laurinap

Ive been thinking of getting a winch for my open featherlite trailer, to load up my 993 c4s or other cars, in the event the car wasnt running on its one power, more as a just-in-case. Anyone has any experience with these?

this one is 2000 lb capacity, and seems should be enough for the slight ramp incline and horizontal pull force needed

http://www.jegs.com/i/Superwinch/846/1120149/10002/-1

i just dont know of the quality of this brand

this one seems a whole lot pricier and only has 1000 lbs capacity so not sure it would work

http://www.warn.com/works/pullzall/cordless.shtml

ninjabones

Unless you're planning to use it to load and unload your trailer regularly, I'd recommend a mechanical winch. An electric winch is just one more piece of equipment to maintain (and possibly break when you need it most). In the rare event that you need to winch the car on your trailer, it will take you all of 3 minutes to crank the winch by hand (it's good exercise too). Just my 2 cents.

NC TRACKRAT

For an open trailer, I concur with NINJABONES. Just be sure you get a mechanical winch and cable that'll handle the load. I had a TRAILEX and fitted a mechanical winch. It worked just fine.

laurinap

thks for the feedback. only question, with a mechanical winch, do you have to install/bolt it to your trailer? i was trying to not permanently install one. maybe there is some sort of come-along that doesnt need to be bolted down, ill look.

race911

You've got to solidly mount a winch. Can't get around that. I use mine all the time, so much that the front one burned up. (Trailer is used for moving vending machines as well as the cars.) On the cheap a couple of months ago I bought a Harbor Freight unit that operates by wireless remote. $70-80. Works just fine for now. If it takes a dump, I can replace it 4X for what that OE Dayton cost.

Ultimately, if you're not running just go find 4 or 5 helpers to get you loaded..............

Bill Verburg

I agree w/ Ken, you need a solid mount on the trailer unless there is a separate ball mount above th one used for the trailer.

I'd give Feather light a call, I'm sure that they have one made just for you trailer.

I also agree w/ Ken about the winch, you need a 15' control lead or a wireless, I was just at Harbor freight looking at a 3000# w/ wireless remote for ~$80. Most seem to get by w/ a 2000# winch though.

race911

The "camo" unit? Looks cheesy, but mine is buried inside a cabinet.

As I said, if it burns up, oh well. But with its assist I got 11 machines inside working solo on Saturday. For that alone it was worth it even if I had to dispose of it in the dumpster today.

race911

The other thing I guess I should mention is power load. These cheapies come with what looks like 14 gauge wire. The Dayton pre-installed with the trailer probably had 6-8 gauge going through about 50 amps of circuit breaker. I'm also using three Group 24 batteries. (Trailer has a lift inside + a winch to haul up the 8+ foot rear door.)

Texas993

To back you guys up on the Harbor Freight $80 3000# unit, it works well. I have used it multiple times to load/unload my 993 on my open trailer. I bought a cheap $50 12V car battery at walmart.

My trailer had a plate welded on it as a winch mount. Very simple.

Good luck.

Bill Verburg

I agree that it's looks aren't it's strong point...

A nice way to run these w/o a battery on the trailer or a separate portable battery or battery pack is to run a temp. long lead w/ alligator clips to the vehicle battery alternatively those w/ e-brake hook ups one of the pins is a very hd high amp circuit. Make up a connector that uses that pin and it's ground, then use that in lieu of the towing connector. Swap the connectors for the purpose, tow/winch.