nick8086 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) Looking for a cheap electric winch. I need to hook it up to a car battery. I need a hook on both ends..Strong enough to pull a car in to the car trailer if it will not start.. Edited July 11, 2014 by nick8086 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 That looks like a piece of junk! Meant for a small boat. Look at Summit Raceing at the superwinch products. Expect to spend close to $500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I bought a cheap one ($79 bucks) from Harbor Freight that I bolted to one of my four post lifts to pull a car onto. Works good for me, it's also got a remote switch. Sure beats trying to push a car up the ramps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLong Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Harbor Freight, ATV winch. 2500#, or 5000# if you use a snatch block. PULLING a rolling car requires a fraction of the weight of the car. You do not need a winch with enough pull to lift the car off the ground. Make a plate to bolt to the bottom of the winch, put a hook on it, you'll have what you describe.GLong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 In a pinch a come along works fine, the "battery" is always charged, it's cheap, takes up little space, and you can use the excercise......................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 In a pinch a come along works fine, the "battery" is always charged, it's cheap, takes up little space, and you can use the excercise......................BobUnless it has 4 locked wheels and or flats, when the Temperature is 90 in the shade , sunny with 90 percent humidity and the closest you can get the trailer is 40 feet away. Ask me how I know. LOLBoy a winch would have been nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lahti35 Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 In a pinch a come along works fine, the "battery" is always charged, it's cheap, takes up little space, and you can use the excercise......................BobI'll second the come along in a pinch action... Getting them on the trailer with 2-3 resets isn't bad but getting them off the trailer can be fun, as in no brakes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 When you buy cheap you get cheap. Harbor freight has those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlCapone Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 if you will only use it occasionally Harbor Freight will suit your purpose. It is not meant for commercial but then again it is not the price of a commercial unit. If you want commercial at a cheap price they don't exist unless you find a used one !Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Here is my opinion for what it is worth. I have watched in amazement over the years how someone would have a great restoration and then shove it in a less than ideal trailer, with less than ideal hitch and with less than ideal tires. We are all not millionaires and money can be tight but I would always do my best not to skimp on anything that involved keeping my "investment" safe. Have no idea how good some of these inexpensive winches are but if I ever remotely suspected I would need to winch on an incline I would find a way to get a proven name brand unit. In my world "Murphy"s Law" is supreme so I take no chances! I know of a winch failure and the car went.... It happened to a good friend of mine with a very valuable car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) I was about to respond, but Steve said it all !A quality product will better protect your loved vehicle, but more importantly will protect you and your loved ones from injury. I've seen the results of "cheap" products, and it isn't pretty. A snapped cable can whip and cause permanent injury, and a car rolling backward uncontrolled can cause property damage, injury, or death - you don't have enough insurance or enough conscience for that event.By the way, I used to have a "cheap" winch - the same one as shown in the earlier post, and after seeing another one fail, I wouldn't even put it out for a garage sale - just junked it. Edited July 11, 2014 by Marty Roth (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 If possible get 2 come alongs so you can hook up the second when the first is fully pulled up, then alternate. This way you don't lose any ground when you move the come along.If I had to move a vehicle 40 feet I would tow it, even if I had to use a 50 foot long chain or cable to do it.Please don't skimp on parachutes, winches, chains, or come alongs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Or women................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Do parachutes come with a warranty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 11, 2014 Author Share Posted July 11, 2014 (edited) Put a parachutes on that 58 chev...That trailer has a Winch on it..But I have one with out .. Need it next week..To bad it was not centered. I could of had my Christmas card photo... Edited July 12, 2014 by nick8086 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 I need a cheap one for a small car Like a Sun Beam. Not a 19 foot boat.. I will install a 600.00 one down the road.. This is just for a one time use.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 I am with Steve, but believe in Schwartz's law, that is , Murphy is an optimist ! The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.Read the latest Skinned Knuckles if you would like to know about the quality of Harbor Freight's merchandise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Don't forget the risk of an injury when a failure happens. Sounds like you sold yourself on the Harbor Freight Junk, but it can cost you a lot more then an extra few hundred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert G. Smits Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 (edited) In defense of Harbor Freight I have used one of their products for the last five years without failure. If you are going "cheap" oversize the winch. Mine is the 12000 lb model and I always use a snatch block with a heavy auto. Just my two cents worth. Bob Smits Edited July 13, 2014 by Robert G. Smits spelling (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Nick, I like your latest Avatar. New purchase? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 (edited) Do parachutes come with a warranty?Marty. Yes. But it only applies to the original owner. Edited July 13, 2014 by Dwight Romberger (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 I'm a belt and suspenders guy. i.e. buy a quality, over-sized winch.Then attach jumper cables to it long enough to reach the battery of a tow vehicle. That way you don't have to rely on a trailer battery or undersized trailer hitch wiring, and you can use the trailer winch with any car/truck that has a hitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Like Dwight, I'm also, and always have been a "Belt AND Suspenders Guy" - I have stated this on other posts.We cannot be too careful where safety is involved. If you must go for a cheap price, at least go with the higher capability.When I did use the basic unit like the one above, it did not give a feeling of genuine security. The unit I currently keep in my trailer is substantially oversized and exceptionally well-made. My wife thinks I'm worth it! (You can fool some of the people some of the time...?)In the old days, I remember using a series of cheap come-alongs in series - winch in the first one, and then the second, and then the third -- because I didn't have enough really good chain - and they were Really Cheap Come-Alongs which would sometimes bind during the process. Once the car was in place, one of the guys said thet just holding them with a come-along was enough (one in front and one in back) - but I have an aversion to dangerous travel !! My preference was to use a chain and a Load-Binder to lock down all four corners, and then to use wire to lock the load-binders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share Posted July 13, 2014 Nick, I like your latest Avatar. New purchase?No just another car. That was in the collection.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlCapone Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 If it is as you say, a one time deal, why would you not rent one for the day !Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlCapone Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 I went to Harbor Freight. I did not find anything that would work.. Al I will use the old paint bucket, the log chain and the come along..It is not my Trailer to cut a hole for the winch.. I just wanted a portable winch.. The one I found on line was 750.00...And once again, why not rent one for the day !Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share Posted July 14, 2014 Can not find a portable winch for rent.... online in my town... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhambulldog Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Unless it has 4 locked wheels and or flats, when the Temperature is 90 in the shade , sunny with 90 percent humidity and the closest you can get the trailer is 40 feet away. Ask me how I know. LOLBoy a winch would have been nice.I've seen a roll back wrecker winch fail at pulling a car in that condition.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share Posted July 14, 2014 Larry the cable guy ... Get her done.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLong Posted July 14, 2014 Share Posted July 14, 2014 Just because an item is from Harbor Freight does not mean it is junk. A winch, used occasionally for say 1/2 or 1/4 it's rated capacity will last for years. I too have used multiple 'come-along' cable winches. I have a very 'serious' one, uses 5/16" cable, is made of heavy cast aluminum. But as mentioned, a 90* day, sunshine and 90% humidity can actually be DANGEROUS to some of us. So think about your health. Very few of us are in our 20's or even 40's anymore. Working too hard under arduous conditions can be very bad for our health. I use the cheap Harbor Freight tools for some of the 'one time' jobs that require some odd tool that I don't already have. For example, I have a set of 30*/60* open end wrenches that start at 1" and go up to 2.5", this is a $5-600 set from Snap on, Matco etc. The set was $50 or so from HF. I used these to change some hydraulic hoses on an old Hough Payloader. Saved me weeks of labor/time and Hundreds of dollars. Obviously if I worked on heavy equipment all the time, I'd invest in a very good set. GLong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) Today I will be dropping off this 1950 Merc Old School Lead Sled built in the 80's ....Like all the cars I haul - running or not - it will be unloaded by electric winch just as I loaded it up a few days ago.I use my electric winch every (3) days on averageMy choice is a Harbor Freight 9000 pound modelNot so much for the capacity - but for the line speedConsistently proven dependable day in & day out@ http://www.harborfreight.com/9000-lb-off-road-vehicle-electric-winch-with-automatic-load-holding-brake-61325.htmlJim Edited July 16, 2014 by Trulyvintage (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVE A Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 With winches, in my humble opinion, it is all in what you use it for. I have a 5,000 # capacity "boat trailer" winch from Harbor Freight fastened to the floor of my trailer. I only use it for the rare occasion where my cars will not or do not run. I do not pull every car on and ease off every car every time. If I did, I would buy something more substantial. The winch has a manual crank for times of failure (which have not happened) . I would not ever, as I have seen done, use the winch as a securing device to hold the car in place on the trailer (I have seen a winch used in place of tie downs...Very Risky). For the occasional use, I have found it to be more than adequate, hauling up to a non running 72 Chevelle onto my trailer. For the cases where I have had to drag a car longer distances than the winch cable, I carry an extra length of braided wire cable, drag the car the length of the winch cable and reposition (placing chocks under the car wheels while I adjust). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Personally I'm looking for a cheap eclectic wench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpushbutton Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 These guys have some good quality snatch blocks that will aid an inexpensive winch tremendously. The import is a good quality product, and they load test product before offering it for sale. I used to work there, they are good guys. http://truckntow.com/c-147053-snatch-blocks.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 We've had a small relatively cheap WARN winch in our enclosed trailer for 15 years. It's been used probably a hundred times or so and despite me swearing that it would never hold up it has, even tugging cars weighing 6000 lbs plus up the ramp. Best advice when pulling something heavy is to do it in short bursts of 4-6 feet, giving the winch a few seconds to cool off between pulls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 I have a Super Winch over in my pile at the warehouse. (The pile that I keep telling myself to get rid of at a garage sale or swap meet).It is outfitted to go into a trailer ball mount receiver on a pick up. It worked but is missing the cord with the switch on it. I took the cover off and tricked the solenoids to test it. The kit in the Super Winch website was around $60.00 to fix that.I will sell it cheap, but its heavy.If there is any interest I will take a look at it next time I am over there to see the capacity and such.PM me if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 (edited) Personally I'm looking for a cheap eclectic wench.My wife agrees that although eclectic nature is desired, cheap isn't always good and quality is important, and would likely campaign against my use of a "Cheap Eclectic Wench"...Great comment Mr. Restorer32 !! Edited July 19, 2014 by Marty Roth (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpushbutton Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Restorer32--WARN is a quality brand, I would trust their "cheap" winch over Harbor Freight or other China junk, and would pay a little more for the WARN. Sometimes you can't go on price alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlCapone Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 The obvious question is why would you use a cheap winch on that car ? Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Here is picture of the sunbeam I was going to load..Nick, that is a 1954 Kaiser Darrin, not a Sunbeam.Did you post the wrong picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now