how to select a winch

[nwarky]

I am planning to purchase a winch for my open car hauler. This is for maybe 8-10 uses annually, not for commercial daily use. Intend to use it to load my GN on to the trailer. Would anyone please share their knowledge to help me purchase the proper size winch. Basically I don't want to waste money on a winch that is too big yet certainly don't want one of marginal capacity for my needs that will simply burn out after using it twice. What power rating, suggested weight rating, etc. should I get? Any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

Dean

 

[watz]

The rule of thumb is 3 times vehicle weight.

However, I use my ATV winch a couple times a year (4,500 pounds) and it works... I wouldn't sell well, but it does work

 

[ghall]

I have winched my GN on my open car trailer probably 50 times with this winch below. It has worked perfectly every time and has no problem pulling it on the trailer. It is a little slow, but no more than i use it, it does great. I made quick connect electrical connections that stay on my truck and i just plug in and go when i use the wench. It has a 9500 lb. rolling pull capacity.
12V Power In, Power Out Winch - 3000 Lb. Capacity

 

[novaderrik]

why not just drive the car up onto the trailer?

 

[ZNix]

why not just drive the car up onto the trailer?

If he is like half the people on this site... His car is probably broken more than driveable .

Joking,
Zack

 

[Pronto]

I have winched my GN on my open car trailer probably 50 times with this winch below. It has worked perfectly every time and has no problem pulling it on the trailer. It is a little slow, but no more than i use it, it does great. I made quick connect electrical connections that stay on my truck and i just plug in and go when i use the wench. It has a 9500 lb. rolling pull capacity.
12V Power In, Power Out Winch - 3000 Lb. Capacity

I have a question about the electrical connection. Can the trailer plug power the winch or do you need a dedicated power line to power the winch? What connections did you use? Thanks.

 

[TurboDave]

Trailer plug wiring would never handle that kind of current.

 

[Slow91z]

The cleanest way I have seen to hook on up so far is put a battery on the trailer and hook up the 12v on the trailer plug to charge the battery...Charges going down the road but the battery takes all the current when winching.

 

[nwarky]

Just for the record and to satisfy curiosity I have been quite lucky to date and have always been able to drive the car back onto the trailer. Luck will not be adequate forever. Also the clearance of my leading edge (also have a TTA) is about 1/8 inch and I will have more control loading the car at the slower speed using the winch.

 

[krom]

I have a 8000 lb Harbor Freight China made I bought new off of Craigs list for $150. Connects directly to a battery that I bring when I use my trailer. Perfect power for a cheap price.

 

[cruzn57]

I have a 15 yr old Ramsey 8000lb winch, and have never regretted buying that much capacity.
I've watched others with a smaller winch struggle to load their cars, for the few $$ more it costs to go big,
I'd say give your self some extra margin!

 

[rmar]

how to select a winch

When I was younger I selected my winches solely off of looks. But know I am older and wiser
I have expanded my criteria to include wealth and the ability to cook. :biggrin::biggrin:

Hope this helps.

 

[Pronto]

The cleanest way I have seen to hook on up so far is put a battery on the trailer and hook up the 12v on the trailer plug to charge the battery...Charges going down the road but the battery takes all the current when winching.

Yes, that is what I was thinking of. I know the plug itself is not capable of handling the draw.
My other thought was a solar powered battery maintainer. Seen them on Amazon for about $24.

 

[1fast6]

I have been off roading for years. for the money you can't beat a champion winch. yeah, warn and ramsey are the best but if you don't want to mortgage the house get a champion. been wheelin one on my jeep for years.
1 and a half times vehicle weight is all you need. so if you round up and say our cars are 4,000 then a 6K will be fine.

Also remember rolling is alot easier than pulling something out of the mud. If you want to get creative and really take the stress off you winch you can look into some block and tackle.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Hehehe...

When I was younger I selected my winches solely off of looks. But know I am older and wiser
I have expanded my criteria to include wealth and the ability to cook. :biggrin::biggrin:

Hope this helps.

Only problem I have w/ mine, is that the plug in is worn out.....

Actually, I have a 3500# Superwinch w/ a snatch block on the cable. That cuts the amp draw on the motor way down. Slower, but less electrical load
I have #10 wiring running from the main fuse box, to the hitch area. A gray lift truck plug is mounted at the hitch. That circuit also charges the break away batt.

 

[INEEDAGN]

Another way to power the winch is a set of LONG jumper cables. You need a good heavy set with good clamps, and ideally you'd want to build a bracket of some sort on the winch with long/beefy studs to clamp the leads onto. Also if you have a GM truck you'll want a dual terminal battery with top posts so you don't have to clamp on those stupid @ss side terminals. Bonus of this design, it works no matter what truck is hooked on the trailer. The extra battery method works but IMO is unneeded expense to buy/maintain the extra battery.

Another very common practice is to mount the winch on a 2" square reciever tube for easy disconnect and storage out of the weather, plus if needed you can slide it in the hitch on the truck itself to drag crap around. Of course you'll need to weld an outer sleeve on the trailer.

 

[gnxtc2]

The cleanest way I have seen to hook on up so far is put a battery on the trailer and hook up the 12v on the trailer plug to charge the battery...Charges going down the road but the battery takes all the current when winching.

^^^^^What he said ^^^^^

This is the way I have mine wired. I used a deep cycle marine battery. I use a 3000lb SuperWinch that I got from Summit Racing.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[nwarky]

Thanks for the advice to all that chimed in. It is greatly appreciated.