Bolting a winch to the garage floor to pull cars into garage?

muibubbles · Dec 28, 2013

So I have 3 non running cars on my driveway. It's asphalt and a decent incline. even with 3 guys the cars are pretty tough to push up.

Given that im far from help, i'm usually face to figure these problems out myself... Now i was thinking of picking up a 3500lbs capacity winch from HF and bolting it to my garage floor, this way i can just hook them to the tow hook and pull it up myself.

I've never used a winch, and i thought of this idea at 3am

now before i actually go through with it i was wondering what the community thinks.. is this a bad idea? :dunno:

PugetDude · Dec 28, 2013

Here's a thread full of good suggestions....

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229440

Highlux · Dec 28, 2013

Question is how deep and what size anchor plate/bolts to use.
You need a larger winch. Most cars are over 3500lbs.
I'd go 7k at least...to not strain it.

Will a cable hit the driveway at the peak between garage floor and driveway? how you going to keep cable from dragging on peak?

sparky5982 · Dec 28, 2013

You'll need to use big wedge anchors, or better yet, j-bolts, to mount the winch down - which means you need a beefy footing to put them into. A standard 4" (or less) concrete slab probably won't cut it. You might just pull up a huge chunk of your floor and have a run-away vehicle to boot.

I also wouldn't trust a POS harbor freight winch with a job like that - failure means serious danger and property damage. These boards are filled with people who buy HF stuff and are then shocked, SHOCKED that it doesn't perform how one 4x as expensive would.

muibubbles · Dec 28, 2013

lol dohhh Thanks for the link Puget! winch it is!

muibubbles · Dec 28, 2013

Highlux said:
Question is how deep and what size anchor plate/bolts to use.
You need a larger winch. Most cars are over 3500lbs.
I'd go 7k at least...to not strain it.

Will a cable hit the driveway at the peak between garage floor and driveway? how you going to keep cable from dragging on peak?

Hmmm thats a good question, im not too sure 1/2"??? what do you recommend?

The cars i'll be pulling up are RX7's which are just over 2800 stock and the ones i'll be pulling up are modified/eliminating a bunch of stock stuff so under 2800

I didnt think of the cable dragging on the peak.... hmm Would i be okay with just wedging a 2x4 under it so it rubs on the wood vs concrete?

sparky5982 said:
You'll need to use big wedge anchors, or better yet, j-bolts, to mount the winch down - which means you need a beefy footing to put them into. A standard 4" (or less) concrete slab probably won't cut it. You might just pull up a huge chunk of your floor and have a run-away vehicle to boot.

I also wouldn't trust a POS harbor freight winch with a job like that - failure means serious danger and property damage. These boards are filled with people who buy HF stuff and are then shocked, SHOCKED that it doesn't perform how one 4x as expensive would.

Hm any other economical ways to move the car into the driveway? all 3 dont run, all my friends are 45+min radius so its not easy to gether 3-4 at the same time to push it into the garage, let alone do that on 3 separate occasions, its quiet a hassle

CNGsaves · Dec 28, 2013

Pictures . . . . . .REAL pictures . . . . .with that recent thread on exact same topic, you'll have to post up picture of your "steep driveway" and show GJ what you've got.

If it were me, I'd get a tow strap and have teen-age kid steer the disabled car as I pulled it up the driveway in other lane (of course the disabled car needs to have working brakes).

:needpics:

muibubbles · Dec 28, 2013

CNGsaves said:
Pictures . . . . . .REAL pictures . . . . .with that recent thread on exact same topic, you'll have to post up picture of your "steep driveway" and show GJ what you've got.

If it were me, I'd get a tow strap and have teen-age kid steer the disabled car as I pulled it up the driveway in other lane (of course the disabled car needs to have working brakes).

LOL no way. I just finished reading the other thread and im in fear of being exiled off of GJ LOL

By no means is it steep like a mountain, but steep enough where it requires 3-4 people to push it up. if it was one car, one time, i would just go through the hassle of getting people to help me push it.

but i am looking for convenience as I will be doing this with 3 different cars (all rx7s) and really would like to figure out a method to do it on my own. (were all on GJ so Its safe to assume who doesnt like doing it all on their own if they could right?)

thanks for the response, im just going to go with a poopie HF 3500 winch, and anchor it into the concrete in my garage.

and pray for the best lol :beer:

djjsr · Dec 28, 2013

muibubbles said:
So I have 3 non running cars on my driveway.

I thought this was going to be a redneck joke.

Sorry ......... carry on.

Highlux · Dec 28, 2013

Oh ****...I forgot to warn you....

3 rotary rx7's running in unison in the same vicinity will create a rift in the fabric of the universe. Dont do it!!

PugetDude · Dec 28, 2013

You might consider using a ****** block (pulley) on a chain on the front of the car to reduce the rolling load on the winch. Anchor the winch, (I'd use 1/2 bolts epoxied into the slab) then loop thru the ****** block and attach the pulling end back to the winch (or a suitable anchor, i.e. a welded eyebolt) Overinflate the tires to reduce rolling resistance, and you'll probably do just fine with the HF little winch-rolling load isn't the same as lifting load.

Hghgrad · Dec 28, 2013

I use the 12v badlands 3000lb winch on my quad and it's pretty strong. No problem pulling my wrangler with it.

sberry · Dec 28, 2013

We aint lifting the car, we are dragging it, 500# tops

benny42 · Dec 28, 2013

sberry said:
We aint lifting the car, we are dragging it, 500# tops

This is wise advise. Don't blow the budget on a huge winch, it is a rolling load.

Zeke · Dec 28, 2013

sberry said:
We aint lifting the car, we are dragging it, 500# tops

benny42 said:
This is wise advise. Don't blow the budget on a huge winch, it is a rolling load.

The typical HF 100 dollar winch (which goes on sale at $59) is rated at 5000 lbs. flat pull and 1000 vertical. The problem is the small winches don't have much cable so be ready to pull in stages if you have more than the length of the garage to pull. IOW, you'll need more cable or some chain.

72Anthony · Dec 28, 2013

Check out Grainger's catalog as they have a table. As recall, on a level surface the winch only needs to be rated for 10% of the vehicles weight.

muibubbles · Dec 28, 2013

djjsr said:
I thought this was going to be a redneck joke.

Sorry ......... carry on.

lol they're rotaries. they never run

Highlux said:
Oh ****...I forgot to warn you....

3 rotary rx7's running in unison in the same vicinity will create a rift in the fabric of the universe. Dont do it!!

haha tell me about it..
5am ~7 rx7's warming = neighbor coming out screaming :willy_nil

http://www.instavillage.com/v/585402151598747812_217504795/

PugetDude said:
You might consider using a ****** block (pulley) on a chain on the front of the car to reduce the rolling load on the winch. Anchor the winch, (I'd use 1/2 bolts epoxied into the slab) then loop thru the ****** block and attach the pulling end back to the winch (or a suitable anchor, i.e. a welded eyebolt) Overinflate the tires to reduce rolling resistance, and you'll probably do just fine with the HF little winch-rolling load isn't the same as lifting load.

will do, thanks for the tip!

sberry said:
We aint lifting the car, we are dragging it, 500# tops

lol sweet, i didnt think to equate the difference in load maybe ill get a smaller one.. however the 3500 HF one has 50ft of cable which i think is perfect

Zeke said:
The typical HF 100 dollar winch (which goes on sale at $59) is rated at 5000 lbs. flat pull and 1000 vertical. The problem is the small winches don't have much cable so be ready to pull in stages if you have more than the length of the garage to pull. IOW, you'll need more cable or some chain.

thanks for the suggestion. ill look into price.. smaller winch +cables vs larger winch and figure out if the price difference is worth the upgrade or just go with a smaller unit

72Anthony said:
Check out Grainger's catalog as they have a table. As recall, on a level surface the winch only needs to be rated for 10% of the vehicles weight.

Good info! thanks!

--> · Dec 28, 2013

With any kind of lifting or pulling I always say bigger is better. If you have a 2800# load and you think only 500 will be felt by the line, you should go with a 1500# winch minimum. Personally I would spend the extra money and go with a 3000#. You can't have enough winch but you sure can have too little !

Zeke · Dec 28, 2013

--> said:
With any kind of lifting or pulling I always say bigger is better. If you have a 2800# load and you think only 500 will be felt by the line, you should go with a 1500# winch minimum. Personally I would spend the extra money and go with a 3000#. You can't have enough wench but you sure can have too little !

That's what I say....

PugetDude · Dec 28, 2013

72Anthony said:
Check out Grainger's catalog as they have a table. As recall, on a level surface the winch only needs to be rated for 10% of the vehicles weight.

Found the charts; everything you need to know about winching a vehicle...

http://www.grainger.com/tps/material_handling_winch_selection_guide.pdf

littletoes · Dec 28, 2013

sberry said:
We aint lifting the car, we are dragging it, 500# tops

What HE said.

Piece of cake....put a couple of inserts in the floor, and pull away.

If 3 guys can push it, your not talking about much "push". Sounds like a bunch of these guys are over thinking your simple, almost non-existent problem.

Do you have concrete footings? If so, put an insert in it, and a shoulderless eyebolt rated for what the winch is rated for, then pull away.

bluebolt · Dec 29, 2013

I would bolt a step bumper receiver hitch to the floor, put the winch on a receiver hitch mount and that way you can easily remove the winch, use it on other vehicles or trailers etecetera.

theknurl · Dec 29, 2013

wait till the Girl Scouts come by selling cookies and have them push it in....... :lol_hitti

nicksnothereman · Dec 29, 2013

muibubbles said:
So I have 3 non running cars on my driveway. It's asphalt and a decent incline. even with 3 guys the cars are pretty tough to push up.

Given that im far from help, i'm usually face to figure these problems out myself... Now i was thinking of picking up a 3500lbs capacity winch from HF and bolting it to my garage floor, this way i can just hook them to the tow hook and pull it up myself.

I've never used a winch, and i thought of this idea at 3am now before i actually go through with it i was wondering what the community thinks.. is this a bad idea?

One at a time? Yeah that would probably work decently if you mount it properly. If you don't...well, just hope no one is near the car (on the side or behind) when that winch and the car goes flying because it could potentially eviscerate someone.

You'd have to ask an engineer how long you want the bolts to be. My "I don't know answer" would be around 4-6" long but it's probably not far off. And make sure the cable doesn't rub due to the incline; use fixed guides if you need to or wrap the cable in something that slides extremely well but is removable. Again, not an engineer.

sberry · Dec 29, 2013

Not only dragging but its got modern tires on it. If it was super critical could drag a block, 2x4 or 4x4 right behind the wheels like a chock to prevent roll back and for re rigging, maybe to take out section of extra cable for long pull. They pronanly don't make much of a winch less than 1500 anyway, I would be taking the handle off a hand boat winch and running it with a battery drill.
An old time block and tackle and long rope.

isaac338 · Dec 29, 2013

Don't overthink it. Mine is a receiver tube welded to a piece of channel. It was intended to be bolted to the floor with four 1/2" wedge anchors but I was too lazy to drill the other two holes so it's only got two holding it in. The anchors were 6" long so they sit in the floor about 4-5".

The 3000lb winch was $99 and I welded a piece of 2" square 1/4" wall tube to the bottom of it with a hole for the receiver pin.

I've never had an issue hauling any cars into the shop with it and there's a 6" lip right at the door. If it ever fails to pull anything up that lip I'll ****** block it. This winch hauls dead cars up onto my trailer with no trouble as well.

This is by far one of the best things I've ever done as far as shop gear - pushing dead cars is the worst thing ever, and since this is removable I can use it on the trailer and on the truck receiver to pull cars out of the shop. I have enough tow ropes that I can pull a car from the street into the shop, and it pulls them through snowbanks and ice so I don't even have to shovel very much in winter. With a snatchblock in the ceiling I can use it to lift stuff and it's great for moving machinery around (just used it to pull a 2500lb mill and 2000lb lathe into the shop).

sberry · Dec 29, 2013

Ya, that's good and then some.

Farmall450 · Dec 29, 2013

Highlux said:
Question is how deep and what size anchor plate/bolts to use.
You need a larger winch. Most cars are over 3500lbs.
I'd go 7k at least...to not strain it.

Will a cable hit the driveway at the peak between garage floor and driveway? how you going to keep cable from dragging on peak?

Even if a car weighs more than 3500 lbs, he's not lifting it straight up...it rolls with a lot less force than it's weight...

KCarGuy · Dec 29, 2013

I have a 110 VAC Winch bolted to my Floor, under my stairs, at the back wall, in the center of the Garage.
I have pulled in many "dead" vehicles by myself to work on them.
My Rope Cable extends to the overhead door, and I hook a Nylon strap from that to the Vehicle.
its great not waiting to find or get help to get stuff done.
Plus its out of the way, out of sight. but always there when ya need it.

I have a Door (panel) that hides it under my staircase...with a 2" hole in it.
The hole has a Steel ring with Tabs welded to it.
so I can screw it to the Panel.
and a Large hook hanging out.
(thats all you see)

And a 12 foot cable with a Up-Down (in-out) botton control to guide it.

ishiboo · Dec 29, 2013

Highlux said:
Question is how deep and what size anchor plate/bolts to use.
You need a larger winch. Most cars are over 3500lbs.
I'd go 7k at least...to not strain it.

Will a cable hit the driveway at the peak between garage floor and driveway? how you going to keep cable from dragging on peak?

Rolling load is not the dead weight of the vehicle by any means.

sparky5982 said:
You'll need to use big wedge anchors, or better yet, j-bolts, to mount the winch down - which means you need a beefy footing to put them into. A standard 4" (or less) concrete slab probably won't cut it. You might just pull up a huge chunk of your floor and have a run-away vehicle to boot.

I also wouldn't trust a POS harbor freight winch with a job like that - failure means serious danger and property damage. These boards are filled with people who buy HF stuff and are then shocked, SHOCKED that it doesn't perform how one 4x as expensive would.

Wedge anchors will be fine, 4" slab will be fine for any normal weight car/truck. You won't pull the slab up.

I would definitely have someone in the drivers seat ready to apply the brakes no matter what winch brand.

Danglerb · Dec 29, 2013

$15 HF come along, steer by pushing on the tires.

I wonder how well a BF ratchet with some kind of attachment to a wheel might work?

Hey, and if a ratchet might work, then so might an impact wrench ...

MN4x4 · Dec 29, 2013

Personally I wouldn't mount the winch to the floor permanently. I don't need more **** on the floor of my shop. Check out this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60255

Autorotica · Dec 29, 2013

Why not just extend the control wiring and sit in the car so if something goes wrong, you can apply the brake?

Chris

2oolhound · Dec 29, 2013

Some other considerations:

- Mount a ****** block in the garage, hook a cable to the dead car and the other end to a vehicle that runs. Pull the dead car in by driving the working vehicle down the driveway. (you don't get to buy a chinese winch this way though)

- Mount the winch on a vehicle that runs and use a ****** block in the garage. If having a winch on your vehicle sounds appealing.

- Mount the winch in the garage like isaac338 but also consider mounting a ****** block in your roof system to hoist loads up, pull engines etc. You would need to anchor the winch better (drill anchor bolts on an angle) for pulls like that and your roof system would need to support it. I have a small winch in my rafters I hoist 500 lb motorcycle with. You would get more use out of your winch this way. (in your case you would have a ****** block up there and winch on the floor)

Outlawmws · Dec 29, 2013

--> said:
With any kind of lifting or pulling I always say bigger is better. If you have a 2800# load and you think only 500 will be felt by the line, you should go with a 1500# winch minimum. Personally I would spend the extra money and go with a 3000#. You can't have enough wench but you sure can have too little !

Zeke said:
That's what I say....

Quote of the day! :lol:

Outlawmws · Dec 29, 2013

And for the anchor: I used a 3" deep 1/2" bolt anchor to pull a 4000 lb T-bird up a drive way (Modest slope) with no issues at all. I used a come-a-long...

For a more secure anchoring, use 2 bolts (threaded anchor so you can take them out and clear the floor) into the floor about a foot apart (not any closer) and in line to the pull. Bolt your winch to a 2" wide band iron strap and that strap to the floor. For your load you will never pull it out...

If you put the anchors so they are below grade, you can replace the bolts with something like a countersunk screws so the threaded anchors don't fill with debris...

BDT/NWMN · Dec 29, 2013

Well, if you want to put a 12volt winch in your garage, don't forget the battery or power supply... 120volt may be a better choice....Good luck on the low cost dime-store grade winches.. Me; for a simple task like that; I would get a 2000LB hand crank boat winch and call it a day..

jabberwoki · Dec 29, 2013

I have an air winch rated at 750 lb and it`s blotted down to the concrete floor with 4 x 3/8 anchor bolts and it pulls my non running 68 Buick wildcat and a 68 Caddy eldo in the shop no sweat.

TheJoPro · Mar 30, 2015

Glad I found this thread and that this possibility works well.
I didn't find many coherent posts on Youtube (I wanted visual content).

I have a steep driveway and it's always snowy or icy in the driveway in winter (Canada, Quebec, eh!)...

My TDI Jetta isn't doing the job at all of backing the 800 pounds open-trailer in the garage... And is barely backing itself properly. Next winter the garage will be heated so I will be wanting to put my car in it.

I am considering a SUV (Escape, CR-V) but any Front-Wheel-Drive won't do all that better...
So I am considering a AWD transmission one...but paying year long gaz mileage for AWD that I use 5% or 10% of the time... or maybe the possibility to hitch the car to the garage with a 120V or manual winch!

I would like to setup a ball-receiver part to lock onto the car (safety) and be able to stay in the car to steer and brake (safety).

I am just not figuring the part where I can have the winch remote with me in the car tho??? Are the wireless ones really more expensive?

Or I find a way to have a female-ball-receiver part bolter to the winch that I would attach onto the car hitch and then a wired remote from the back of the car to my driver side?

Ideas, opinions?

I have a solid 24 feet of garage + maybe 20-30 feet of wire for the distance I need.

TheJoPro · Mar 30, 2015

My crazy idea ;

Car hitch
+

+ have the winch installed on tubing on the same part
+ Shackle to do a double line (more force) :
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/unimog/338303d1287792386-unimog-u1300l-rw1-my-new-unimog-******-block2.jpg

and
Pulley block/Anchor point deep into the garage:

Am I making this more complex than I should?
Thanks for the inputs, I am in sales, not engineering!

Bolting a winch to the garage floor to pull cars into garage?

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