question about electric winch for car trailer

rfuerst911sc · 08-09-2009, 08:42 AM

I recently purchased a aluminum car trailer and I'm thinking about installing a 12 volt electric winch to pull cars up onto the trailer if they are not running. My question is how do you power these winches? Do you run a second set of cables from the tow vehicles battery or do you install a second battery on the car trailer? I would prefer to run seperate cables from the existing tow vehicle battery to a junction box of some sort near the hitch and then when needed plug a pigtail from the winch to this box. Does that make sense ?

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I recently purchased a aluminum car trailer and I'm thinking about installing a 12 volt electric winch to pull cars up onto the trailer if they are not running. My question is how do you power these winches? Do you run a second set of cables from the tow vehicles battery or do you install a second battery on the car trailer? I would prefer to run seperate cables from the existing tow vehicle battery to a junction box of some sort near the hitch and then when needed plug a pigtail from the winch to this box. Does that make sense ?

I just have an extra battery that I hook the clamps too, but most of the time I just use a hand crank one. I have both..

URY914 · URY914's Garage

I use a separate battery for my trailer winch. I also use this battery for jumping the car if needed.

If you run wires back from your truck battery they will need to be a large wire gage to handle the load of the winch. And you need to run them thru your truck to trailer connector and the connector may not be up to the task of handling the load.

MotoSook · 08-09-2009, 08:57 AM

A separate battery is nice if you have the space and can handle the extra weight of a second battery. What I normally do is use the jumper cables (always in my track kit) to get the reach I need to the winch controller cable of the I don't leave the controller wired up and the winch is covered upwith an aluminum pan (upside down) unless I'm moving. Make sure you install the winch with large fender washers on the bottom side of the deck, 'cuse most likely you won't be drilling through the frame if you put the winch in the center and up far enough to be out of the way.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

Thought about this before, we were thinking about doing it backwards, with the winch at the race car (instead of the trailer end), and powering it by the car's battery.

At the time the race car had hookups for a tow bar on the front bumper, so it would have been easy to figure out a way to mount it.

Never got around to it though, when we load the car with it not running, (on in this case, done blowed up) we just use a come-a-long.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcon5

Thought about this before, we were thinking about doing it backwards, with the winch at the race car (instead of the trailer end), and powering it by the car's battery.

At the time the race car had hookups for a tow bar on the front bumper, so it would have been easy to figure out a way to mount it.

Never got around to it though, when we load the car with it not running, (on in this case, done blowed up) we just use a come-a-long.

Loaded cars more than ones like that

I have a mount so I can remove when not in use & swtich them around, plus a Come-A-Long for those Just in case times

Dantilla · 08-09-2009, 01:09 PM

I had a 2" reciever welded to the front rail of my trailer, and have a 9000 lb winch in a cradle mount. When I need it, I slip the cradle into the receiver.

I've done both- Long cables from the truck's battery, and a second battery at the trailer. A second battery is more convenient, but both work well.

For light cars, it's fastest to simply get help and get a bit of speed up and push it onto the trailer. Gotta be careful not to go too fast and push the car too far.

greglepore · 08-09-2009, 03:09 PM

You can always run some heavy gauge wires to a plug on the tow veh and charge a battery on the trailer while towing....

rfuerst911sc · 08-09-2009, 04:54 PM

Good info so far. Is a winch rated at 3,000 lbs. good enough to pull a 911 or 914 onto the trailer? I'm guessing yes. Reason I ask is I have a Harbor Freight coupon for a 3,000 lb. winch for $59.99 at that price it's a disposable.

vash · vash's Garage

i have seen those plug in ports that WARN makes. you install it on your bumper. then you can just plug in a winch. bonus, they make jumper cables that plug in too.

MotoSook · 08-09-2009, 05:03 PM

The one I have is from HF. I've had it for several years and no problem. I even leave on the trailer over the winter with my cover on it. I don't know which model it is. But it was about $60. Remember you are not lifting just pulling. If a few guys can push a car onto a trailer so can a 3000 lbs winch geared down.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I would be leary of a cheap winch just because we had one hang in the on and darn near broke the boom on a truck and kill us. Warn makes a good winch though...

dad911 · 08-09-2009, 07:39 PM

I recommend the Anderson PowerPole connectors if you are going to make up cables:
http://www.powerwerx.com/

I used a smaller, tractor size battery in my trailer, but it was only good for 2 or 3 winches before recharging.

Now I just strategically park the trailer downhill and enlist a few friends if necessary.

MotoSook · 08-10-2009, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I would be leary of a cheap winch just because we had one hang in the on and darn near broke the boom on a truck and kill us. Warn makes a good winch though...

A winch is just a simple electric motor with gears and a cable... It's a very basic device. You should have a disconnect (or method to disconnect) just about all electrical devices. That would have minimized your problem.

The real problems one can't prevent is the cable breaking, mounts breaking or the motor burning out. All are problems common to all winches...know the potential problems and be prepared.

rfuerst911sc · 08-10-2009, 03:13 PM

Today I purchased the 3000 lb. HF winch for $60.00. I'll read the instructions to see what power they recommend and go from there. I appreciate all the feedback it's been a great help. Thanks

NY65912 · 08-10-2009, 04:49 PM

I've got a winch mounted on my Trailex.

I ran a pair of heavy gauge wire, black and red. I believe it was 6 ga stranded wire, direct to the battery of my tow vehicle with a circuit breaker on the positive side. I only leave the wires hooked up to the battery during the track weekend and remove it afterward.

On the rear bumper side I have quick disconnects ala welding lead connectors, female ends, black/neg red/pos. The male ends are on the wire leads coming off the winch. Mate them together and go. The ends tuck behind my bumper out of sight for storage.

It works great. I start the tow vehicle, hook up and winch away with the remote control.

I can load/unload with ease by myself.

rfuerst911sc · 08-10-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY65912

I've got a winch mounted on my Trailex.

I ran a pair of heavy gauge wire, black and red. I believe it was 6 ga stranded wire, direct to the battery of my tow vehicle with a circuit breaker on the positive side. I only leave the wires hooked up to the battery during the track weekend and remove it afterward.

On the rear bumper side I have quick disconnects ala welding lead connectors, female ends, black/neg red/pos. The male ends are on the wire leads coming off the winch. Mate them together and go. The ends tuck behind my bumper out of sight for storage.

It works great. I start the tow vehicle, hook up and winch away with the remote control.

I can load/unload with ease by myself.

That is what I want to do. So you went to a welding supply house for these quick connect fittings? Where did you purchase the 6 gauge wire? Any pics of your quick connect? Thanks

924slover · 08-11-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

I just have an extra battery that I hook the clamps too, but most of the time I just use a hand crank one. I have both..

ditto i have a spare battery box and car battery that is bolted to my car trailer

TimT · 08-11-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

That is what I want to do. So you went to a welding supply house for these quick connect fittings? Where did you purchase the 6 gauge wire? Any pics of your quick connect? Thanks

You can get everything you want right here... just like Alice's Restaurant, you can probably get connectors like that at trailer or RV places also...

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=BATTCONNECT

Hey Mike how are you feeling? better I hope...

NY65912 · 08-12-2009, 02:38 AM

I purchased the wire locally from an electrical supply house.

I keep various sizes of Lenco connectors as we do welding here at my shop.

http://www.brweldingsupplies.com/images/UP%2010%20century%20plug.jpg

The link TimT posted is great. Although I did start out by using battery connectors as shown on the Pegasus catalog page but had trouble with getting a good connection.

Tim, thanks for asking. I'm better than I was but not as good as I'd like to be. I hope you are well.

Just had an MRI to see if there is damage done to my spine and pelvis due to the Crohn's. I've had terrible back pain since the early spring.

Hope to see you at the track, but I doubt I'll be driving. I'm thinking of selling off everything, car and trailer.

Mike