car trailer winch wiring

[superwade57]

I have a 18' car trailer w/ 4' split dove. It has a winch on it I'm just wondering what's the best way to run it? Am I best off running a deep cycle battery or running a set or cables to the truck with a relay wired in somehow or run power through the aux pole on my 7 flat wire plug? Never really had any experience with winches before. Thanks for any help or insight you guys can offer
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[Keith Seymore]

Subscribing - I don't have a winch in my car trailer currently (24' Haulmark) but am looking to add one, and will be interested in any advice here.

K

[jitteryguy]

I used a deep cycle battery on the trailer wire'd drectly to the winch, then a wire from the 7 pin plug to charge it as I drove, work'd good for me.

[Moostifer]

Originally Posted by jitteryguy

I used a deep cycle battery on the trailer wire'd drectly to the winch, then a wire from the 7 pin plug to charge it as I drove, work'd good for me.

what about a ground?

I am in the very process of doing this, and was just going to use my deep cycle, but I like this idea!

[RandyP]

We took an old bent hitch and cut the neck off of it and welded on to the trailer. Bought a holder for the winch that will just slide in to the receiver. This way we can remove it when it is not in use and don't have to worry about theft or elements. The battery is kept inside the tongue box with the connecting wires poked through a hole. We test the battery every so often and charge it when we need to. It gets used about once a month or so at most though, not an every day use type thing.

I think that is about a $300 winch with the mount and everything, the tongue box was $50 and we had the old bent hitch laying in the shop already. We've only had to charge the battery once in a year or so.

[superwade57]

I built a custom tongue box for mine. Out of a couple stainless steel outdoor electrical boxes, big enough to hold a battery plus tools and straps And on the back I welded the top four Inches of another box with lid That drops down to reveal winch. Its stainless. It locks and its completely weather tight. It just seems to pull hard. Its an older winch and the tabs on top of the sides, that hold the bolts to keep the sides true are broken off. And winch sat outside on the trailer before I got it. May be the problem too just wasn't sure if a relay could help. But is there anyway to keep the sides true with out the bolts and tabs? Is there a way to clean or replace the electric motor or brushes? It has two new selenoids on it
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[79k30dually]

I used a WARN rear winch wiring kit, it comes with heavy cables long enough to run to rear bumper, solenoid, control wiring, quick disconnect for the heavy cable connections. I'm using a M8000 warn winch. All I do is flip the switch in the cab, install the winch on the trailer, plug the winch into back of the truck, plug into controller into the winch, and let the party begin. I can get pics if you need them. Good luck, Ron

[Dunenutt]

Originally Posted by 79k30dually

I used a WARN rear winch wiring kit, it comes with heavy cables long enough to run to rear bumper, solenoid, control wiring, quick disconnect for the heavy cable connections. I'm using a M8000 warn winch. All I do is flip the switch in the cab, install the winch on the trailer, plug the winch into back of the truck, plug into controller into the winch, and let the party begin. I can get pics if you need them. Good luck, Ron

I do almost the same thing. I have a winch cradle almost like pictured above. I slide it into the rear reciever, plug it into the warn harness, and slide the hitch into the winch cradle. So the winch is actually mounted on the truck, and the trailer is mounted to the winch.

[79k30dually]

Have you ever built a project where you can't see the forest through the trees? Truck-Winch-trailer makes total sense. Thanks, How much weight do you put on your trailer? Ron

[Dunenutt]

Originally Posted by 79k30dually

Have you ever built a project where you can't see the forest through the trees? Truck-Winch-trailer makes total sense. Thanks, How much weight do you put on your trailer? Ron

Largest load i've had is a 91 F-250 4x4, extended cab, 460, on a 18' flatbed. If I was to pull that load for more than 20 miles or so, I would remove the winch after loading.

[79k30dually]

I was concerned with the weight on the extension. Thanks, Ron

[Dunenutt]

Originally Posted by 79k30dually

I was concerned with the weight on the extension. Thanks, Ron

When I have my camper on, I pull the same trailer with a 28" extension. Anything more than a Jeep on the trailer, concerns me a little.

If I wanted to pull alot with the winch attached, I would build my own cradle out of some beefy stuff. They make the reciever tubes 18" long, stuff some solid 2" into it and weld it up. Then you can mount the winch plate to the tube. Same Idea, just supersized. I wouldn't worry about the reciever too much. You could use equalizer bars, if you wanted to pull crazy weight!

All of my trucks have a front reciever too.

Mine looks like this...

[67_SS396]

My buddy has a car hauler with a winch mounted under the deck and has a battery mounted on the tongue. I have a gooseneck trailer and plan on welding a receiver tube to the neck. In the mean time, I put the winch in the receiver of the truck and use a spare battery.
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