Hand winch question - Diesel Forum

**Believer45** · 08-24-2009, 08:03 PM

Good evening, all. I have a flatbed tilt deck trailer that I would like to put some kind of winch on to pull an occasional vehicle that will not run up on the deck. Trailer is a 6 ton GVWR, weighs about 3,000 lbs with the white oak floor I just installed. I have been unemployed for going on a year so cash is tight. Anyone know of a boat type hand winch with enough capacity to pull an 8000 lb truck up on a tilt deck trailer? I have not been able to find anything even close other than a 4 ton cable come-along.

There is no cash for a power winch at this point. I figure the occasional non-running tractor or car/truck haul may be in my future but not frequent enough to pay for the winch I would like.

Dave / Believer45

drcampbell · 08-24-2009, 11:13 PM

8,000 pounds of winch capacity isn't needed to pull an 8,000-pound vehicle (or boat) up onto a trailer. 800 pounds of winch capacity is needed to pull it up a 10% slope, 1,600 pounds for a 20% slope, and so forth.

The only time an 8,000-pound winch would be needed for an 8,000-pound vehicle would be when it's being lifted.

**Believer45** · 08-24-2009, 11:21 PM

Kind of what I figured but the "heavy duty" hand crank winches I have been able to find are rated for 2000 or 2500 lb rolling load, not 2000 or 2500 lb lift. They say in the description that they are for ATV recovery and such, pretty light stuff.

NickKent · 08-25-2009, 05:47 AM

You could use a snatch block and that would help with the capacity, but it would use more wire.

**Believer45** · 08-25-2009, 08:39 AM

I thought about that as well. It may be an option, but most of the winches that use cable are heavier and cost as much as or more than a low end electric. I was surprised at THAT one, I must say. If I am going to get into repairing farm and lawn equipment I may just have to invest in a real winch to get non-running stuff on the trailer so I can transport it home to work on.

LMJD · 08-25-2009, 09:39 AM

When I was active on some of the ATV forums a couple years ago, many were raving about an electric Warn "imitation", I think it is called a Viper (or a similar snake name). Can't recall on their site if they make bigger ones like you'd need or not, but their prices were VERY low and quality is high. They had a huge Ebay store with very high ratings. You might want to check them out.

**SmokeyWren** · 08-25-2009, 10:40 AM

Maybe you're using the wrong search engine?

Using Bing.com, I found this link in a jiffy. 4k marine hand powered winches for $1,200 to $1,450. 10k for $1,800 to $2,200.

Hand Operated Winches, Thern Winch, Winch, Winches

But I suspect you could buy a Warn electric for those prices.

That same outfit has come-a-longs with up to 4,000 pounds capacity.
"• Capacities - 1000 pounds to 2000 pounds single line; 2000 pounds to 4000 pounds double line"
But when set up to handle 4,000 pounds, the max distance you can go with one hookup is less than 4'. But the price is $450 to $650, so maybe you could "make do".

Lug-All, Web Strap Ratchet Lever Hoists, Hand Operated Hoists, Ratchet Hoists

drcampbell · 08-25-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Believer45

... 2000 or 2500 lb rolling load, not 2000 or 2500 lb lift ...

I think you have that backwards - I think the "rolling load" capacity is a multiple of the basic rated capacity, not a fraction of it, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn there are people using deceptive specifications and advertising to make their products appear to be more capable than they are.
http://www.friesen.com/electric/WinchSelectionGuide.pdf

Looking at a random $29.99 winch from Harbor Freight with a 2000-pound label,
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
I see that it's equipped with 3/16-inch cable, which is about what I'd select for an actual 2000-pound tension in the cable. The mechanical advantage ratio also seems about right for an actual 2000-pound pull.

**Believer45** · 08-25-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcampbell

I think you have that backwards - I think the "rolling load" capacity is a multiple of the basic rated capacity, not a fraction of it,

My original statement was

"the "heavy duty" hand crank winches I have been able to find are rated for 2000 or 2500 lb rolling load, not 2000 or 2500 lb lift." The same winch may be rated at 500 lbs lift and 3500 lbs rolling load, which is the point you made. What I said was the same number rolling load (say 500#) rated winch is a much lighter piece than a winch with the same number lift load (same 500# number but lift) rating.

I think we are saying the same thing. A winch rated at 2000 lb rolling load is not as strong as a winch rated to lift 2000 lbs. My thought was a winch rated for a 2000 lb rolling load is not strong enough but a winch capable of lifting 2000 lbs probably would be.

I did go look at THIS 2000 lb rated one from Harbor Freight with a brake on it and it seems it may be enough to pull even a pickup onto the trailer, the tilt is not very steep on my trailer. I am thinking I would mostly pull small farm tractors (under 5000 lbs), garden tractors, etc. onto the trailer. I may be trying one of these out, it was only $30 so not much risked, even in my limited circumstances.

**Believer45** · 08-25-2009, 10:51 PM

Smokey, I found the site you refer to but the price was a bit - er - ahhh - rich for my wallet.

2Tight · 08-25-2009, 11:59 PM

Don't laugh but for the last 5 years I've been using a cheap Harbor Freight portable electric winch to get dead project cars up my driveway or onto a trailer. I have a steep driveway so I set drop in bolts into the floor and slide the base plate over it. For the 2 or 3 times I use it a year the $64 was a great investment. If it breaks on the 50th pull I'll buy another one at those prices. They go on sale all the time for $79 and I had a 20% off coupon they send me by email.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

boatpuller · 08-26-2009, 03:30 PM

You'll probably not beat the Harbor Freight price. But if you still want a manual winch, my MYCO boat trailer has a two speed manual winch, rated for 2000 lbs. I don't recall the brand, but you could either contact MYCO, or wait a few weeks until I'm back at the trailer and will check for you.

NickKent · 08-28-2009, 06:20 AM

Just wondering how you would mount the winch so the manual crank handle didn't hit anything as you're turning it. Most winches I've seen are right of the floor of the trailer and are hard up against the front of the trailer too.

88beast · 08-28-2009, 08:35 AM

harbor freight has a good electric for 400 and its well worth it but you gotta get the 12 or 15 k model
and you can do as i do long loggers cable and block the trailer wheels and pull with the truck

**Believer45** · 08-28-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickKent

Just wondering how you would mount the winch so the manual crank handle didn't hit anything as you're turning it. Most winches I've seen are right of the floor of the trailer and are hard up against the front of the trailer too.

Put the winch on a framework mounted to the front of the trailer bulkhead (bulkhead is about 6" high) to make the clearance.

Looking at the 3000 lb rated portable 12v winches I can put an attaching point and use the trailer hitch "clip" to attach the winch when I need it. These portables are available from Harbor Freight for just over $100, evidently go on sale for $79 on occasion as 2Tight noted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88beast

harbor freight has a good electric for 400 and its well worth it but you gotta get the 12 or 15 k model
and you can do as i do long loggers cable and block the trailer wheels and pull with the truck

As things stand right now $400 is more than I can spare. Unemployment looks to run out in another 2 weeks, NOBODY is hiring in any field remotely related to my background in my area and we are on 14 acres that would be very hard to sell right now plus we have a few large animals so relocation is not really an option.