Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club

   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #1  

sixdogs

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Dec 8, 2007
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Ohio
Tractor
Kubota M7040, Kubota MX5100, KubotaL4300, Deere 790 TLB, Farmall Super C
I often haul awkward farm euipment or implements on my double axle trailer and have been looking for a winch to help out. Occasionally a small tractor won't start and an electric winch would help. It would be used maybe 10 times per year and I might even mount to the back of my L4300 Kubota to move rocks or logs. A winch would be nice but I don't want to spend $1,000 on a good one.

Sam's Club has a Champion brand 10,000 lb winch with a lead , cable and mounting bracket for $400.
I dismissed this as import junk but now am not so sure and wonder if anyone here has any knowledge or opinion on this. I figured the extra capacity of the winch would not max it out and the mounting bracket would be a big plus. The price is certainly right.
Any thoughts on this would be helpful.
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #2  
I read just the other day on TBN and interesting thread about electric winches on tractors. You might want to search it and read through it. For me at least there were a lot of considerations that never crossed my mind that if not considered might do some serious damage to your tractor's electrical system. Good luck.
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I read just the other day on TBN and interesting thread about electric winches on tractors. You might want to search it and read through it. For me at least there were a lot of considerations that never crossed my mind that if not considered might do some serious damage to your tractor's electrical system. Good luck.

Thank you; I am searching for it. I forgot to mention I would carry a separate and dedicated-use large marine battery for the winch.
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #4  
I bought one a couple years ago. I transport cars for a living and as you point out every so often it is nice to have a winch. I think mine is 8000 lb, I bought it at Costco for about $300 - $400 a couple years ago. I have used it 10 20 times a year and works good for that. It does draw a lot of current though. My truck has 3 batteries and 2 alternators, the trailer has a heavy battery close to the winch, and the trailer battery is connected to the truck with welding cable for charging and so I can draw from the truck.

When I pull a heavy vehicle from the ground, up the ramps and the full length of the trailer (53 ft) I notice the batteries are drained, it takes a half hr of driving on the highway before the volt meter is back to normal.

I guess I'm saying its got to be worth $400 just for the convenience but it is not a everyday, heavy use solution.

Gary
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #5  
One thing to look at is the FPM (feet per minute). The cheaper winches have a very low FPM due to the gear ratio.

The more expensive winches (Warn) have a much higher FPM. I have an 8,000 Warn, and I believe it is about 30-45 FPM, which is moving right along. The cheaper winches are in the 6-13FPM range (depending on how much cable you have spooled out).

If you only use it a few times per year, this might not be an issue, but if you start using it, well, watching paint dry and grass grow comes to mind.

One other advertising trick to watch for -- make sure the rating is single line, not double line. The double line uses the mechanical advantage of a pulley....

By the way, I believe the Champion winches, Milemarker winches, and Harbor Freight winches all come out of the same factory. If you are thinking about going that route, you can pick up the HF 10,000 lb winch for as low as $360 using their rare 20% coupon and when you find the winch already marked down. Spend the extra $40 on the warranty...

-Steve
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #6  
By the way, I believe the Champion winches, Milemarker winches, and Harbor Freight winches all come out of the same factory. If you are thinking about going that route, you can pick up the HF 10,000 lb winch for as low as $360 using their rare 20% coupon and when you find the winch already marked down. Spend the extra $40 on the warranty...

-Steve

I agree with Steve, all the Chinese winches look very much alike. If they don't come from the same factory, they are at least all a copy of the same winch design.

I have a HF 8000# mounted on the front of my trailer. No battery on the trailer. Ought, or double ought gauge (can't remember which) welding cable from my truck battery down the frame to under the rear bumper and a "forklift battery" connector to plug in the winch cables just when using the winch. I have used it a "few" times (less than 10?) to load cars on the trailer. Never noticed a battery problem with an Optima red top. Including one car I could not get close to and had to drag it the full length of the winch cable plus about 20 ft of chain. I have never had a "good" winch to compare to, but it does seem slow. But, as stated before, for occasional use the speed is not that much of a factor. And.... still a LOT faster than a come-a-long!!
JP
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #7  
Look on ebay you can get a 12,500 lb. (single line) winch with a snatch block and winch cover shipped for around 375.00 with a two or three yr. warranty (can't remember for sure) I have one on my jeep it works fine, but is kinda slow. And uses alot of battery power
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #8  
I also have a HF 8000 lb winch on the front of my trailer. I use it with the snatch block for pulling dead vehicles onto my tiltbed trailer. I have a battery on the trailer for it that charges from the truck when plugged in the trailer plug. I have an inline circuit breaker in the charging lead since it more efficient than replacing fuses.
Like ArTvlr said, its easier and faster than manually operating a come a long.
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #9  
Everyones advice seems great and helpfull to me too
I think I have the same generic 10000# winch , But have yet to mount it
What Ive learned is you need
- a deep cycle battery close to the winch
- Heavy welding type cable for charging
- Quick connection (forklift style best)
- A snatch block
- A weatherproof cover (and oil the drum and wire rope)

I was warned to Install a solinoid in the circuit or not run the winch while connected to the truck because it could damage the alterator or truck batterys
 
   / Champion 10,000 lb winch @ Sam's Club #10  
Everyones advice seems great and helpfull to me too
I think I have the same generic 10000# winch , But have yet to mount it
What Ive learned is you need
- a deep cycle battery close to the winch
- Heavy welding type cable for charging
- Quick connection (forklift style best)
- A snatch block
- A weatherproof cover (and oil the drum and wire rope)

I was warned to Install a solinoid in the circuit or not run the winch while connected to the truck because it could damage the alterator or truck batterys

Not sure how you would wire a solenoid to protect the battery or alternator. I use mine (with NO battery on the trailer) plugged in to the truck battery with the engine running so as not to discharge the battery. Isn't that the way winch mfg. suggest using them when mounded on the vehicle? I see no difference if it is mounted on the trailer.
The only way to check if this method might damage your alternator is to check rated amp. draw of the winch against rated amp. output of your alt. Even if the winch draws more amps than your alt. puts out, the battery makes up the difference for short periods of use. Extended use "could" overheat the alt, since it would be putting out max amps, but most times, just to pull something onto a trailer shouldn't hurt it. Just MHO, and I welcome any knowledgeable rebuttals.

I agree with the weather protection, and I built a plywood, flip-up "doghouse" over mine.

"Heavy welding type cable for charging" Not for charging. A normal charging wire coming off an alternator is 10G. That is all you need for the average alt. output. If you mount a battery on the trailer I would go larger on the charging wire to overcome the resistance of the longer wire. 8G, or 6G at the most should do it. The only "cable" size wire you need is from the battery (no matter where it is mounted) to the winch. Size would be determined by the length of the wire. I used the size I had on hand. And I only used welding cable because that is what I had on hand. Battery cable of an equal size will carry just as many amps as welding cable, and be much cheaper pr. ft. If you have a pigtail that you connect and disconnect each time you use the winch, welding cable would be better, since it is much more flexible.

Be aware that the "forklift connectors" come in many different sizes, each one with a different amperage rating. Be sure and use one rated at or above the amperage draw of the winch.
jp
 
 
 
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