Winch question

[chromebumpers]

On a flat bed tow truck, what type/size winch is used to pull a car or pick-up truck up the bed? Is there any difference if that winch is mounted to a tow behind trailer? I noticed HF has a load of winches, is there any model in that brand that would work?

 

[chromebumpers]

Any features, cable size (or composition) that should be considered? I've only ever pushed or drove a car under it's own power onto a trailer, so I don't have experience using a winch for this purpose. I'm not interested in a wind-by-hand winch.

 

[87vette81big]

Grumpy can answer best.
A Winch is only good as the Frame its bolted down to.
Tow trucks have at least 20,000 lb continous ratings.
Heavy duty models are very expensive.

 

[grumpyvette]

Warn, Superwinch, Ramsey, Smittybilt, Tuff Stuff, all make a serviceable winch , but having dealt with trailers and winches for decades I'll point out a few often overlooked or ignored details
shop carefully and compare features and guarantees and it sure helps if you can bolt your winch to a custom mount or bracket that hooks or pins in place while in use but allows you to place it out of the weather and out of sight when its not needed

https://www.myteeproducts.com/3-4-h...MIr-6yuaiq6QIVD6_ICh0DOA9DEAYYBCABEgJ4JPD_BwE

https://www.amazon.com/Forged-D-Rings-Trailer-Tie-down-Ring-27011/dp/B011H9FRG4

I've generally welded and bolt-on d-rings with grade 8 bolts
to the trailer to secure safety chains
and yes looped thru and secured with 1/2" thread links

https://www.dccargomall.com/3and4-f...MIua79j6qq6QIVQQiICR3SygB2EAQYAiABEgKQyvD_BwE

https://www.dccargomall.com/1-2-d-ring-bolt-on-clip-gold-colored-zinc.html

and use two of these to anchor the chain to the bumper
https://www.lodimetals.com/34-steel...MIqfSvxKmq6QIVi7bICh2kWgJhEAQYASABEgLx6PD_BwE

first the rule of thumb is you want a winch rated at TWICE the weight of your car MINIMUM, as youll find that a winch working at less than its max capacity is far less likely to fail , its also a huge advantage to weld pull rings
bolting and welding 3-to-8 additional security rings per side FRAME RAIL to a trailer frame is a huge plus for securing a car trailer load, I BOUGHT AND WELDED AND BOLTED IN (8) 5/8" D-RINGS ALONG THE FRAME RAILS WITH TWO NFT GRADE #8 3" BOLTS

and two THICK WASHERS, and NYLOC NUTS
PLUS WELDED THE FLANGE

to the cars frame at several access points allowing you far easier connection of the winch line and a snatch block pulley and nylon tow straps rated at 20 k lbs can be very useful at times as can accessory's like tow hooks
you'll want access to easily portable winch or chain jack or cable jack to allow you to pull non-functional cars up on any trailer
I bought two of these CABLE JACK PULLERS PICTURED BELOW for $99 for the pair that I use to load cars on the trailer IF I CAN'T BORROW MY NEIGHBORS PORTABLE POWER WINCH (he bought his for $800 several years ago when a marine dealership closed, they cost more now)

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wrn-37441/overview/

https://www.ergonomicpartners.com/3...ategoryId=369&pSearch=47&sortby=1&pagesize=30

https://www.ergonomicpartners.com/4...px?page=1&categoryId=434&sortby=1&pagesize=30

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-should-have-tow-rings-or-hooks.592/#post-778

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...a-car-transport-trailer.845/page-2#post-57022

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-ton-lever-chain-hoist-66106.html

https://www.wyeth-scott.com/orders.asp

http://www.etrailer.com/question-14986.html

and tie downs

, and if your smart youll custom weld a box to house the batteries and the winch itself so they can be safely stored safely out of sight, when not in actual use and kept out of the weather and safe from walking off which WILL HAPPEN, if you leave it out where it can be unbolted this will of course require you buy or fabricate a quick connection anchor mount and electrical connection plug so that the winch can be lifted out of the box ,dropped into its mount, locked in place with a couple locks or pins , used and then returned to the security and weather resistant enclosure that's ideally welded to the trailer
youll be STRONGLY temped to spend 1/2 the cost or less on some chinese import winch but from what I see the life expectancy is very low, they work for a few months and then quit from what I see.

READ THESE LINKS

http://www.etrailer.com/question-14986.html

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=845&p=22718&hilit=trailers#p22718

viewtopic.php?f=87&t=4318&p=11380&hilit=chains+weld+rings#p11380

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=7810&p=26824&hilit=state+trailer#p26824

http://www.summitracing.com/search/bran ... toview=SKU

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warn-37441-XD90 ... 0888114525

yes youll want to have several D rings on the trailer and TOW HOOKS welded on any car frame you own, and having a decent electrical winch is a HUGE help, I have two manual cable jacks I use when I can,t borrow my neighbors portable power winch, but be aware that if you buy an electrical winch, it should be portable so you can securely store it locked up out of sight and out of the weather and have quick electrical plug in connectors for its use, because if its just bolted on it WILL SPROUT LEGS AND WALK OFF SOME NIGHT, or if left out in the weather it won,t function for many years before it fails
ON any trailer youll need a VERY STURDILY BUILT METAL, LOCKABLE BOX, SECURELY BOLTED, OR WELDED TO THE TRAILER IN SUCH A WAY THAT ITS NOT EASILY, BROKEN OR PRIED OPENED OR REMOVED, TO STORE THE CHAIN JACK , CHAINS, SECURITY STRAPS AND/OR WINCH AND A FEW TOOLS ,GREASE SPRAY OIL,ETC.
ONE MORE REASON TO KNOW HOW TO WELD AND OWN A WELDER