A winch system with a force cable that transmits electrical current and/or digital data to the load. For example, the force cable, including a power line and/or a signal line and includes at least: (i) a first portion extending from the load to the drum; and (ii) a second portion that is wound around the drum. If there is a power line in the force cable it is electrically connected to an electrical commutator by a rotating current path. If there is a signal line in the force cable it is connected in data communication to a data signal commutator by a rotating communication path. The commutator also has an input for receiving electrical current and/or digital data, as appropriate. The commutator transmits the electrical current and/or digital data from its input to the rotating current path and/or communication path. The drum defines an axial channel extending from at least one end of the drum along its axial direction, and current path(s) and/or communication path(s) are routed through the channel. There is a distribution box at a first axial end of the drum and the commutator is at the second axial end of the drum. The drum includes at least one radial channel that includes: (i) a first portion for receiving a force bearing member of the force cable from outside of the drum; and (ii) a second portion for guiding at least a portion of the current path(s) and/or the communication path(s) from outside of the drum to the axial channel.