Winch

[keeks]

What size winch do you guys use on your trailers for pulling on the car? I have a new warn 2500, but I don't think it's gonna be big enough. But I could get a snatch block and it might be.

[rubbinsracin]

We use a 3500. Pulls it fine. But uses a lot of battery power.

[merc123]

3700 Warn. Used it to pull a car that weighed 2600 pounds with no problems I can use it for multiple weekends before it would start to slow. Now I have a charger hooked to it so when the generator is running on enclosed it is charging

[Hooked Up]

Winch

I have a 2500# in my enclosed trailer with ramp overs and pulls car fine also had a 2500# on my wedge trailer and it was pretty steep it worked good.

[Dirtracer50]

I have used a 2000lb winch for my mod since 2008 and no problems yet. It's not fast but it gets the job done.

[keeks]

Great info everyone. Thanks. Slow is good, I'm slow.

[merc123]

A Honda Accord can pull a 9,000# load, slowly, but I would rather have a Dodge or Ford Diesel instead. Not because it will pull more but it was built for it.

Same goes with winches. You can spend $50 on a 1500# harbor freight winch that might last you the season, or better yet, the cable clutch can't hold the weight and the winch lets it roll backward onto a crew member. You can get a 3000# for $100 from harbor freight but I wouldn't buy that thing to throw at someone much less use it for pulling a race car. Take the weight of your car and multiply it by 1.5. That is the weight rating you need. 2300# car needs a 3400# winch. Are you pulling up hill (rampovers)? That will add some weight that would be needed. Once again, a 1500# or 2500# can do the job and might do it slowly but you're burning up the motor doing it.

Also, the rating you see on a winch is usually the rating with only 1 layer of line on the drum. The more layers you put on it the less rating it has. For mine with 1 layer it is 3700#. So for about the first 6 or 7 winds of the cable it is at 3700#. As the car pulls into the trailer I wind up with about 3 total layers on the winch cable and the pull rating has dropped down to 3170#.

With a 3000# winch the 3rd layer has dropped to 2460 and 4th layer is at 2250 which is probably less than what your car weighs and the winch is now straining.

Spend the extra money on a name brand winch (Superwinch, Warn) and get one that is rated for more than you are pulling. This is an investment in your trailer that should last you MANY years. You can buy a $50 winch every year or buy the right one for $250 (or less) that will last a lot longer.

[Barbecueboy]

A Honda Accord can pull a 9,000# load, slowly, but I would rather have a Dodge or Ford Diesel instead. Not because it will pull more but it was built for it. Same goes with winches. You can spend $50 on a 1500# harbor freight winch that might last you the season, or better yet, the cable clutch can't hold the weight and the winch lets it roll backward onto a crew member. You can get a 3000# for $100 from harbor freight but I wouldn't buy that thing to throw at someone much less use it for pulling a race car. Take the weight of your car and multiply it by 1.5. That is the weight rating you need. 2300# car needs a 3400# winch. Are you pulling up hill (rampovers)? That will add some weight that would be needed. Once again, a 1500# or 2500# can do the job and might do it slowly but you're burning up the motor doing it. Also, the rating you see on a winch is usually the rating with only 1 layer of line on the drum. The more layers you put on it the less rating it has. For mine with 1 layer it is 3700#. So for about the first 6 or 7 winds of the cable it is at 3700#. As the car pulls into the trailer I wind up with about 3 total layers on the winch cable and the pull rating has dropped down to 3170#.With a 3000# winch the 3rd layer has dropped to 2460 and 4th layer is at 2250 which is probably less than what your car weighs and the winch is now straining. Spend the extra money on a name brand winch (Superwinch, Warn) and get one that is rated for more than you are pulling. This is an investment in your trailer that should last you MANY years. You can buy a $50 winch every year or buy the right one for $250 (or less) that will last a lot longer.

Great info and reply.....

[LM14]

We had a 4500# SuperWinch under the ramps in our enclosed trailer. It sat under the right ramp and hooked to a pulley in the center of the floor. Ran it for 10 years like that and never a problem.

A lighter winch will pull it if everything is fine, but what if it's isn't a completely straight roller when you load at the end of the night. We've drug a car into the enclosed trailer with absolutely no rearend under the car and another time with a RF corner torn completely off. Your little winch won't do that.

We just put a 4000# SuperWinch on our open trailer.

You may get a couple years out of the lighter winch but the heavier one that cost a few bucks more will last way longer.

JMO,
SPark

[powerslide]

Around christmas time tractor supply stores run specials. I got a name brand 10k winch for $300. I know its not christmas but just keep your eyes open.

[1badlad]

amazon

4500 superwinch for $220.00 @ amazon.com
been using simular one under our wheel rampover left side. it has pulled our steel head latemodel in and out with no prolems for years. cars about 2400 lbs.

[hpmaster]

My 13 year old 2500lb Superwinch has been plenty for loading my 2400lb race car, a Dodge mini van and an S-10 4x4 pick up on my old wedge trailer and now in my enclosed trailer with ramp overs.

[Plantintaters]

My 50 year old winch pulls like hell but won't cook supper unless you charge her up good. Time to load the dishwasher.She hates to be called the dishwasher.

[grt74]

if it were me i would buy an electric winch,youll get tired of charging batts after a while,we changed to electric on the winch and lift,but youll have to fire up the gen when you want to use them

[merc123]

if it were me i would buy an electric winch,youll get tired of charging batts after a while,we changed to electric on the winch and lift,but youll have to fire up the gen when you want to use them

I have a battery box in the front of my ramp overs that runs the winch. I have aBattery charger sitting on the step inside the side door. It's plugged in and hooked to the winch battery. When the generator is running (I.e: sun goes down) it is charging the winch battery.