Well i moved my first car with the new trailer. It had no engine. I used a comealong and some straps. That ain't happening again. I'm in the market for a winch. Looking for recommendations. My buddy uncle has a car trailer just like mine and made up a slick mount and uses a 3000lb harbor frieght winch. For 71.00 I'm tempted to try it out and when it breaks find something better. Do you all think 3000lbs is enough? Its just rolling a car up a ramp so I don't think I need to get crazy.

 

I bought one of those a few years ago. I never had an occasion to use it for the first couple years. When I finally needed it the car got to the ramp door and the winch couldn't even pull the Crown Victoria over that hump..... I still have it because it's like brand new but it just doesn't work well.....

 

FWIW, Iv seen some trailers that have a boat winch, either manual or electric, on them.
Maybe check out Harbor Freight and see what they have.
Just a thought.

 

I bought a milemarker #2500 atv winch for $120 from cabelas a couple of weeks ago.

 

I am a firm believer in Harbor freights line of winches. I have a 10,000# one, that carries the same build as a Mile Marker 12,000, and I have put it through the paces dragging everything around. I also bought the extended warranty, and it too has paid for one replacement(kinda my fault) I use-used my winch more than many as I hauled scrap cars while I was laid off, about 6 months total, hauled 2-3 every day.

For regular use, one of the 8,000 lb ones, at $299 is a steal. It will far out last any ATV winch, etc. for a trailer.

 

You need a heavier winch than 3k. If you watch,,,Harbor Freight has their 8k or 9k on sale once in a while.

 

I have a Warn 2500 lb winch on my car trailer. It works good for the lighter stuff. If it stalls out, I have a ****** block I use. It's slower, but it doubles the pulling power. Just make sure you have enough cable. A bigger winch would be nice though. A cheap 3000 lb winch may not be as strong as a comparable Warn either.

 

I use a 12,000 lb Warn.......sometimes it's barely enough winch.

 

I have a Warn 4800. Works great.

 

Tell you that with the harbor frieghts 8000# winch for $300 has worked very well for me. I use it and it just keeps on working. Has no problem on pulling up, plenty of power. Just make sure you buy the ext. warr. incase you get a 'bad' one, never know. I made it so I can take it off to keep it out of the weather. If you want I can send a pic. on how I did it. If you look close at my pics. you can see it.

 

I also have this winch...but I do find myself having to use a ****** block from time to time for heavier vehicles. Overall it works pretty good though.

 

I have a Ramsey TR5000 winch on my trailer

 

Warn 9.5 ton Dual force. You never know when your gonna have to air up a tire on whatever your haulin.

 

I'm a firm believer that bigger is better I have a 9000 lb ramsey in my enlosed car hauler trailer and a 14000 lb ramsey on my equipment trailer there has been times I needed to winch my Bobcat outta the mud and the 14000 lb winch did the job

The other plus of having a bigger winch is more cable on the spool and on both winches I have a wireless remote that way I can winch as a one man operation

 

You want the biggest winch you can afford! Most winches have 4 wraps of cable and the max pulling power is on the 1st wrap and it decreases by 25% each wrap.
8000 lb. winch 100' cable, 3000 winch 50' cable
1st wrap 8000lbs. 100-76' 50-37' 3000
2nd 6000 75-51' 36-25 2250
3rd wrap 4500 50-26' 24-12 1688
4th wrap 3375 25-0 11-0 1266

car trailer is less than 25' so the 8000 winch will only pull 3375lbs. This great for a rolling load but not near enough to get a car up ramps and over the bump!

or shorten the cable to use the 1st or 2nd wrap.

a myth is that a ****** block will double your pulling power. A ****** block is used to get more cable out and on a lower wrap, that is what increases the power.
An 8000 lb winch can not pull 16000, only 8000!