HF 2000lb winch

[cincinnati_kid]

I just bought a 20 ft enclosed trailer and I am looking at putting a winch in it to pull cars, quads, etc in. Does anyone have any experience with the winches from harbor freight? A buddy of mine has the 2000lb winch on his 16ft trailer and we have used that to pull cars but his is a Warn. Seems like there are some mixed reviews on HF website.

Thinking of this one and its even on sale

http://www.harborfreight.com/Winch-with-Automatic-Load-Holding-Brake-2000-lb-Electric-ATVUTV-68146.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNDUwMDgzOTEiLCJza3UiOiI2ODE0NiIsImlzIjoiNTkuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk%0D%0AIjoiODA0MSJ9%0D%0A

 

[AirJunky]

I have one mounted on the front of a 700 lb golf cart. We've used it to pull the cart up on to a snow covered trailer, pull a 1200 lb firepit across the sand, or pull a 450 lb elliptical up a steep, snow covered hill (to get around to the back door.... long story). It does pretty good. Although I am more than ready to get rid of the cable & install a winch rope on it.

 

[ijroorda]

If going HF I would spend the extra money for the 3000lb winch. I don't own the 2000lb model but I have friends who do; in my experience, it definitely needs a doubler to load cars and even then is somewhat questionable. The 3000lb model is still a bargain compared to Warn.

 

[Steevo]

I have the little 2000# 12v HF winch mounted to a plate that fits over a hitch ball.
I use it to pull tractors and stuff into/out of my enclosed trailer.
It works good.
I'd get a fairlead for it though, because if it gets crooked, the cable can run off the side of the drum and you waste an hour untangling it.

 

[aka Larry]

I have the little 2000# 12v HF winch mounted to a plate that fits over a hitch ball.
I use it to pull tractors and stuff into/out of my enclosed trailer.
It works good.
I'd get a fairlead for it though, because if it gets crooked, the cable can run off the side of the drum and you waste an hour untangling it.

Another issue (I have one on a 20 ft car trailer) is once the cable is under load, there is no real way to keep it from winding all the cable onto one side of the drum. Once it gets too much on that one side, it binds up shuts down or f*cks up the winch.

 

[Bobf]

Well, they will work, I have one, but IT IS HF so plan to play with it. BTW there are still $49.95 coupons floating around, so for that $$ I got what I expected.

 

[cincinnati_kid]

for that price I could buy 2 and keeps one for a spare ha. Or use it on the front of the golf cart. I have also thought about installing some anchors in the garage floor and bolting a removable winch to pull cars into the garage.