How to Power an Electric Trailer Winch from a Tow Vehicle

Published 12/09/2015

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Bulldog Winch Rear Wiring Kit - Quick Connect to Terminal End - 3 Gauge - 24' Long

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Bulldog Winch Quick-Connect Set for Powersports w/Dust Cover - 6 AWG

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Question:

How hard is it to electrically hook up a trailer winch so it connects to my truck? Do you connect it to the existing coupling on the truck which the trailer is connected to Brake lights turning signal etc.? Or is it hooked up to something differently on the truck? I am attempting to put a winch on the FRONT of my trailer - hook it up to my truck - so I can pull a boxing ring which is on a cart with wheels into the trailer.

asked by: Coach R

Helpful Expert Reply:

There are a few different ways that you could wire up an electric winch to your truck, even if the winch is mounted on a trailer. I do not recommend wiring it to the trailer connector wiring because winches draw a lot of power and trailer wiring is too small to handle that kind of current.

Take a look at the help article I have linked for you. The second half covers methods of wiring up a trailer mounted winch. Option 1: Wiring the Winch with Trailer and Vehicle Winch Wiring Kit, is the method I recommend using a universal winch wiring kit, # BDW20026. I have also linked a video showing an example installation for you.

The wiring kit uses 3 gauge wire. If you have a lighter duty winch it may use smaller 6 or 8 gauge wire and the solder-on pins from kit # BDW20026 would be too large for that size wire. In that case you could add # BDW20047 for 6 gauge wire.

expert reply by: Michael H