Running power to utility winch on trailer

[1TonOfSh!t]

Looking to put a mile marker 2.5 utility winch on my snowmobile trailer. Question is can I run the power through the 7 pin connector or will the amp draw be too much for the oem gage wire to handle? I'm feeling "no" but i want to hear if anyone has done if before with no problems. Thanks

[nissancrawler]

Good god, no. I ran 2 gauge to a battery on the trailer, along with a master disconnect in case something went haywire.




You wouldn't need as big of wire, but the dinky wire in the connector won't work.

[EricCartman]

Do you know the current rating for the winch? I checked on MileMarker.com, and I couldn't find the spec. If I had to guess... I would say it was ~ 58Amps (700w/12V).

That would be way more current than a 7 pin connector could handle.

I've never done this before... but I would think you would either want a battery in your trailer, or some sort of quick disconnect, like the ones shown here: http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-W...5148&t_pl=4590

Good luck,
Cartman

[chris demartini]

You could mount a battery on the trailer and use that power circuit from the 7-pin connector to charge the battery while you're driving.

[jhama78]

Originally Posted by chris demartini

You could mount a battery on the trailer and use that power circuit from the 7-pin connector to charge the battery while you're driving.

X2 on this idea.

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by chris demartini

You could mount a battery on the trailer and use that power circuit from the 7-pin connector to charge the battery while you're driving.

x3!

nissancrawler, I like your disconnect switch/controller box!!

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by chris demartini

You could mount a battery on the trailer and use that power circuit from the 7-pin connector to charge the battery while you're driving.

As long as you wire it correctly because you wouldn't want to try using the winch with that engaged because it'll pull from that wire just like it's doing from the on board batter and smoke the system. You need to have a switch inline so you can break that connection before using the winch.

[massxj]

what about a small "charger" like one on the brake away kit?
Would that work to keep from overloading the 7 pin

[89smurf]

Just wire a relay into the charge wire for the trailer battery. Truck starts, relay kicks in and starts charging. Truck turns off, relay opens and isolates batteries. Just don't winch with the truck running in this case, obviously.

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by 89smurf

Just wire a relay into the charge wire for the trailer battery. Truck starts, relay kicks in and starts charging. Truck turns off, relay opens and isolates batteries. Just don't winch with the truck running in this case, obviously.

OR wire a relay into the winch controller which kills the + line from the truck when the forward or reverse button is pressed on the winch controller. That way you can never screw up.

[89smurf]

Originally Posted by Soundguy

OR wire a relay into the winch controller which kills the + line from the truck when the forward or reverse button is pressed on the winch controller. That way you can never screw up.

Ah, touche. I like your idea better.

[s10er8]

Unplug the trailer connector when you winch. problem solved

[woodchuck2]

I bought the 30' jumper cable set up from Northern Tool and cut off the clamps. I wired it directly to one of my batteries and ran it along the frame of the truck and the quick connect hangs next to the trailer plug. The car trailer has a 2500lb winch on it with a 750CCA marine battery and a quick connect harness. If i use the winch i just plug in the quick connect, no problems pulling and i have never had the battery drain down when winching. The little winch can pull on a 4k car single line with no problems. I winched on a 75 3/4 ton Chevy 4X4 loaded with a seized rear wheel but i had 3 snatch blocks. Still pulled it on. Not bad for a $89 Harbor Freight junker.

[89smurf]

Originally Posted by s10er8

Unplug the trailer connector when you winch. problem solved

As simple as that is, I like stuff that's trick. And relays are about as trick as I get

[Soundguy]

Originally Posted by s10er8

Unplug the trailer connector when you winch. problem solved

I wouldn't do that, what if you're loading something on the trailer at night on the side of the road? You don't want to have to turn off the running lights to use the winch.

[s10er8]

I couldn't think of a scenario where you would have to have trailer lights while you winch but that is definately one.

[binksman]

Originally Posted by chris demartini

You could mount a battery on the trailer and use that power circuit from the 7-pin connector to charge the battery while you're driving.

I've got a Mile Marker 8k lb winch mounted on my car trailer that I use to pull draggers and scrap onto the deck. I got a large deep cycle battery in a tool box on the front of the trailer that is charged by the 7 pin connector from the truck. No relays, no switches- 2 years of heavy use and I've never run the battery dead or burned any wires. My drive to the scrap yard charges the battery enough that I can reel in the line the rare times the battery is used often enough to run low. 90% of the time, I don't even run the battery low so that's not really an issue.

For your size winch and the pulling weight of those sleds, I think you'll be fine with a decent sized battery charged by the 7-pin

[89smurf]

Originally Posted by binksman

I've got a Mile Marker 8k lb winch mounted on my car trailer that I use to pull draggers and scrap onto the deck. I got a large deep cycle battery in a tool box on the front of the trailer that is charged by the 7 pin connector from the truck. No relays, no switches- 2 years of heavy use and I've never run the battery dead or burned any wires. My drive to the scrap yard charges the battery enough that I can reel in the line the rare times the battery is used often enough to run low. 90% of the time, I don't even run the battery low so that's not really an issue.

For your size winch and the pulling weight of those sleds, I think you'll be fine with a decent sized battery charged by the 7-pin

What gauge wire are you using for your 7th pin charge wire?

[fabricator]

Would this be easy enuf
with a battery ?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10339301

[nissancrawler]

Originally Posted by 89smurf

Just wire a relay into the charge wire for the trailer battery. Truck starts, relay kicks in and starts charging. Truck turns off, relay opens and isolates batteries. Just don't winch with the truck running in this case, obviously.

Originally Posted by Soundguy

OR wire a relay into the winch controller which kills the + line from the truck when the forward or reverse button is pressed on the winch controller. That way you can never screw up.

I just used a heavy diode. I also put a switch in line, and shut it off when winching. The diode is just in case I forget.

One switch for charging, one for flashers (I can leave my trailer on the road with lights flashing, if need be), one for loading lights I'm putting on the trailer.

[nissancrawler]

Originally Posted by fabricator

Would this be easy enuf
with a battery ?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10339301

Maybe, but I would kill that thing the first day I put it on the trailer. I can guarantee a boomer/chain/safety chain/winch hook/something would smack the bitch.

[1TonOfSh!t]

Over the weekend i found the 12v source in the 7 pin...it's about a 12 gage wire. I thought for sure it was a little thicker than that. looks like i'm runnin wire the length of the truck. thanks anyway guys.

[GMGuy]

http://www.andersonpower.com/product...onnectors.html

Easy to mount, easy to use high amperage connector.

Alex.

[RustoleumWhite]

Or just run it off the (car type) battery on the trailer. Toss your charger on it every once in a while.


Whats what I do with mine, mostly cause I have been too lazy to rewire the trailer to charge from the truck or rig up some other means. Only when I've let the trailer sit for a LONG time with no use on the battery (winching etc) without charging it has dead battery been an issue. And for your smaller winch and loads (sleds weigh allot less than a junk car/truck) you should be golden.

[phillyzj]

how about a dc-dc battery charger? not the cheapest option, but it would work and it's simple.

http://www.powerstream.com/DCC.htm