Everything you need to know about Trailer Winches
If you have a car trailer or boat trailer, you probably also have a winch on your trailer, and you may even have a winch on a standard flatbed trailer just in case you need to load something heavy!
Winches can be an extremely useful accessory on your
trailer, saving you a lot of hard work and making a job that requires moving a
few tons as easy as flipping a switch. Today we're going to talk about winches
– how they can improve the usability of your trailer, and the pros and cons of
owning one!
Does my Trailer need a Winch?
The first and most obvious question you should ask yourself is "Do I need one?", and this depends entirely on the trailer you have and what you are using your trailer for. For example, installing a winch in your horse box trailer (or any other box trailer) might be a bit of a no-brainer... There may be the odd occasion when you need to tow something heavy to your trailer for transport, but in general, mounting a winch for these types of trailers is uncommon. But the opposite is the case for trailers for transporting boats and cars.
What Type of Levers are there?
There are generally two types of winch, electric winch and manual winch. Electric winches typically run on the 12 volt power source provided by your car, while manual winches rely on your muscles!
The type of winch you choose usually depends on the loads you intend to handle. Let's take a look at how different these two types of levers are:
Manual Winch
A manual winch, such as the Dutton Lainson worm gear winch, uses a manual cranking mechanism that has been around for decades but remains as efficient as ever. The crank is directed to rotate the lever which maintains tension in the line. When the line is retracted, it is stored on the cylinder while the ratchet prevents the winch from slipping if the crank is let go.
Some of the more advanced winches will have a gear box that allows the winch to be lifted at different speeds and weights. Most manual winches are available with gearboxes with three speed settings: 1:1, 3:1, and 5(+):1. As the ratio increases, the power supplied by the winch also increases (the speed at which the line is retrieved decreases), and this allows you to tow heavier loads such as a boat when it is fully lifted out of the water.
Electric Winch
Electric winches are connected to a 12 volt battery source (usually provided by the tow vehicle). This type occurs when you use high-speed gear ratios to provide lift. Most basic electric winches will be able to be "run" and "freewheel" – this means that the electric motor will be used to reel the line in, but gravity (or freewheel) will be used to extend the line. Very few winches have a "power off" setting that is used to release the line slowly – this is largely unnecessary except in extreme circumstances.
The size of electric winch you need will be determined by the size of the trailer and the size of the loads you intend to lift. Because you cannot control the power input (this is determined by the size of the electric motor), you will have to match your winch to its intended use to ensure maximum efficiency.
To Conclude
Although not found on every trailer, a jack can be an extremely useful accessory. They are vital in boat trailers and great for trailers used to haul vehicles. A winch can make loading your trailer much faster and safer, and in some cases it is as easy as pushing a button. If you would like any advice on which winch would be best suited for your trailer, or if you have any other trailer related queries, don't hesitate to contact us today and speak to one of our friendly and expert team members.
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