part and the motor part. It is in good internal condition. I just can't seem to keep both selenoids clean and working. I have tried many different methods of covering them too.

That same truck has a PTO driven hydrolic tailgate. I can also remove it. I put it on last week. It had been sitting out in the weather for almost two years. I bolted it on, connected the hydrolic quick connect fittings and it works like it did when I took it off. I like that. I also am leary of using the electric winch with the engine off. I am afraid of running the battery down and not being able to restart the truck. It weighs more than the M715 and as you know, unless you are on the side of a mountain. A single person can not push start something that heavy. That is why I have been looking for a cheap PTO winch for years now. Unfortunatly, I live in the middle of the oil patch. The oil field companies use things until they are not able to be rebuilt. That and the fact that people around here consider winches something to make money with, not use for play, tends to keep the price up and the supply low.

To answer your question based on research and study, not on total experience. I would go with a PTO. Once they are set up right mechanically, they are simple, easy to maintain and easy to use. A side bonus is that they are very hard to unbolt and steal compared to an electric.