Winch capacity

[mkirsch]

How much winch would I need to pull tractors up to 8000lbs up on to a deckover trailer?

Tractors would be rolling.
 

[acwd45man]

You can never have too big of a winch, the load rating of a winch is on the first layer on the drum. A 12,000lb winch would more than meet your needs.
 

[Indiana Ken]

If you assume the following: Trailer deck height = 2 ft, Ramp length = 6 feet, only one set of tractor wheels are on the ramps at any given time, 70% of total tractor weight is on the rear wheels and all tires have air/roll freely.

The incline of the ramps is 18.5 degrees and the sine of 18.5 degrees is 0.316. Since only one set of wheels are on the ramps at any time the maximum pull will be when the rear wheels are on the ramps. To estimate the winch pull we take the sine of 18.5 degrees and multiply by the weight on the rear wheels. For example: 0.316 x 0.70 x 8000 lbs = 1771 lbs of winch pull.

Note, I am not saying your trailer needs to be the dimensions listed above however, since no details were given I just picked some numbers to use as an example. If the dimensions of your trailer are different then the winch load will be different. Also, the connection at the tractor and the position of the winch can have some effect however since this is a rough estimate that detail need not be taken into account at this time.

Now, what size winch to buy? I don't have any experience with the winch capacity needed for a 1771 lb load. Perhaps someone else can provide a recommendation.
 

[cd1]

Also keep in mind many winches will outwork the WLL of the cable on the first few layers.
 

[Ralph Bauer]

I have a 12K winch on my gooseneck. Some say you get what you pay for, but I bought a badland winch from HFT when it was on sale with additional coupon and and the 2 yr extended warranty (79.-) last year. My loads are always less than its capacity and so far it works great. The only thing I will change when the steel cable goes bad is to switch to a (expensive) poly cable. Lasts longer and rolls better on the winch, with my cable I got to get it perfect to not jam up the cable in the alotted space on the winch....
My thoughts. Ralph in OK.
 

[mkirsch]

Hmm, seems 12,000lbs is the popular choice.

What I'd like to do is mount the winch on a receiver tube so I can move it from the trailer to the front or rear hitches on my big truck.
 

[rustyfarmall]

[BOB HAWBECKER]

just double line that bad boy
 

[ericlb]

it aint that simple, a 12,000 lb rated winch will do it BUT that rating is only for the first wraps of line on the drum, if you have to fill the drum spool to reach a tractor sitting onthe ground behind the trailer you wont have nearly that much pull, the other factor is power if you buy the cheapest 12 volt battery you can, then use 4 gauge cables you'll be stuck with the load halfway to where you need it to be with a dead battery, you need to spend some money in this dept something like a 8d battery and 1 gauge or 0 gauge cables, this battery is in heavy equipment and its huge and heavy, but it will work far beyond other sizes the big cables insure you get the amps the winch motor needs to make power under a load
 

[cd1]

Remember even though you have a winch rated at 12k, that doesn't mean your cable is!!! Many are not. You have to look at working load limit not breaking strength.
 

[rustyfarmall]

[cd1]

In effect you have 1 12v battery powering that winch, 10 gauge wire would melt the insulation off in a heartbeat if the winch started to pull off it hard. Maybe not a baby winch but anything over 3000lbs or so.
 

[Keith Molden]

I have 2 snatch blocks in the tool box on the truck for things that may come close to the max on the winch. Snatch blocks might make it a little slower loading, but you won't burn up your winch that way. You can also use them to get the load to where you can bring it onto the trailer when you can't back straight up to it. Just my thoughts, keith
 

[cd1]

unfortunately not everyone thinks like you and I.
 

[Keith Molden]

Shoot, I'm just a dumb old Hillbilly that don't like to pull my guts out if I can help it, i'd rather let the winch do it. Guess I'm probably a little lazy too. LOL