I had to load a 4000 lb car on my trailer the other day with a pair of ratcheting tie down straps! A winch is an item that I've been thinking about for a while but has been at the lower end of the priority list since it would not be needed or used very often. Needless to say, it's moved up the list pretty far and is now close to the top.
This will be my first winch purchase and I would like to buy something that is decent quality that won't break the bank. So, what winch do you guys use or recommend for loading cars in or on a trailer that's reasonably priced?
Thanks in advance for any help or information, CJ.
Good quality car trailer winch for reasonable price???
Moderator: Team
-
- Pro
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:05 am
- Location: California
Good quality car trailer winch for reasonable price???
Last edited by BLACK BART on Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Arguing with someone on the Internet is like participating in the Special Olympics...Even if you win you are still retarded!
-
- Pro
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:05 am
- Location: California
Hi Bryan, I've looked at several different brands including Warn, Superwinch, Ramsey, Smittybilt, Tuff Stuff, and many other no namers. When I checked pricing on the Warn winches I just about shyt and fell back in it!
I've seen a couple deals on e-bay for a $375.00 Smittybilt 8000lb winch and a $345.00 Tuff Stuff 12500lb winch. Those prices include S&H and are to my front door. I know those winches have way more capacity than what I need, but they should last forever because they will never be "worked" enough to ever hurt them and the price seems reasonable. Anyone have any opinions on these for my application?
Thanks, CJ
I've seen a couple deals on e-bay for a $375.00 Smittybilt 8000lb winch and a $345.00 Tuff Stuff 12500lb winch. Those prices include S&H and are to my front door. I know those winches have way more capacity than what I need, but they should last forever because they will never be "worked" enough to ever hurt them and the price seems reasonable. Anyone have any opinions on these for my application?
Thanks, CJ
Arguing with someone on the Internet is like participating in the Special Olympics...Even if you win you are still retarded!
-
- Pro
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:05 am
- Location: California
Hi Dale, the open trailer 3200lb car situation is the same one I'm in with my car that I take to the track, so it's good to know a 3000lb winch may be marginal and a 5000lb winch hardly works to do the job.
Thanks for the input, CJ
Thanks for the input, CJ
Arguing with someone on the Internet is like participating in the Special Olympics...Even if you win you are still retarded!
- af2
- Guru
- Posts: 7014
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:42 pm
- Location: Grass Valley, CA :Northern Foothills
CJ.BLACK BART wrote:Hi Dale, the open trailer 3200lb car situation is the same one I'm in with my car that I take to the track, so it's good to know a 3000lb winch may be marginal and a 5000lb winch hardly works to do the job.
Thanks for the input, CJ
The rolling is what they rate them at. I go by double the rolling weight and never had problems. I dead lift compressers at 200 lbs and have a 2500 lb winch that dead locks!?? Just trying to help!
GURU is only a name.
Adam
Adam
-
- Pro
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:05 am
- Location: California
Well, I've decided to go with a Smittybilt XRC-8 and make my own custom mount so that I can remove it when not in use. After a bunch of research and taking into consideration what you guys had to say, I figured I would just go captain overkill so I would never have to worry about winch capacity.
I found a guy on e-bay that sells the XRC-8 for $319.99 delivered to my door, so I'm going to try this one. The smaller winches made by other big name companies are still in the $300.00-$500.00 range and half the capacity with no better features from what I can tell.
I'm hoping this one will last a long time just because it will never be worked near its capacity. If it does happen to be a real turd and grunts and groans due to lack of power I guess I can always use a snatch block to double its capacity and reduce its speed by half. I'll be real disappointed if an 8000lb winch has any trouble at all pulling a 3200lb car on a trailer.
Thank all you guys for your input and help, CJ
I found a guy on e-bay that sells the XRC-8 for $319.99 delivered to my door, so I'm going to try this one. The smaller winches made by other big name companies are still in the $300.00-$500.00 range and half the capacity with no better features from what I can tell.
I'm hoping this one will last a long time just because it will never be worked near its capacity. If it does happen to be a real turd and grunts and groans due to lack of power I guess I can always use a snatch block to double its capacity and reduce its speed by half. I'll be real disappointed if an 8000lb winch has any trouble at all pulling a 3200lb car on a trailer.
Thank all you guys for your input and help, CJ
Arguing with someone on the Internet is like participating in the Special Olympics...Even if you win you are still retarded!
I made a quick-disconnect mount for my winch since things like that tend to walk away around here. I've been meaning to make a carry handle for the winch, though.
A friend of mine has one of those big 9-car transporter rigs. He gave me his old control pendant when he bought new winches. There's a 30-foot wire between the pendant and the winch. This lets you walk alongside the car with one hand on the steering wheel and one on the winch, to load it without help. I'm told some of the newer winches have little TV-style remote controls with no wires, but I haven't seen one in person yet. Might be worth keeping a spare remote and batteries on hand...
A friend of mine has one of those big 9-car transporter rigs. He gave me his old control pendant when he bought new winches. There's a 30-foot wire between the pendant and the winch. This lets you walk alongside the car with one hand on the steering wheel and one on the winch, to load it without help. I'm told some of the newer winches have little TV-style remote controls with no wires, but I haven't seen one in person yet. Might be worth keeping a spare remote and batteries on hand...