Power for winch on trailer

[Jeepr]

I bought a portable winch for my flatbed trailer, I got tired of rescuing friends with broken cars and having to push them on or pull them on with another vehicle!



Temporarily, I'm running jumper cables to the battery when I'm using it. But, is there some more permanent yet easy source of power from the back of the truck? Or do I have to run some leads from the battery to the back for this?

 

[HBarlow]

Even if you wanted to run battery cable sized wires from the battery compartment of your truck back to your trailer it would be hard to find a connector capable of handling the very high current loads required and in addition to those problems voltage drop thruough the wires for that distance would severly reduce performance of the winch.

The only solution is to install a battery or batteries in the trailer as close to the winch as possible then run large charging lines from truck back to trailer to maintain the battery or batteries.

 

[JohnBoy5]

this connector will carry the load Store Locator | NAPA Online. i have a 30 ft gooseneck and i put to truck batteries on it and a plug like this on the trailer and one in the bed of the truck then i made a cable to plug them both in.



you could also put a battery on you trailer and then if you are using the 7 way plug connector charge it off of that. there is a 30 or 40 amp charge post in that plug. you would use that to keep the battery on the trailer charged then hook the winch to that battery.





like i said i put to batteries on my trailer with the 4 ga plugs from napa because i would easily run the 2 batteries down loading 4 tractors with the winch and i did not want to wait for them to charge.



i would say get a battery and use the charge pin to keep that batter charged. you should be in good shape like that.

 

[jelag]

Try delcity.net They carry a good assortment of heavy connectors... we have several trucks and we've run a large 00 wire to the rear with such a connector to run winches, jumper cables, and power hydraulic pumps... . but you either need a big krimping tool or be able to solder the connections.....

DelCity also carries a great assortment of shirk tube with an adhesive in the tube... we only use non-insulated connectors and than use a piece of shrink tube so that the adhesive will shirk around the wire and make a water tight connection. .

 

[JCockerill]

i allways got all my towing stuff from these guys:



http://www.awdirect.com/jump-start-sets-accessories/



you will find cables and conectors to make what you need. the quick connect jumper cable plug is what i would use. i would get the jumper kit and use cables to run to back of truck, then use quick connect to run to trailer winch when needed. good luck, i plan on building the same setup when i have time and money. i want to mount winch on a 2 in reciver hitch cadle so i can use it off of truck front or rear hitches also.

 

[Road Dog]

You need a battery on the trailer anyway (to power the electric brakes in a breakaway) so, like others said, put a full sized battery on the trailer. Don't forget to keep it charged.

 

[Rich M-37]

I have a 5 ton Hudson trailer with a 8000# winch. It is powered by an Optima Red top mounted on the trailer. The power to the trailer is tapped and goes to the battery inthe trailer to keepit charged. The winch has to large cables to it. It seems to operate alright. I keep the trailer plugged in to the truck when I use it.

 

[Jeepr]

Okay, I guess I should have provided a little more info. This isn't a huge winch (like the one on my Jeep, which does have really heavy cables), the cables on this aren't that big. It is this one from Harbor Freight Power In, Power Out 3000 Lb. Capacity 12 Volt Electric Winch



But, attempted to use it for the first time today, and it already failed (thanks Harbor Freight). Yesterday, I tested it and it reeled out and back in. Today, when trying to pull a car up with it, it reeled out, but wouldn't go in (even with no load on it). It would just click. ggggrrrrrr

 

[jelag]

Your click when trying to real in might be low voltage at the relay... . if a relay see's low voltage it will click... my guess is that you might of run the battery down plying out the line... . also, most 3000 lb winches won't pull a car up trailer ramps without using a pulling to double the line strength or reduce the load by 50%... .

 

[BEmmert]

Im thinking this is what your looking for.
Warn Industries - Truck Accessories: Quick Connect

 

[Jeepr]

Your click when trying to real in might be low voltage at the relay... . if a relay see's low voltage it will click... my guess is that you might of run the battery down plying out the line

Possibly, but it would still go out, just not in. I haven't messed with it since to try to figure anything else out.

also, most 3000 lb winches won't pull a car up trailer ramps without using a pulling to double the line strength or reduce the load by 50%

3000lb, but it says 9000lb rolling (it moves REALLY slow so it's geared way down). I know the ramps are uphill, but I have a dovetail, so I figured that puts it somewhere between the 3000 and 9000

 

[DShore]

Go to a place that handles over the road truck parts and get a plug for a lift-gate on over the road trucks. I have one on my 30 ft. toybox. It is made by Phillips and is all metal.

I used 2 gauge wire which is a tight fit, had to grind the battery lugs down to fit. You also might want to consider a 150 amp circuit breaker.

 

[JCrockett]

I used cable and connectors from these guys: Browsing Power Connectors



I have 1/0 Arctic flex run to the back of the truck and hook up my Warn 8000lb winch on the trailer for use.



I have a 20' Deckover with a 3' Dovetail and 5' ramps and this 8000lb winch works REALLY hard to pull a F-350 Powerstroke onto the trailer (guessing 8-9k). I dont think your Harbor freight winch will last too long with what you want to do with it IMO.

Couple pics of my setup in an old thread: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/towing-hauling-rv-forum/197019-trailer-winch.html

 

[JHumphries]

This thread is a little old, but:
If you are adding batteries to a trailer for use, put an isolator on the brake system battery so that it won't be drained.
It would be a bad day if it was needed and was dead due to loading some heavy equipment.

 

[dkoldno7]

winch

Hello, I would start out with a snach block which would double your pulling power. But your winch seems a little small! just my 2cts

 

[speycaster]

Sounds like the same pulling capacity as the one on my ATV.