Winch

[Glenn B.]

Thinking about an electric winch for my trailer, anyone tried the ones from Harbor Freight?

Glenn Butler
49107

[Gary S.]

Re: Winch

Just put a 4500 Traveller from Tractor Supply in my 24 ft enclosed trailer two days ago. Easy install, 47 feet of cable, 6 ft remote cord, just bolted power cables to my garden tractor battery, works smooth, lots of power. Has 30 day no questions asked return warranty. Think it cost $160ish. But made in China. Would be nice if it had remote cord long enough to reach end of trailer.

[Jim L.]

Re: Winch

I wouldn't cheap-out on a winch. When you need it, you really need it. You want to have a high quality winch in your trailer.

And note that the rated pulling force of a winch is measured/specified with a completely empty spool. As the spool fills with cable, the actual pulling ability goes down. Take away: Buy a higher rated winch, much higher in fact, than you think you need.

Jim

[Stephen L.]

Re: Winch

I installed a SUPERWINCH S4000 in my 24 ft enclosed trailer.It's been in use since 2005, with NO problems.
I winch my car in/out each time, as I elected to NOT install an "escape" door in the trailer. It makes it easy to load to a repeated location as I don't change the rear tiedown lengths. I just hook the tie downs into the hole in the frame just ahead of the rear wheels when the car is partially in the trailer. I then finish winching the car into the trailer until I've pulled against the rear tiedowns. Then I tie down the front and the car is positioned for best towing.
I did extend the control wiring using a 3 conductor extension cord (cut the plugs off) which I installed by removing the old cable and replacing.
I mounted an automotive 12v battery in the trailer for power. I wired the battery into the trailer wiring so that the battery is charging as I drive down the road. The battery also serves as the e-brake power source.
.

[Jack H.]

Re: Winch

Like Stephen, I have a Superwinch brand that I'm happy with. I'd also agree with not "cheaping out" and getting something name brand. I know the Warn brand is very popular with the off-road crowd and they have some pretty extreme use cases.

The other thing I did with mine was to mount it on a 2" receiver hitch insert plate. I then had a mating 2" receiver hitch receptacle mounted on my trailer, another one mounted on my 4 post lift, a 3rd one mounted to the floor of my garage, and obviously the winch could be "plugged in" to any truck/RV/whatever that has a receiver hitch. That way the winch is portable/modular and can be used in many different useful applications. Very handy.

To answer your specific question, my brother-in-law bought one of the HarborFreight winches and has used it several times without complaint.

[Glenn B.]

Re: Winch

Thanks to ALL, Stephen, nice set up & 67!

Glenn Butler
C-2 67

[Bill M.]

Re: Winch

I would not recommened anything electrically operated from Harbor Freight.