Any suggestions for trailer power winch ?
- Thread starter bgreene
- Start date
Destroyer
God
I'm older and wiser.. I use electric all the time. Powerwinch makes a great winch, as do Dutton-Laminson (Strongarm) winches. DL's are more money, both do a great job. Stay away from the cheapo China winches you find on eBay. They work for a while and then one day they stop and you have a pile of worthless crap. Spend the money once and be done with it.
I like the idea that I can stand to one side and control my boats rear with a line as I remotely control the winch pulling my boat up onto my trailer. It's fast, easy, and safe. Plus, Most times I can keep my trailer wheels out of the water, thereby extending the brakes life.
All my winches have 5/16's aircraft cable. Since my hands never touch the cable I never have to worry about fishhooks. (If you take care of your cable you don't get them in the first place).
Run a heavy wire from the positive post on your battery back to the rear of your tow vehicle. (I used a #6 awg wire. Probably overkill, but I felt with a long run I wanted a heavier wire for less electrical resistance.) Run a second heavy wire from the frame of your tow vehicle to the same spot as where you terminated the positive wire. Get yourself two 50 amp Anderson quick connectors (The type they use to connect industrial fork lifts to their chargers They are quick, safe and make it impossible to accidentally cross connect your wires). http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-QUICK-DIS...ts_Accessories&hash=item3f16e9aa8b&vxp=mtrPut Connect one to the wires you ran from the battery and frame, and put the other one on the wires leading from the winch. Now all you have to do is plug the winch in when you want to use it, and unplug it and keep the wires out of the way when you aren't using it. Nice, tidy and clean.
I like the idea that I can stand to one side and control my boats rear with a line as I remotely control the winch pulling my boat up onto my trailer. It's fast, easy, and safe. Plus, Most times I can keep my trailer wheels out of the water, thereby extending the brakes life.
All my winches have 5/16's aircraft cable. Since my hands never touch the cable I never have to worry about fishhooks. (If you take care of your cable you don't get them in the first place).
Run a heavy wire from the positive post on your battery back to the rear of your tow vehicle. (I used a #6 awg wire. Probably overkill, but I felt with a long run I wanted a heavier wire for less electrical resistance.) Run a second heavy wire from the frame of your tow vehicle to the same spot as where you terminated the positive wire. Get yourself two 50 amp Anderson quick connectors (The type they use to connect industrial fork lifts to their chargers They are quick, safe and make it impossible to accidentally cross connect your wires). http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-QUICK-DIS...ts_Accessories&hash=item3f16e9aa8b&vxp=mtrPut Connect one to the wires you ran from the battery and frame, and put the other one on the wires leading from the winch. Now all you have to do is plug the winch in when you want to use it, and unplug it and keep the wires out of the way when you aren't using it. Nice, tidy and clean.
captpete13
Senior Member
I have the made in China winches on my trailer. They have been used and abused literally hundreds of times over the past few years. Especially with Sandy clean up. They are 9000 lb truck winches with a dedicated battery mounted on the trailer charged by the truck thru a quick connect. That is probably overkill for a V. But earlier this year I installed some Harbor Freight ATV winches to one of the trailers at work. Even though it is rated for 5000lbs I was skeptical. But they work great. I have already moved at least 40 boats with them without problem. They are quiet,fast and cheap.
Destroyer
God
Pete, if you like China winches.. great. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But you're comparing Apples to Oranges. A 9000 lb truck winch is hardly in the same category as a 2000 or 3000 lb marine winch. If you are talking about Harbor Freights "Badland" series of vehicle winches, like this one http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...-with-automatic-load-holding-brake-68144.html I cannot agree or disagree with you since I've never owned one. My brother has one on his Jeep and he swears by it, but then again, he hardly ever uses it, so who knows? Just remember that you're talking about a vehicle winch, not a typical marine style trailer winch that looks like a Powerwinch. Nor did I mention Harbor Freight in my post, rather I mentioned eBay and the cheap Chinese winches like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELECTRIC-MA...Parts_Accessories&hash=item41786d7a43&vxp=mtr Like everything else in this world, if you buy quality you get quality, and if you buy cheap you are simply asking for trouble. I was merely encouraging readers to stay away from the "El Cheapo" style winches out there. And I'll stand by that statement. You get what you pay for. I'd be willing to bet money that none of the winches you have cost anywhere near $50-$60. Even the 5000 lb Harbor Freight units are regularly $249.99 and the 9000 lb is $399.99... and that's for Harbor Freight items. Look at some of the other brands out there and you can easily double those figures.
captpete13
Senior Member
Destroyer,
I'm not trying to pick apart your post. I have used the Powerwinch and the LD winches before. And for my personal use they were insufficient. Slow,noisey and expensive. For the occasional recreational use they are fine. In my opinion I have found the vehicle winches to be better. I would love to put a $1000 Warn winch on my trailer but it's not in the budget for me.
I'm not trying to pick apart your post. I have used the Powerwinch and the LD winches before. And for my personal use they were insufficient. Slow,noisey and expensive. For the occasional recreational use they are fine. In my opinion I have found the vehicle winches to be better. I would love to put a $1000 Warn winch on my trailer but it's not in the budget for me.
Destroyer
God
Totally agree. You're doing professional work, constantly, and it's completely understandable that you need a good, high quality winch (or winches). And as you say, for the occasional boater like myself, my Powerwinch is more than sufficient. My caution was just that it's best to avoid the cheap winches, because in the long run they will cost more than buying a good high quality unit.
Question could be - what about for salt water use ?
Are winches meant for vehicles going to stand up to cranking in a salt water covered cable.
Corrosion being the issue.
I called Superwinch Company, and they advised that their open style winches likely to corrode, and that their cable is also just galvanized.
Destroyer
God
Well, I can only speak for my own experience. But I've really never had any real trouble with my Powerwinch(s). Only trouble I every had was a spur gear that stripped out on a really old used unit, and I was able to get a replacement from Powerwinch. I have always made it a policy that when I powerwash my boat at the end of the day the trailer and the winch cable are among the items that also get washed with sweet water. Actually Greenie, what I would do is shop Craigslist until you find one, get it and see if it's to your liking. You can always find them for a hundred or less, and that's far cheaper than buying a new one for several hundred. Or, go the route like MJ and CaptPete did and buy an automotive style winch. Either way, if you keep it clean you'll get years of usage out of it.
Oh, and nothing wrong with galv. cable. No rust, good strength. What's not to like?
step up here
Senior Member
Power equipment will never last as long. Armstrong will last your lifetime!
Destroyer
God
Power equipment will never last as long. Armstrong will last your lifetime!
Perhaps, but my electric winch will get my boat up on my trailer and away from the loading area much faster than a hand crank, with lots less effort, using only
a single person instead of one cranking and one guiding the boat. I'll stay with the powerwinch. (Although a bit salty wench does sound inviting at times)
Destroyer
God
I see people doing it all the time, but usually I'm only one person on the boat, so it would be almost impossible for me to do without delaying lots of people that also want to use the boat ramp.
Stinky_Hooker
God
I drive mine on with or without someone. My boat is small now but I done it with my 18 Wellcraft too. Back down drive it up, lean over bow and hook it or hop off and hook it and winch the last couple feet. Leave the motor running and in gear when you get down. Simple.
Destroyer
God
You guys have to understand that up here in the Northeast, especially in NJ, there are only a limited number of launch ramps and (literally) thousands of boaters using them every day in the summer. So I'd have to tie up to the dock, walk far away to get my truck, wait in line to use the ramp, back down, then walk over to my boat, start it up and ....hopefully... drive it on in the first try... then get out of the boat, tie it up, get into =my truck and drive it up the ramp...all the while incurring the hateful looks of other boaters that are waiting to either launch or retrieve their boats.... Much easier to just pull the boat onto the trailer with the winch and drive away... less maneuvering = less time spent on the ramp. It's a little crowded around here.
Ive got a power winch on my trailer( no name on it) but I just use the hand crank on the side of it. When I got the boat trailer it was already on it and the PO said it didnt work. I removed the cover and found some broken wires and fixed them. It works fine but I've never run the wires to the back of the truck. Like Destroyer Ive got industrial connectors for the hookup, just need to take time to hook it up. When loading my V, I usually back the trailer about 2/3 into the water and use the bow rope to guide and pull it all the way on except maybe two feet. Hand crank it the rest of the way up. Friend of mine use to drive his on, came in one day and hit the keel roller bracket and tore the keel all to hell. Took me a week to fiberglass and gelcoat it to get it back right for him.
The way I launch is very quick......... using the stem of the trailer, and the bow line set in a triangle around the bow cleats. Anyway, I wrap the line on the trailer stem, then let the boat just roll off the rollers in a slow controlled release by taking a loop off the line till it starts to slip.
Several times a season I hear " wow, you must have done this a few times" ...........
It's the cranking back up where I could use a power winch because I don't submerge my trailer wheels......the rear axle water only to just below the hub if possible.
Sure I can still crank a boat up no problemo, but there are hot days when I'd rather push a button !!
Several times a season I hear " wow, you must have done this a few times" ...........
It's the cranking back up where I could use a power winch because I don't submerge my trailer wheels......the rear axle water only to just below the hub if possible.
Sure I can still crank a boat up no problemo, but there are hot days when I'd rather push a button !!
Destroyer
God
I do almost the same thing for launching. Only difference is I hook the line to the bow eye. I might try that triangle thing you mentioned.
And yes, on hot days when you're tired from a long day on the water, pulling a string or pushing a button is SOOOOOooooooooo much easier. I'll leave the cranking to the young guys.