73-84 IMSA Widebody

What is the rule of thumb for winch capacities?
The car is about 2700 with fluids and fuel. I'll mount it at the front of my trailer.
Harbor freight has 3K and 3.5K, winches for less than $100.

fatbillybob

I like min capacity as 100% or the weight. You need less than that in reality. I forget the forumla is like sin of the angle of your ramp times the mass but just be safe and go with 100% weight.

davidfarmer

I have a cheap harbor freight winch....it works great, but it's slow. If you want a faster winch, go with a name brand. I'm fine having a slow one.

JDIllon

I tried the HB 2000#, it will NOT pull my C6-Z06 on to my trailer!!! I went up the 3000# and it pulls it on fine. Just for your info. And as David said it is a little slow but it seems to work fine. JD

Coc5

I have personally used this one recently. I will say I am extremely pleased with it. It is remote too. It should easily move a car up a trailer. Especially with a ****** block.

I used it to lower and raise the 4l80 and both dual t-cases (203/205) out of my off-road rig. All connected together at the same time.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95912

73-84 IMSA Widebody

I went with this one on sale for $89 and the $14 mounting plate. Mounted nicely and pulled the car right on no problems. It was plenty fast for loading as I check everything 10 times anyway.
Thanks
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91781

fatbillybob

or by the hf cheapo 8000lb winch. you will find out it is a ramsey winch. compare the owners manuals and they are identical except the names

larryfs

John Shiels

you are not getting a made in USA Ramsey winch at a HF price. They probably copied the owners manual and the winch in China.

larryfs

It's called private labeling. Exact same product with a different stamp on the box. I've seen it with rotors, and many things.

John Shiels

doubtful you are making a winch in the USA for 100 including your profit. Why would they private label it to cut their own throat?

73-84 IMSA Widebody

Qoute heard at a Holiday Inn Express: "Better to steal the low end market from and for yourself than have the Chicoms do it."

Bink

Then Ramsey would have their HF/Knock-off units fabbed in China and their premium Ramsey labeled winches made in the USA?

I'd stick with made in USA when it comes to cables under tension.

John Shiels

Ramsey reduces prices to Ramsey dealers so you an buy them cheaper than going to Ramsey. They told me they have sales through dealers to combat crap from China who knocks off the stuff.

mousecatcher

as with anything that you only have one of and NEED it to work, the best one you can get (usu. translates to most expensive you can afford).

http://superwinch.com/Trailer_Winch_Selection.html

you actually don't need all that much pulling power since the angle is fairly close to horizontal. you'll probably be on the 2nd wrap when the front end clears the ramps. as you continue to pull, you will have more wraps (= less pulling power), but the car will be at a flatter angle which will compensate.

however, note that the superwinch formula is based on typical rolling resistance. if you break something and a wheel is locked up, or bent, or otherwise dragging, the required power will be much greater.

urslooow

how do these winches mount to the trailer? Do u have to drill the trailer? so mouse, which winch do u recommend?

mousecatcher

yes, normally you would have to drill the trailer. i had to weld an aluminum backing plate underneath the deck on my trailer (featherlite) as the deck itself is not structural. the backing plate spans the trailer's structural beams. (the "factory" d-rings are also mounted this way.) you'll also need a battery box, or if you have a toolbox mounted you could put it in there. i used an extension cable from my truck battery so i don't have to worry about charging a separate winch battery or adding a box.

some folks mount the winch to a square tube and then weld or mount a square receiver to the trailer. that way you can also easily use the winch in your truck's hitch receiver if you want to use it without the trailer itself.

for the vette, it's fine having the winch mounted directly on the trailer deck. for my formula car, it's a bit low as the winch point on the car is high up and in the back, and the cable rubs the nose bodywork. i haven't bothered to raise the winch since i usu. just push the car onto the trailer anyway (it's light enough). if i do have to winch it up i use a piece of rubber to protect the car. but it would be easy to add a spacer plate if i wanted.

i don't have enough experience to actually recommend anything. i will say i am super happy with my s5000. amazon has the best price. it wasn't much more than the lowest capacity superwinch (s3000). superwinch also sells the kit to use your truck's battery.