Trailer winch, Will this one work?

[Von]

I am thinking of adding a winch to my trailer for the times I need to tow a car. Seems I need one more and more, but I'm cheap so I can't seem find one priced right. Untill now!
here are the specs from harbor freight:12 VOLT PORTABLE ELECTRIC WINCH Recover vehicles, trailer your boat, pull stumps. Heavy duty winch gives you up to 6000 lbs. of pulling capacity for rolling stock, 2000 lbs. for straight pulling. Corrosion resistant housing with convenient carry handle. 3/4'' drop forged hook. Includes 30 ft. of 5mm heavy gauge cable and remote switch with 9 ft. 2'' lead.
* Line speed: 6 ft. per minute
* Hook size: 3/4'' opening x 4'' long
* Clamp: 9 ft. 3'' long
* Mounting dimensions: 8-3/4" x 4-7/8" x 3/16"
* Overall dimensions: 9" x 9-1/2" x 9"
* Not for overhead lifting ITEM 43331-3VGA$59.99Ê

ÊWill this work? and does anyone have one of these units that they are using? thanks for all replys.

 

[gem607]

I have one of the Harbor Freight units like the one pictured. It overheats after just a few minutes use and you must wait what seems like forever for the unit to reset. Don't waste your money on these. Buy a name brand unit. You won't be sorry.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Spend the same money on a hand cranked unit and have something worthwhile.
Harbor Freight = CRAP!!!

 

[mrcaptainbob]

I agree with gem. I used my son's. Not the same brand, but similar in capacity. May work better if used with a small block and tackle to relieve the pressure on the unit. As soon as the temperature switch kicks in, though, it's coffee and sandwich time. Not real impressed with it. Might be adequate for raising an engine in the garage, but pulling stumps? I don't think 'mine' would unless it was already out or the ground.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>Harbor Freight = CRAP!!!</font color=blue>

You can say that again. I went to our Harbor Freight store when it first opened. Never again and I toss the catalog when it comes straight into the can.

 

[Bird]

Of course, professional mechanics aren't likely to have any Harbor Freight tools, but I did get one broken impact wrench in for repair and learned from my parts supplier that the only place to get parts was Harbor Freight and they had an "800" number to call. Well, I called that number and don't remember how long I played telephone roulette, but I never did get to speak to a live human./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I just told my customer what parts were necessary and if he could get the parts, I'd be glad to fix it; he never sent it back to me./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[EdKing]

Von, I have a winch similar to the one you are looking for. It would work alright for pulling cars up on to a trailer provided the car rolls easily. I wouldn't try pulling stumps or even a sideways pull of a car. It works alright for a rolling load, but has trouble with anything heavier. Also be advised, it only has a friction style break, so be careful as it could slip letting anything you pull slip back when it is not pulling.

 

[gws]

Harbor freight can be crap. You have to take into account what your buying. Our habor freight store sells dewalt and a number of name brand items. Now I would stay clear on any HF handtool and be selective on other tools. If your looking for a once in a while use tool there fine. I have a $10 chineese grinder I use twice a year to sharpen blades. works fine for my use. I wouldnt even consider them for use more often.

 

[RanchMan]

I got a similar winch - got it @ Northern tools though. For daily/heavy use, I'd agree that this isn't the winch to get, but that hardly makes it a boat anchor.

I got (and use) mine for "Light Stucks" on the ranch - e.g. recovery of short distances to get traction, generally 4-6' of total pull. It's basically a "backup" for my truck since I don't have a winch mounted to it. (My Jeep has a frame mounted 12.5K Pierce, which I've yet to stall, but that’s an entirely different beast). If you're in a "heavy stuck" (i.e. deep sticky mud), the little portable won't have the power. Stumps? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Hmmm, I'd say that's "optimistic" to say the least. I've never even used a winch on a stump unless it was as an anchor to pull myself out, and even then, I much prefer a live tree w/ a trunk strap for safety. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Seems a lot of guys on this thread “hate” Harbor Freight, which, I’ll admit, surprises me a bit. While I'll agree that some of their stuff is prone to break, I've had extremely good luck with my purchases as a general rule, whether it be hand tools or power tools or other "products".

Yes, most of it's made in China or India or some other overseas country, but depending on the item, you can get some really good deals. Sure, most of it won't have the fit & finish of Craftsman/Makita/Snap-On/etc., but who cares as long as it works (at least that's my perspective).

I not trying to make this a "Love Harbor Freight"-a-thon, or anything like that, but I own both "pricey name brand" tools/equipment and some of the "ugly generic" HF equivalents too. If I had inherent "bad luck" with the HF stuff, believe me, they wouldn't get any repeat business from me. I'm not saying everything they make is "wonderful" or "pretty", but depending on the item, you can get some really good deals on items that perform just as well (and some times better) than the "designer" equivalents. (Which, as pointed out in another message, they sell as well.) If someone wants to “stay away” from HF, hey, that’s their call and to each their own. I’m just saying I have been very happy with my purchases (in general) from them.

Getting off the “Pro HF soap box”, I’d basically say if you are looking for a light retrieval winch where you have a loss of traction (i.e. not stuck) and a short distance to pull, the HF should work just fine. (90% of the HF stuff I buy comes via their web site, which has a very liberal return policy if you are unhappy with an item.)

I've used my little Northern Tools winch it to pull stuff on to my 18' car hauler, but realize that (1) it will take a LONG time (i.e. line retrieval speed and duty cycle), and (2) it is NOT designed as a heavy-duty item. 99% of the time, I just drive the vehicle on to it. If its “stuff” that needs to be put on to it, well, I use the FEL on the tractor or my cherry picker.

Good luck making your decision! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[micromike]

I regularly attend an auction house that has a contract with HB to sell scratch and dent and returns that can't be sold as new. Theyt bring in semi loads of stuff on pallets. There are TONS of those winches in every load. I agree you would be much better off with a heavy duty manuel winch. I got mine for $25 bucks from the auction and it works great. I also have a 9000i Warn winch for the real heavy duty jobs for the occasional need to winch onto the trailer, the "boat winch" works fine.

I"ve bought it all from HB (at the acution). Well, a lot anyway. Some are really fantastic deals and some of it is pure junk. Don't waste your money on the off brand grinders, drills, and electric or pneunamic tools. The name brand stuff and parts that are cast are usually ok.

Mike

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I guess you'll have to put me in the anti HF aisle.

They charge as much or more than the box stores for name brand tools.

Most folks that know me understand that I have entirely too many tools, character flaw of one flawed character.

I like Bosch. The way I buy Bosch is I go to the Bosch repair center, save a ton. But you never buy consumables like blades, bits, etc at the Bosch store. You see they're not allowed to cut the prices on those because of an agreement they have with the dealers.

When it comes to Porter Cable and Delta it's the same way. I go to the repair center and I've got some deals that would embarrass me to tell you about.

Now the Black and Decker aka Dewalt store hasn't been worth squat for tools but literally a wishing well for consumables on occasion. More than once I've picked up eighty to hundred dollar SDS Max bits for the hammer drill for fifteen to twenty dollars.

I use a lot of flap discs on the angle grinder. I figure to pay seven to eight dollars depending on brand. One time I went in to the Dewalt store and they had them for two bucks. We took that place down to the bare walls finding everyone they had. I ended up with fifty or so.

But I have yet to go into a store that specializes in cheap prices that can compare with the authorized manfacturer reps on prices on name brand stuff.

BTW I buy a lot of stuff on the gawd's will premise. I make an offer and if it's gawd's will for me to have it they accept my offer. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Ozarker]

So I'm guessing you wouldn't recommend the Central Pneumatic Contractor framing nailer they have on sale for $149.95. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I think you'll be sadly disappointed with the winch you describe. Something along the lines of a Warn Z3500 would probably serve your needs better so far as loading a car onto a trailer. I'm not sure about pulling stumps with one. I guess it would depend on the stump. I used a comparable winch by Superwinch with my car dolly for a few years and it worked adequately but had some shortcomings. That's why I went to a Warn 8000 for my trailer.

Based on my experiences I can tell you there are a couple features you should seriously consider for loading a car onto a trailer and hauling it. One is a clutch so you can pull the cable out manually rather than the much slower "power out" method. You'll really appreciate this in the blazing heat, bitter cold or torrential rain.

Another is a "brake" so that you can just use a couple simple tie-backs on the back and your winch on the front (don't forget the safety chains, though). I'm guessing if you get a winch with these two features you'll probably have a very nice winch with which you'll be quite pleased. It may not be as cheap as you'd like, but you'll be happy with it long after the price you paid is forgotten.

 

[Bird]

Ozarker, in all fairness, Ranchman and Gary are right; some of the stuff they sell is well worth the money and other things are junk (like a lot of other "discount" places). I still have a Central Pneumatic butterfly (3/8" impact) and a Central Pneumatic air hammer/chisel that I bought from Harbor Freight over 20 years ago, and they both still work. But they have been used very seldom. Neither of them has been used enough in over 20 years to amount to what most mechanics would use in 6 months. They are also far from being the most powerful tools in their class. And as you may have gathered, my big complaint is that if one ever fails or breaks, Harbor Freight is the only place I know of to get it fixed or replaced and I wouldn't bet on much success there.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

For my numerous auto projects, I use my assortment of Snap-On, Craftsman, and Husky tools and other than occasional rachet or screwdriver warranty replacement stuff they've been dependable for many years.
I also buy from HF, knowing that what I am getting is light duty, and that's OK. I just bought a complete assortment of tools from them to use as a spare set to keep on the trailer with the tractor. That way I don't have to drag all my tools with me every time we head for the property - much more convenient. Most of the time, any repairs are minor, and the HF tools are OK for that. Just keep their limitations in mind.
I do keep an eye out for some of their sale/clearance stuff. I just bought a 7200w/6500w generator from them with an 11 hp B&S Vanguard engine for $499 and free shipping. It's a Dayton generator carried by Graingers for over $1300. Works great and man it's nice to "carry" some electricity to power drills, saws, etc.

 

[fishman]

wroughtn harv,

I noticed you mentioned a Porter Cable repair center. Don't have one around here that I know of. Do you know of a source on the web for Porter Cable refurbs? Just curious. The stuff on Ebay is kind of pricey.

 

[Ozarker]

I have no doubt there are some really good deals on many things they carry.

 

[Turfman]

I have to agree with Bird. I buy some stuff at Harbor Freight. I realize that I use it, break it and chuck it. Stuff I really rely on I spend the money elsewhere. It was great when my uncle had a Mac Tool truck. I bought a multimeter for sprinklers at Harbor Freight. It was just what I needed. Use it hard and get it wet and when it dies I'm out $9.00.

It has it's place.

Turfman