I need some winch advice

What (pound) size winch do I need to mount on my trailer? I will be loading tractors up to 8000 pounds, but that will be rolling weight, not dead dragging weight.

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks,
Fence

If you use your winch 4 to 5 times a year, then consider using a snatch block in-line with the winch.

What does a snatch block do? It cuts the line weight in 1/2 and doubles the travel time for a single line part. You can add any number of snatch blocks.

Example: 10000lb load

Single winch line has too pull 10000lbs at 4ft/min

Single line Snatch block rigging: The winch now pulls 5000lbs, 5000 on line #1 and 5000lbs on line #2, however travel speed is now 2ft/min.

Double line snatch block rigging: The winch now pulls 2500lbs with 2500lbs on each line and travel at 1ft/min.

So by adding snatch block(s) you can use a 5000lb rated winch or a 2500lb rated winch to move a 10000lb load.

Look at this website for a really good explanation of moving weight.

T_Bone

• Bill Vista's Recovery Bible

Winch bargains can be had:

Link

Scott

Looking at winches was another story. Seems like you have to pay around $500 for a decent winch if you want to go electric. Remember, you not only need a good reliable winch, but you need amps from your battery to drive it. Amps are directly proportional to load so if you are really tugging, you are really sucking... If you are sucking, you need a control device and some sorta conduit....big switch with big contacts and heavy wire. Then you get a controller (low current)you can put in the cab which controls the big high current contactor and you're in business.

I only needed to move my spear 2' but you will need 20' or thereabouts. That means that you will need a large spool which will put you into the $1000 bracket or thereabouts.

I looked at all that and got sick..Advertisements were tricky and prices didn't necessarily include all that you needed for a professional (long lasting) job, and then there were the import scare tactics. I bought an American made 2500 lb manual winch (ebay $40, looked it up in Grainger and was $140) and my cares went away. Only takes a minute to work it.

Having loaded many tractors and broken cars and trucks (while raising 4 kids and trying to keep them in transportation) I used 1 ton comealongs and never had a problem...Probably a 2-3 ton winch with 5/16 cable would do nicely. I have 5/16 on my round bale rig and I don't think I would use anything smaller....besides you have to go to 5/16 to get the 2000 lb rating.

Mark

Fence