Winch capacitys?

GreatWhitehunter · Mar 26, 2010

I've never really needed a winch but I would be nice to have. So I've been looking at the Warn Works line of winches. I would be mounting it to my trailer and would mostlikly use it for pulling a dead vehicle up on the deck.
My question is what is the needed capacity of the winch. I've been looking at the 3700lbs and 4700lbs units. I'm thinking I can always snatch block it if I need more cap. I won't use it enough to spend more than a few hundred on the unit. I'm also looking at mounting options. I was planning on using a 2" reciever setup so I can easily remove it for storage in my GN's box. I was planning on storing the battery there aswell and running the quick connect cables from the box to the winches local. So I'd like to hear TBN's thought on this subject. If you've got a setup feel free to post pics since the speak volumes.

Matt

Lunk · Mar 26, 2010

I'd go as heavy as you can afford.

Keep in mind that most winches lose a certain amount of pulling capacity as the drum fills with cable. Most I believe are rated with one layer of cable on the drum. It decreases from there...

Have fun shopping - It's the best part...

Lunk

Diamondpilot · Mar 26, 2010

I put a 3,000# $69 HF winch on my trailer 6 years ago and it has not missed a beat. It has pulled up many vehicles and tractors the last being a 8N with loaded tires, a GMC 1500 4x4, and a Suburban. I bet it has pulled up 20 vehicles.

I don't even have a battery for it, just use my jump pack via some clamp on leads.

I have 50' of cable and a snatch block if needed but never needed it.

Chris

Diamondpilot · Mar 26, 2010

I forgot one of the last things I did with it. Seems someone wanted the trailer out from under a boat so they took a sawz-all and cut the vin off the right rear corner then backed it up to a tree, tied it off, and yanked the boat off the trailer on my friends dads 80 acres.

Anyway we went down there and jacked up the front end and place it on a cinder block. I then back the trailer up to it and winched on about a 19' boat and took it to the dump for him. That was a non rolling load and not sure what it weighed but it had a Olds Big Block and a Berkly Jet Drive in it but the heads were missing along with a lot of other stuff. I pulled the jet drive and will sell it on Ebay some day.

Chris

GreatWhitehunter · Mar 26, 2010

I have had a few times where the winch would have been pretty handy. And I'm still undecided on keeping my GN or going back to a BP flatbed. So I want a winch that's portable and light enough. I think it will stay with the trailer 99% of the time.

Matt

ModMech · Mar 26, 2010

Watch the Amperage requirements of those winches! You will likely draw 2-4 times more amps than the alternator can produce even at full throttle.

GreatWhitehunter · Mar 26, 2010

ModMech said:
Watch the Amperage requirements of those winches! You will likely draw 2-4 times more amps than the alternator can produce even at full throttle.

Who is this comment aimed at? I'm going to run mine off a Optima blue top (largest amperage I can get). I'm not looking to run it off the trucks electrical system. I'm looking at the 3700 more closely since it's for the longest line and fastest line pull. A snatch block doubles your capacity right?

Matt

Diamondpilot · Mar 26, 2010

Snatch block doubles capacity but cuts speed in 1/2. I have never need mine even on a 6,500# Suburban or 5,800# GMC 1/2 ton 4x4 I just went and got and mine is only 3,000#. I do have a low deck trailer so the ramp angle is not very much. I like it that way so I can haul my dads and uncles Vette's. They always seem broken.:laughing:

Chris

kebo · Mar 26, 2010

Diamondpilot said:
Snatch block doubles capacity but cuts speed in 1/2. I have never need mine even on a 6,500# Suburban or 5,800# GMC 1/2 ton 4x4 I just went and got and mine is only 3,000#. I do have a low deck trailer so the ramp angle is not very much. I like it that way so I can haul my dads and uncles Vette's. They always seem broken.:laughing:

Chris

Using a snatchblock will nearly double the pulling capacity of a winch, but not quite. There's friction losses to consider, and also the angle the two lines are relative to each other will affect the pulling capacity. Ideally you want the two lines parallel and the (2nd) attachment point as close to the fairlead as possible. Yep, doubling the line will increase the winching speed to a bit more than twice the (normal) single-line speed to pull the same distance. That will increase the time you are draining the battery by at least a factor of two, but the winch *should* use less current since it's not working as hard as with a single line, unless you are really maxing out the capacity using the snatchblock & double-line.