Upgrading the Trailer Winch

[DRM]

As soon as search is working, I will link to the thread I started a couple years back about choosing a winch for my trailer.

Some may remember I settled on one of those (claimed) 6000 lb portable units that you get from Harbor Freight ($49 on sale) and can drop it over a ball hitch.

It worked ok for what it was - and the thermal reset overload was a nice winch saver, but was a real PITA waiting for it to reset when you got it warm... and you WILL get it warm.

A few weeks back I was at the local Sam's Club and saw they had the Champion line of winches on the shelf. One was a 2000lb ATV verson, the other was a fullsize 7500lb version.

http://www.cpeauto.com/de7500lb_winch.htm

http://www.cpeauto.com/images/winches/de7500lb_winch.jpg

I decided to give the 7500lb winch a shot for the trailer.

Price was $298 plus tax, and it comes with a 35" mounting channel/tray, roller fairlead, and snatch block.

Driving to Chattanooga in the morning to pick up another parts truck, so I will report back tomorrow night as to how the winch does in it's first outing.

I will also post up some of the specs from the owners manual.

FYI: I found a couple of reviews of the 2000lb version online, and I *think* I remember seeing a review of the fullsize winch too on a Canadian site, if I can find it again.

http://www.atvtrips.ca/reviews.php#champion

[ScottFJ40]

Sweet. I put one of the HF 8000 lb. winches on my trailer, so far, so good.
Pretty sure it was on sale for $249.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/40700-40799/40764.gif

[Mechanos]

A friend of mine gave me a Ramsey DCY-200R Low Mount Industrial Worm Drive winch that he took off a wrecker in a salvage yard. It needs some work and I was able to buy all the parts needed to get it working again for about $100. I still need to buy a new cable for it though. One of these days when I get off my slack ass, I'll put it back together and mount it on my 22' lowboy gooseneck.

[DRM]

Pretty much - wow.

Can't believe I fought so long before putting a real winch on the trailer. No more come-along, or crappy winch overheating... And I won;t miss that nonsense at all :p

[ScottFJ40]

Good onya David.

[DRM]

Thanks.

It was refreshingly nice to back up to a parts rig, run cable, load it up, tie it down - and be done with it.

Time will tell if it holds up, so I will report back after some time and use is thrown at it.

[ScottFJ40]

My cheapo HF has held up very well. I've pulled all kinds of trucks, jeeps, and cars onto my trailer with it. It's very nice not having to jury rig something up.

Who makes it, or rather, where was it made. I think mine was made in China, I'm ashamed to admit.

[pcorssmit]

Anyone running one of the 2k models from Sams?

Pete

[DRM]

Anyone running one of the 2k models from Sams?

Pete

When I was searching Google - I found quite a few comments about people running them on ATV's and the like... They seemed pretty happy with them. My Sam's had them for $89, but I saw online people saying they were finding them on sale at Cosco for like $59.

I suggest you check out the specs on the winch (Rated line pull, load, duty cycle, etc.) and compare that to winches you *know* will work.

I may go back and pick one up for a rear suspension winch for my 3 linked 4runner.

BTW - Saturday morning I noticed the local Tractor Supply Co. had the 5k Champoin winch for the same price I paid for the 7500 version... go figure.

If I had not gotten this one, I do believe the Warn Works 1700 would have been my choice. Proven Warn reliability, add a snatch block for 3400 lb pulling power (more than enough for loading a trailer with a rolling load) and you can bet them for about $150.

[n9emz]

You can't get a winch that's too big, but you can damned sure get one that's too small; but, too small for one trailer might be just enough for another. For example: My wheeling buddy Will bought the cheap-o Harbor Freight 2,500-lb winch for his trailer....
http://home.bluemarble.net/~n9emz/My%20Buddy%20Will/LF%20Hauler.JPG

Wouldn't do the job of pulling a rolling Gen2 Ranger std cab onboard. Trailer's deck is too high off the ground and his 7' ramps weren't sufficient to gentle out the transition angle from ramp to deck. That's the killer part that really heats up a winch even when using a snatchblock.

On the other hand, he used the same winch with my trailer and it was an altogether different story.
http://home.bluemarble.net/~n9emz/Latest%20Trailer%20Score%2005/LRTrailer.JPG

You can make out with about anything that just says "winch" on the shipping carton for easing about any rolling load onto a low trailer with easy ramp to bed transition. If you anticipate dragging a no-wheeler onto any trailer, or a rolling load onto a high trailer with fawked up transition point, you need a "real" winch. Another tip for those who have all angle iron constructed ramps. You might consider adding full length expanded metal to your ramps....that really sweetens them up.

[DRM]

Some good points there... My 16' has no dove tail, and the ramps are the angle iron with the gaps - there is an impact when winching.

[welndmn]

How do you guys Run power?
DO you use those large connectors like this?
http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L0A78911D0F9001004952051+M37+ENG

[n9emz]

How do you guys Run power?
DO you use those large connectors like this?
http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L0A78911D0F9001004952051+M37+ENG

I can't get that link to work...script problems. When I use my 8K winch on my trailer, I just throw a spare 900 A/hr battery on the deck and connect the winch's stock leads (0 or 00-ga closed end brass terminals) to the clamping bolts of stock terminal ends on the battery posts.

Wil has run commercial welding leads the full length of his R20 towrig from his dual battery setup and they're terminated with the standard twistlock connectors found on welding leads. These dealios:
http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/acatalog/Dinse-Plugs.jpg

[Travis Waldher]

A friend of mine gave me a Ramsey DCY-200R Low Mount Industrial Worm Drive winch that he took off a wrecker in a salvage yard. It needs some work and I was able to buy all the parts needed to get it working again for about $100. I still need to buy a new cable for it though. One of these days when I get off my slack ass, I'll put it back together and mount it on my 22' lowboy gooseneck.

Any idea how much that cost him from a wrecking yard? (not even sure where I could find a wrecking yard that has wreckers)

[ScottFJ40]

How do you guys Run power?
DO you use those large connectors like this?
http://order.waytekwire.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L0A78911D0F9001004952051+M37+ENG
I also just carry a spare battery to run my trailer winch.

[DRM]

For this past weekend, I just sat a spare Optima red top on the trailer and hooked it up when I needed the winch.

I think what I will do is build a battery box, then re-wire the trailer to take advantage of the charging lead from the harness to keep that battery fresh when needed.

[Mechanos]

Nope.... he sent it to me and only charged me the shipping from Chicago. If I know him, he probably got it for $20-$25. It's rated at 8,000 lbs.

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

I just got one of these :)

and plan to mount it this weekend if I can find some free time..

http://www.ramsey.com/img2/winches/tr5000.jpg

Specs:
http://www.ramsey.com/winches/tr5000.html

and here is how i got it :)
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=383579

[ScottFJ40]

For this past weekend, I just sat a spare Optima red top on the trailer and hooked it up when I needed the winch.

I think what I will do is build a battery box, then re-wire the trailer to take advantage of the charging lead from the harness to keep that battery fresh when needed.
From what I've been told, the charging lead on your 7 way will NOT charge a car battery property, only a brake-away. I have only been told this by people at a trailer place, so it's second hand info.


SAM maybe you might think about painting your trailer, holy crap!

[n9emz]

I just got one of these :)

and plan to mount it this weekend if I can find some free time..

http://www.ramsey.com/img2/winches/tr5000.jpg



Ken.....you S-U-C-K....you lucky dog, you. But I still love ya and congrats again, my brother. :flipoff2:

[n9emz]

SAM maybe you might think about painting your trailer, holy crap!

Henh-henh....I received the 1-Step Rust Converter, but I'm held up because the sandblasting crew at work can't get to it yet; and Will's using the damned thing still. All the planets line up and the blasting crew doesn't complete the project, I'll get it done next month. :D

[64Trvlr]

From what I've been told, the charging lead on your 7 way will NOT charge a car battery property, only a brake-away. I have only been told this by people at a trailer place, so it's second hand info.

I have an Optima to run the winch on my trailer and I haven't had any problem keeping it charged using the lead in the 7 way plug.

[ScottFJ40]

I have an Optima to run the winch on my trailer and I haven't had any problem keeping it charged using the lead in the 7 way plug.
How did you set that up? It's good to know it can be done. Like I said, 2nd hand info.

[ddestruel]

From what I've been told, the charging lead on your 7 way will NOT charge a car battery property, only a brake-away. I have only been told this by people at a trailer place, so it's second hand info.


SAM maybe you might think about painting your trailer, holy crap!


This is correct, though it will charge a little what you will find is over a year or two depending on how much you use it the battery will never get back up to full charge and will slowly die prematurely. i went through numerous batteries in 6 months before realizing that teh wire was not transfering enough amps even on long trips.

[Mechanos]

Hmmm.... I would think that it would transfer more than a trickle charger would. A good day of driving (~10 hrs) ought to be enough to top off the battery (and then some) if all you used it for was to winch one vehicle up onto the trailer. Now I could see if you did some extensive winching that it could take longer to top off the battery.... but what do I know?

[DRM]

You gotta think - most trips you aren't winching, but you will still be charging, so if you tow much at all you should be just fine.

Then again, I could occasionally throw the charger on it just to be safe.

[ScottFJ40]

You gotta think - most trips you aren't winching, but you will still be charging, so if you tow much at all you should be just fine.

Then again, I could occasionally throw the charger on it just to be safe.
With my trailer battery, I just throw it on the charger now and thenm because of what I was told. Is there a way to actually find out if the center pin will actually fully recharge a battery?

[TR]

get a clamp style ampmeter and measure it.

[ScottFJ40]

get a clamp style ampmeter and measure it.
I'm an electrical imbecile. Where do I measure, at the battery while it's being charged?

[Mechanos]

get a clamp style ampmeter and measure it.
By "clamp style", if you mean the inductive type (like the one in the pic below) that you open the loop and clip it around the wire... that won't work. Inductive ammeters only work on AC, you'll need an inline ammeter to measure DC.

http://www.grainger.com/images/products/4X221.JPG

[reklund5]

Adding a simple small solar panel to the trailer keeps the battery juiced up just fine. I would run one along WITH the charging lead in the 7pin connector, if I had the coin to set my trailer up properly. Using a come-a-long to drag junk up my crap angle iron ramps sucks. Any thought to adding something OTHER than expanded steel to the ramps? It tends to bow in the middle and kinda recreate the low spots on the ramps after some time...

Ryan

[ScottFJ40]

Adding a simple small solar panel to the trailer keeps the battery juiced up just fine. I would run one along WITH the charging lead in the 7pin connector, if I had the coin to set my trailer up properly. Using a come-a-long to drag junk up my crap angle iron ramps sucks. Any thought to adding something OTHER than expanded steel to the ramps? It tends to bow in the middle and kinda recreate the low spots on the ramps after some time...

RyanGreat idea on the solar panel, I think I will go that route. Thanks.

As for adding ANYTHING to my own angle iron ramps, I'll pass, them bitches are heavy enough!

[n9emz]

Adding a simple small solar panel to the trailer keeps the battery juiced up just fine. I would run one along WITH the charging lead in the 7pin connector, if I had the coin to set my trailer up properly. Using a come-a-long to drag junk up my crap angle iron ramps sucks. Any thought to adding something OTHER than expanded steel to the ramps? It tends to bow in the middle and kinda recreate the low spots on the ramps after some time...

Ryan

I thought about having some sheets of aluminum diamondplate cut and the ends bent over to lock onto the ramp's crossbars. Shouldn't add that much weight and ought to stow okay with the ramps.

[reklund5]

I thought about having some sheets of aluminum diamondplate cut and the ends bent over to lock onto the ramp's crossbars. Shouldn't add that much weight and ought to stow okay with the ramps.


Good idea :) I'll have to look into that. I'm also going to extend my ramps another 16" or so, in order to get my Supra on the trailer... That beech is LOW. Anyway, when I rebuild the longer ramps, I'll look into some 1/4" aluminum diamond plate... Maybe use some good sized rivets to hold it onto the angle iron frame?

Ryan

[n9emz]

Good idea :) I'll have to look into that. I'm also going to extend my ramps another 16" or so, in order to get my Supra on the trailer... That beech is LOW. Anyway, when I rebuild the longer ramps, I'll look into some 1/4" aluminum diamond plate... Maybe use some good sized rivets to hold it onto the angle iron frame?

Ryan

Know what you mean....I had to load my Camry and even though it's a dovetail trailer it's still a squeaker. I had to put a paving brick under each ramp and another one out in front of the ends of the ramps to keep from scraping.

[pcorssmit]

When loading low cars, I put the rear tires of the tow rig on a pair of ramps, like the ones they sell for oil-changes, etc. It puts the whole trailer deck at a better angle.

Pete

[Mechanos]

Good idea :) I'll have to look into that. I'm also going to extend my ramps another 16" or so, in order to get my Supra on the trailer... That beech is LOW. Anyway, when I rebuild the longer ramps, I'll look into some 1/4" aluminum diamond plate... Maybe use some good sized rivets to hold it onto the angle iron frame?

Ryan
That defeats the purpose of the winch. Just drag the fawker up on there. :flipoff2: :laughing:

[reklund5]

That defeats the purpose of the winch. Just drag the fawker up on there. :flipoff2: :laughing:

I would, but I paid extra for the hangs-extra-low 4" downpipe on the Supra. :smokin:

Back to the topic of upgrading the winch- any luck with an ATV winch?

Ryan

[Joe_W]

Some may remember I settled on one of those (claimed) 6000 lb portable units that you get from Harbor Freight ($49 on sale) and can drop it over a ball hitch.

It worked ok for what it was - and the thermal reset overload was a nice winch saver, but was a real PITA waiting for it to reset when you got it warm... and you WILL get it warm.



You were so damn proud of that deal too :D

Saw those Champion winches at Sam's, looked like good deal

[DRM]

You were so damn proud of that deal too :D

Saw those Champion winches at Sam's, looked like good deal

Yep - and I used that winch to load dead vehicles at least 10 times too. I just had to get used to waiting for the thermal fuse to reset.


I really wish someone would pick up one of the 2k Champoin winches and see what it can handle.

[TexasBlake]

btt. I picked up a 2.5k Harbor Freight Winch to use as a trailer winch and was wondering how everyone's solar panel chargers are doing? I dont plan o nusing the winch a lot. Mostly just loading up my jeep if it's seriously dead, or picking up the occasional dead parts truck from some redneck's field.

[xfaktor]

I have the 2k champion winch on my trailer.

It's slow as hell. But hey, for 50$ it better than using a come-alone..

I always use the pulley.. I loaded:
Jeep TJ on 35"
Civic 3dr
Audi quatro who was missing a front wheel + brake rotor

BUT I wasn't able tu load a jeep wagoneer 1980 with 4 flat tire.

[Jrod-13]

Wil has run commercial welding leads the full length of his R20 towrig from his dual battery setup and they're terminated with the standard twistlock connectors found on welding leads. These dealios:
http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/acatalog/Dinse-Plugs.jpg


My uncle does the same thing on his gooseneck, he has a pair of those welding leads in the bed of his truck, that connects to the pair of 1300amp cat batterys in the trailer, to charge them, and provide extra power.
With 4 batterys powering the winch, it has no problems winching up just about anything.

[cruzer75]

yeah i just went though this with a dumb 1K super winch with snatch block i couldn't get any of the trucks i bought on the trail ... I had to have the guy help me tow them up...it sucked ass. I found a 9K superwinch for 100.00 plus shipping that needs to be rewired...i am pretty set on going for it now that i just went through that PITA this weekend.

Stew

[Ken Carter / BRUISER]

hahahah Look who just won an Awesome Winch :)

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422004

[n9emz]

I'm pretty happy with my MM PE8000.

[77'/85'scottspecial]

If you ran a sufficient gauge wire from the alt. to a plug big enough for the wire, would that charge a battery on the trailer? If you just think about it, there would have to be a way to do it. Right?

[Haole]

If you ran a sufficient gauge wire from the alt. to a plug big enough for the wire, would that charge a battery on the trailer? If you just think about it, there would have to be a way to do it. Right?

Of course you can. You just want to make sure that it's disconnected/fused when the winch is in use. It'll get fried fast otherwise.

[77'/85'scottspecial]

I thought it could be charged, I was thinking I have seen a couple guys set up like that, but then they just plugged it into their dual battery setup on the truck when they had to winch something that took more than the single batt. on the trailer.