Why winch?

[hrcarver]

A few folks have recommended that I have a winch mount added if I was having a trailer built. I can not see why this could be useful. How could this be useful on an equipment trailer?

 

[MESSMAKER]

You gotta be kidding.

 

[hrcarver]

I must be missing something.

For the off chance that the tractor breaks to the point where it is immobile? That is the only possible reason I can think of. That wouldn't be a easy load with a winch, but I suppose much easier than without one.

 

[RobertN]

For broke down stuff, like a tractor or a car. I havehepled haul a couple cars with mechanical breakdown. Also known of folks that rebuild/restore old tractors, cars ect. Some have not run for decades, have flat or or no tires ect.

Yes, I helped "winch" a car on a trailer using chain binders. We did not have a come-along or anything, so we used what we had. Inch by inch... That was a pain in the patootsie.

 

[RollTideRam]

I guess if you are never going to haul someone else's junk, Don't add it. I have hauled several vehicles for family and friends. A winch sure beats pushing. JC

 

[hrcarver]

Holy crap! Winches are expensive! Is there a decent hand type that can do 6k rolling?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Are you serious? I put a winch on my trailer and use it all the time. I have used it to rescue cars more than a dozen times. I have helped my neighbor out 3 times alone with his GM truck. Once with a transfer case, the next time a in tank fuel pump, and the last time was a starter. I have also used it to rescue a broken down tractor, pull up implements, drag pallets forward, ect. I just went with a Harbor Freight unit and its been on there for 6 or more years with no issues.

Chris

 

[rjkobbeman]

Just the other day I had to come-along my riding mower into my small utility trailer (wouldn't start). This is smaller stuff mind you, but the idea is the same.

Once you have a winch, you will be surprised how often you will use it. I brought home some sod once and I used my come-along to pull the pallet farther forward in the trailer. Little stuff like this is comes up all of the time.

 

[wvpolekat]

As soon as people find out you have a trailer that will haul their broke down junk, they come out of the woodwork.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am not so sure you need 6K rolling. I have a 4K rolling unit from HF, gave $150 for it, and its pulled up a full size Dodge 1500, a Chevy 1500, a diesel Suburban 2500, a Tahoe, and numerous full size cars. It has also pulled up a 8N with a 6' Bush Hog on it that was dragging due to the tractor not running and no way to lift it.

Chris

 

[Bill_C]

You can even buy a smaller winch and use a snatch block to double the pull. This is a pulley you put on the object being pulled--you run the winch cable through the pulley, then anchor the hook end back on the trailer. Now there's effectively 2 lines pulling on the object, so you get twice the line pull. So if your winch can only pull 1500 pounds direct pull, it now can pull 3000--albeit at half the speed...

And yes the winch can be quite handy. I too have recovered cars, loaded my box blade on the trailer with it....

 

[careyo63]

That was a big plus even has a 10' remote on the trailer I own now. Had to go out and winch up a some cars in my younger days by hand. Even with a few guys it's not very fun Late at night on the side of the road. Not much to it with one.

Carey

 

[countrybumpkin]

I too use mine all the time, I have a 8000 lbs winch mounted inside a tool box along with a battery, the battery is hooked up so it charges anytime hooked to the truck. Also I keep all my chains and straps in it out of the weather. One other thing I added was a wireless remote for the winch and use it instead of the wired controller, makes loading a vehicle a one person job.

 

[careyo63]

Wireless Really now thats Cool. And I thought I was big time with two Ports. One towards the front and the other in the dove tail :thumbsup:

Carey

 

[grnspot110]

I have a "portable" elec. winch & a center tie-down hook on my 16' trailer, have loaded a "dead" JD 1020 w/loader with it.

My smaller trailers have hand winches. ~~ grnspot110

 

[20 20]

Holy crap! Winches are expensive! Is there a decent hand type that can do 6k rolling?

Hud-son has a very tough hand winch, I own one and use it for everything. It is not one of the cheapo's you'll find at the big type stores.

 

[mbrule]

Get the Winch, well worth it!!!!!!

I used a hand winch on my first trailer, then come-alongs, and I am talking quality $150 come-alongs, not junk, for years. both worked OK, but were a lot of work! Now I have a winch, I will never look back, one of the best things I ever did!!!

My winch is a 3500 lb Warn, it was called the Pull-Pack, not sure if they still make it. It works great, I do sometimes use a snatch block for heavy stuff with frozen brakes etc.

It is mounted to a 2 inch draw bar. I welded a trailer hitch to my trailer, and ran wires to the rear of my truck with a connector. I store the winch inside, just slide it in the hitch and connect the connector and I am ready to go.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

If you are having a trailer built, at the very least spring for an extra $50 and have a reinforcement added for a possible future winch install...will be a lot harder and more expensive to do after the fact.

 

[countrybumpkin]

The wireless is really nice when loading something by yourself, I can walk completely around the truck, trailer, and load to make sure everything is loading correctly.

here is a universal that will work with the three wire type winches.

Electronic Valves, Controls and Switches 301-203 Detailed Information

I have a MileMarker remote and it works really good also.

Mile Marker Wireless Remote Winch Control

Ramsey and warn I believe have them too.

 

[woodsmith]

I have a winch for the back of my tow car, it allows me to tow through the front of both my current trailers for loading.

I guess, even when I am quite able to drive a vehicle onto a trailer sometimes it is just safer to winch it up.

I currently have five manual winches, chain hoists and comealong types as well as winding types alongside the electric for the back of the car. It will soon be back up by a small electro-hydralic crane that will allow me to lift as well as pull and also to raise the pulling point higher by using a pulley from the crane hook.

I should really seek therapy for my winch habit.:laughing: