Trailer Winch Wiring

[kenmac]

When I bought my wire, back in 1995. I didn't know anything about E trailer. I bought copper leads like is used on a welder ground. I bought round copper ends and soldered them on the cable.
I have removed this cable each time I sold a truck and bought another. This is my 3rd truck this cable has been on

 

[jones6780]

I just use a jump box for my winch.

 

[N80]

I just use a jump box for my winch.

What's that?

Kenmac, eTrailer is an amazing resource. Not always the best prices but lots of good info and how-to's. And I've found out doing all this research, sometimes the prices that seem high at first aren't all that high when all things are considered. Even the winch that I bought was a good bit more than the ones at Harbor Freight and Northern Tool but none of the cheaper ones had power reverse or solenoids.

 

[MossRoad]

battery jump box - Google Search

 

[kenmac]

yes, I like them . I have purchased from them in the past. I don't know if they were around in 94-95. I sure didn't know about them back then.
I had a 3500 lb winch on an ATV once. It had forward , reverse, free spool and I believe solenoids . I bought off the net. seems like it was Gorilla winch brand.
I have had this 8K Ramsey on my trailer since B-4 95. It's been a very good winch

 

[Redneck in training]

First check the specks to see what amps the winch takes. You will need prety heavy duty wiring to run it. Winch on our Mule takes about 60 amps at low load and about 300A at full load. I would strongly suggest separate battery on the trailer charged when connected to the wehicle or something like starting cables run directly from vehicle battery to the winch. You could get a DC circuit breaker/kill switch instead of fuse.
3 Amp 12v Dc Circuit Breaker Replace Fuse 3a 12vdc - Vehicle Amplifier Fuses - Amazon.com

 

[Diamondpilot]

I just use a jump box for my winch.

Same here. I took a piece of plastic cutting board and mounted bolts through it for the positive and negative connection and mounted it near my winch.

 

[N80]

I assume a jump box is good for other things, but if I already have a spare battery would there be any reason to get a jump box for running a trailer winch? If I didn't already have a spare battery I can see how a jump box would be the way to go over buying a new battery that cost about the same.

 

[jones6780]

A jump box is portable and easy to take anywhere to jump off a vehicle, lawn mower, anything 12V. Has a light and small air compressor, usb slots and cigarette lighter plug. Charges on 110V. I already had the box and it was cheaper than a battery. 700 amp max for $50

 

[MossRoad]

I assume a jump box is good for other things, but if I already have a spare battery would there be any reason to get a jump box for running a trailer winch? If I didn't already have a spare battery I can see how a jump box would be the way to go over buying a new battery that cost about the same.

The jump box comes with cables and usually some sort of charge cable as well, all things you're thinking of buying. Plus, its portable from vehicle to vehicle to vehicle and your battery... not so much.

 

[N80]

Update on eTrailer winch order. Well, I was singing eTrailer's praises a little too soon. Ordered my winch on 6 March. Get email saying it will ship in 4 days. No problem, shipping was free on orders over $99. Get an email today saying that it wouldn't ship until 17 March. eTrailer web site does not tell you if item is backordered or not. I reply saying that the item will probably not arrive before I will need it and I might have to cancel the order and ask if there is anything else they can do.

They reply, "I am sorry that you were under the impression that the item was in stock."

I was not under any impression at all. They do not show inventory levels. I was only under the impression it would ship in 4 days. The second part of the reply is that I can pay $14.95 to have it shipped expedited direct from the manufacturer (which is amazing because I'm sure this thing was made in China).

They were very polite but in my book this is poor service and they should eat the $14.95 shipping cost.

I haven't made up my mind but not happy at all.

 

[MossRoad]

"I am sorry that you were under the impression that the item was in stock."

No donuts at the donut shop either.

That kind of thing irks me. Good luck.

 

[N80]

The emails I'm getting from them are very polite and quick but I'm still peeved. $15 is not that big a deal but I still don't know if that will get it to me any sooner. I checked on their site and if I'd elected the $8.00 shipping option is was guaranteed to get to me in 3-5 days. I've asked her what would have happened if I'd elected to do that.

And I'm not just being impatient. I need this for towing my track car to an event in 2 weeks and it will probably take me a bit of time to get it mounted and all wired up.

The next issue is that if I cancel this order I've got to find something else. To get a comparable Warn or SuperWinch will cost about $100 more with no wireless remote. Most of the winches this size also have solenoids that mount in the vehicle, not on the winch. I need it on the winch because it will be mounted in different locations. The wireless remotes for the SuperWinches cost $200. The one for the cheap winch I ordered was $35 and needs no wiring. You can get basic units on Amazon for under $20 but have to be wired into the solenoid unit.

Sigh.

I'm about to give up and just buy a heavy duty boat trailer winch.

 

[MossRoad]

I wonder how that 3-5 days international works?

I just had an item shipped from England. It got from there to NY in 36 hours.... and into the hands of USPS, where is sat for several days, then took about 9 days to get from NY to here.

IF your car breaks, will folks in the pits help you push it onto the trailer while you wait for shipping?

 

[hawkeye08]

I've been looking at this one... Smittybilt 97412 XRC Winch - 12000 lb. Load Capacity Amazon.com: Smittybilt 97412 XRC Winch - 12 lb. Load Capacity: Smittybilt Products: Automotive

 

[hawkeye08]

Daughter ordered receiver hitch, bike rack and roof top carrier from Etrailer, came today instead of next week... She was surprised, pleasantly. Hope yours works out.

 

[bcp]

Long ago, when the only available winches on Jeeps were PTO or old bomb hoist or aircraft starter motor winches, people sometimes used these 2500lb boat winches.



I have one to put on my trailer, and with a pulley block, can't imagine anything I can't pull up. No wire, no dead batteries, and one cranking and one watching is the remote.

Bruce

 

[kenmac]

have you tried E Bay. there are many winches listed. Made in china as I'm sure the one you are buying is as well.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Go to Rural Kings Web site. I have bought 3 winches off them.

Chris

 

[Relic]

To the lad who wants to pull a race car with a 3400# ATV winch, realizes that 3400# is on the first roll of the cable on the winch drum.Just a thought, don't know if you knew that or not.