Hand Winch for a Car Trailer and 2000 to 3500 Pound Cars

Published 10/23/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Dutton-Lainson Hand Winch w/ Automatic Brake - TUFFPLATE Finish - Freewheel - 1,200 lbs

(342)

$98.97

Bulldog Pulley Block for Powersports

(12)

$24.90

Hand Winch Cable with Safety Hook 7/32" Diameter x 50' Long - 2,500 lbs.

(15)

$48.71

Question:

Looking at buying a flat bed car hauler 19inch high with 4foot ramps and want to do a manual winch. Car weights range from 2000# to 3500#. What winch and cable would you reccommend?

asked by: Brian B

Expert Reply:

Since you are getting a car hauler trailer and will be pulling vehicles onto it that means you will have rolling loads. A rolling load is much easier to move than a static load so you do not have to have a high capacity winch.

When winching a rolling load, the winch can handle more weight than its rated capacity. On level ground, a winch can pull 10 times its capacity. Even with the trailer 19 inches tall with relatively short ramps, You would still be fine with a lower capacity winch. But the higher the capacity of the winch, the easier it will be for the winch.

I would assume that you would want a winch that has a free-wheeling mode and a brake. For a low capacity winch that fits this description you can use # DL14993 rated for 1,200 pounds. With this winch you can use cable # DL24045. You can double the capacity of the winch by using a pulley block, # BDW20004.

I have included a picture showing how a pulley block would be used and a link to our help article on winches.

expert reply by: Michael H