trailer winch

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famous bob

famous bob

mopar misfit
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My 1991 12 volt trailer winch went south today, wondering what everyone is using on open car trailers. Mine was a little weak , kinda looking at a 6000 # straight line pull type, don't want to pay too much, don't use it very often !
 
I used a 5000 lb Badlands winch from Harbour Freight. Fabbed a 1/1/4" receiver so I can take it off when not in use to keep it out of the weather. Works great.
 
We put a 5,000 lb. Badlands winch on a friends race car trailer this spring. He has been very happy with it.
 
6,000 LB procomp mounted in the rear bumper of our shop truck. Easily pully cars on to the trailer.


I know i got a better pic but this is what i found.

20190516_220128_zps2vitszni.jpg


Heres a better shot.

20190512_095516_zpsqfyu0pli.jpg
 
I don't know why you need anywhere near that much unless you are skidding a truck on there with no wheels. I would FIRST SUSPECT a power issue. You need a good ground path as well as a good power path.

I just use a cheap HF I think it's a 2500 and sometimes use a snatch block. sometimes I use the block to slow it down for better speed control.

Mine "ain't pretty." I built a 2" receiver mount, on the trailer and winch. I can mount the winch to the trailer, front or rear of the Cummins, or I have a cheap sleeve I bought at HF which allows hooking a chain to the "tail" of the winch mount, so it will function "in line" with a chain or cable

Only ***** about the little HF is that the drum is too small and you must really be careful to level wind the wire, or it will bind on the cross-ties

img_1042cs-jpg.jpg


img_1043cs-jpg.jpg
 
This has Horrid Freight accessory has come in handy.........to put the winch "in line"

XMNNtv7.jpg
 
I put a 12,000 lb HF on my 22 ft flat bed. Was $300 total on sale. First time I used it was to pull a 4x4 Dodge extended cab with a locked up rear axle on to the trailer. Worked great but it really sucked the juice out of the batteries.
 
We don't need 6,000 LBs. Pull In the rear but we also dont build to the minimum requirements.

Wont be the first time i had to drag a stuck in the dirt, on flats with wheels that dont roll "new car" on to the trailer.

:BangHead::BangHead:

Heck, i just posted on another thread that i would buy the 41 dodge from another member.

If that dont work i will turn the truck around and use the 12,000 LBs on the front with a snatch block!

:)
 
Cope said:
6,000 LB procomp mounted in the rear bumper of our shop truck. Easily pully cars on to the trailer.


I know i got a better pic but this is what i found.

View attachment 1715371455

Heres a better shot.

View attachment 1715371456
Click to expand...

Cope what is the function of the bar on the back of your truck bed. Reminds me of a spoiler on a 70 Superbird. But I doubt if that has the same function.
 
Its for carrying steel. Its basically a "lumber rack" i use it to strap 20' sticks of steel to.

You cant see it but the bed has a headache rack up front that keeps the steel from hitting the roof and the rear "rack" keeps it somewhat level.

It also removes with four bolts to haul stuff that needs the full bed.
 
We did end up making a little "tailgate" because short sticks wont strap to the rack.

Also it stops folks from asking what year our chevy is.....

20190730_214601_zpsu6dxell1.jpg
 
Thanks guys . I pulled a 4x4 dodge up on the trailer a few yrs back, the "guessing" 2500 pound winch was a little weak. It felt a little weak back when I sucked a wrecked Taurus up on it that had the wheels knocked almost off.
I have a pair of 6-8 gauge wires run from the front of my ram to the back , w/ a heavy 12 volt plug in mounted to the bumper, and alligator clips on the front , to hook them to the battery, only when I use it , has worked "good?" so far ---.
I`m thinking a little stronger winch , like I mentioned earlier , 5-6000 pounds . It has to be weather proof too, may set in the okla. weather for 2 yrs. w/o being used------------
I don`t use it often, but when u need one , u need one . BOOMER !
 
I had the 3000# HF "marine" winch for almost 10 years before it finally gave me enough problems to replace it. It's semi-weather resistant and I left it attached to my car dolly, outside for most of those 10 years. I'd rate that a success.

I replaced it with the HF 2500# "regular" model, similar to the one above.
It is absolutely powerful enough to flat pull a car and to get it onto a dolly.
In fact, it is way too fast, as mentioned above, and the brake is not as good as the marine model.
I also agree about the winding. Kind of a PITA. I use a crow bar and pivot point to help.
However, the third time I used it, the remote failed (you can ONLY get them as remote controlled) and the HF replacement costs 2/3 the price of the winch! I had to rewire it for direct battery connection on the spot. I think I am just going to build a control box with an on/off and a reverse.

To do it over, I'd just get the marine model again.

@67Dart273 - how are you using that hook receiver for the winch?

I'd also like a pass through hitch mount but I'm not paying $100 for one.
 
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9,000 # electric winch ( Ramsey) on my wedge ramp truck.
vs. 1962 Valiant that has been sitting probably 30 years or more.

All four tires flat and hubs frozen. Will not roll.
Cut down 6" dia. trees and cleared brush to get close to it.
Barely move single line. Had to use snatch block.
Only second car l ever remember in 12 years of owning the truck that l had to use a snatch block on.
But as Bobby Bare sings...... " but l got her boy. So that makes me the WINNER"

PTO. and hydraulic driven winches without a doubt more powerful but a snatch block definitely helps.
 
we have used a cheapo harbor freight 3000 to drag just about everything on the trailer. even a broke down skid steer. my guess is those long leads are killing you.
we have a battery in a box we hook up to the winch with less than 5 feet of wire.
 
If you are loading a vehicle with fully inflated tires the 2500 will work. But the time you go for one like OldModLover you will wish you had a bigger one. I broke my 8000 doing stupid stuff. It was pulling hard and all at once twisted enough to pop out of gear permanently
 
vitamindart said:
we have used a cheapo harbor freight 3000 to drag just about everything on the trailer. even a broke down skid steer. my guess is those long leads are killing you.
we have a battery in a box we hook up to the winch with less than 5 feet of wire.
Click to expand...

That's the way mine was when I bought the trailer, setting so much , I`d forget to charge the battery and take it in , in the winter , freezing kills them around here if left toset fot a couple of yrs.
 
Harbor Freight/Badlands. I have had Ramseys, warns, and now HF. The HF has given no problems and it's the only one I would spend money on from here on out.... Can't beat it for the value....

JW
 
I had a cheap harbor freight atv winch on my open trailer for years, until I sold the trailer, it was mainly used to pull jeeps on it, as long as the jeep would roll, it would go on the trailer.
I always kept a red dog come along in the tool box to do it the old fashion way if necessary.

My car trailer has a 8000 lb warn I stole off one of my jeeps, it will drag anything, I keep a marine battery mounted to the trailer, and keep it on a battery tender when not in use.
It is always ready to go.

Another winch I have is a UTV winch from tractor supply, I think it is rated for 3500 lbs, I have a storage garage, that needs ramps to put a car in it. It drug my non engine, 70 challenger in the building with no effort. I will defiantly buy another of those winches if needed.

And another summit atv winch, mounted to the floor of my main garage, to pull non operating cars in, yes with a couple of people you can push it in the main garage, but most of the time I am running solo, so why not.
 
sireland67 said:
I had a cheap harbor freight atv winch on my open trailer for years, until I sold the trailer, it was mainly used to pull jeeps on it, as long as the jeep would roll, it would go on the trailer.
I always kept a red dog come along in the tool box to do it the old fashion way if necessary.

My car trailer has a 8000 lb warn I stole off one of my jeeps, it will drag anything, I keep a marine battery mounted to the trailer, and keep it on a battery tender when not in use.
It is always ready to go.

Another winch I have is a UTV winch from tractor supply, I think it is rated for 3500 lbs, I have a storage garage, that needs ramps to put a car in it. It drug my non engine, 70 challenger in the building with no effort. I will defiantly buy another of those winches if needed.

And another summit atv winch, mounted to the floor of my main garage, to pull non operating cars in, yes with a couple of people you can push it in the main garage, but most of the time I am running solo, so why not.
Click to expand...

Gottcha on the solo , same here . I have made a bid on a 6000# "rolling/5000# marine/2000#dead weight" , portable , w/ remote and removable power leads to the truck battery ,type deal.
Sounds like it will fit my needs. Can keep it behind the seat when not using .
 
famous bob said:
Gottcha on the solo , same here . I have made a bid on a 6000# "rolling/5000# marine/2000#dead weight" , portable , w/ remote and removable power leads to the truck battery ,type deal.
Sounds like it will fit my needs. Can keep it behind the seat when not using .
Click to expand...

A marine battery mounted to the winch beside it will out preform.
 
sireland67 said:
A marine battery mounted to the winch beside it will out preform.
Click to expand...
I suppose so, but don't want an extra battery to take care of-------------altho it might be a good idea to have an extra for the barracuda !
 
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