winch time

[drag_on]

I have 3 atv's 2 have winches , the problem I sometime have is loading onto the trailer if the bed is wet or of frosty. there have been times the winch is needed. but , what to do if the w/o ATV  or any other perhaps dead ride needs to go onto the trailer . 99.5%  of it came from harbor fright.   

[jen]

Wow....That is a nice reciever hitch set-up.   I'll need to look for that..  BTW the Winch rating  os based on  using the mechanical advantage of the block.

[davefrombc]

Here is a link to various connectors and plug wiring for trailers..  Also  posted  under another title in the  Other ATV Files section of  Downloads.

 

[jen]

BTW  ...ilearned from experience that MFG installed trailer brake controls  can be tricky to wire.  The std wiring as shown will not work per se as an additional Parallel brake circuit is required.

[jen]

Some Truck MFG Trailer controls Send a millivolt signal out to the brake circuit.  The control looks for a milliamp load at all times to verify the trailer is there.  If it does not see that amperage load the control sends a warning that the trailer is not there!    Some electric brakes or Hydraulic over electric brakes may have enough electrical resistance to produce the milliamp load.  Others may not and require a parallel load across the brake circuit; i.e., brake power (12 vdc when energized) to Bat (-). 

[nduray3]

That looks sweet!

[Gwbarm]

Nice receiver hitch mounting job.

[Razorback]

my first post, so maybe I misread something. I  though the question was about loading ATV onto trailer.  It is a nice hook on truck.

I would ask, what is your loading gate or ramp made of , wood, metal. 

[jen]

If i have an embankment to load from, I like it from the rear.  However, the ramps  I made are designed to load from the front with the trailer hitch down.  The ramps are 3 inch angle w  2 x 6 wood.  since taking the picture I painted them and trailer wood with skid / anti slip paint.

 

[jen]

Here you can see unloading on an embankment at the cottage in the woods.  I have a web-belt winch at front of trailer (the trailer was a boat trailer in a previous life).  This probably not smart as if a down hill ramp were to flip the SXS would be at a picaros angle.  The trailer is high sitting on the level.   I don't like rear mounts as I am chicken.  Working by myself is always a challenge.LOL

[Razorback]

The picture helps a lots to understand your problem. painting with  skid / anti slip paint should help.  I have a 16 ft trailer with side bars and ramps.  So far I have not ran into the problem you have.

[jen]

The SXS is easy too load as I can engage the 4X4.   Its my VW sand rail that wants to go crazy. When loading from the front . I back him up on the trailer and when the front wheels are on the ramp the rear wheels want to spin and slide sideways     OMG 😵‍💫!   the grip paint should help and now I have a portable  electric winch I can hook on at back of trailer and pull his as* on!

The SxS and the ATV will both fit on the 16 ft trailer ..Barely!   I have not tried it yet...here is a pic of th e SXS on the trailer...  You can see he takes up a lot of space.  Tried to load a picture of me on the trailer

Triedt to show a picture of me on trailer but it did not load  Dammnn i worked hard to get that picture,,,LOL

[davefrombc]

I'm double posting this in  both this thread and the First time  ATV  Buyer so readers can  find it  easier in future.

If you plan  on doing a lot of winching, or even  just to be "well equipped" for winching,  get a couple of "tree saver"  straps and a  choker cable.-  The straps protect  trees from damage by the winch cable and are handy for  connecting to  all sorts of things in a pull.  You can  use the choker as a short extension when a longer reach is needed or use it to  tie the rear of the quad to  something when the  quad is being dragged  by the pull rather than the object you want to  move.

The  "snatch block" on the winch line  can be used as you did to  change direction the winch pulls, or to  double the pulling power of the winch..   By  the way,  winches are usually rated pulling with a single wrap  on the drum, not by whether the snatch block is used..  As each wrap loads on the drum  the pulling power reduces.. A winch  rated  3500 # at   one wrap  may  only pull 500#  on  the  last wrap  of a full drum. 

One  last thin I  can think of  is for those that may need to  winch when  there is nothing to  pull  against.   2 or preferably 3,   3ft.  iron  stakes either solid or  pipe  can  be driven  into the    ground at an angle and tied together in series top to bottom.  The  winch line is connected to the bottom  of the first stake to  pull  against.  The  other 2 stakes are  used to  keep  the  first from  being pulled forward and out  while  the  in ground  part of the first stake provides the anchor for the pull.  RT%he firmer the ground , the heavier load the stake will handle.

 

Edited September 2, 2025 by davefrombc

[jen]

BTW that 16 ft trailer has a standard 2 inch fiber belt boat loading winch on the tongue.  .No rating on it.  But the boat it was used for was probably 3500 lb inboard / outboard.

That is interesting about winch capacity and spool diameter....good info!