41ratrod
Well-known member
Has anyone bought a HF 12 volt electric winch?
witch one and pass or fail
been thinking about getting one but for the trailer.
witch one and pass or fail
been thinking about getting one but for the trailer.
Horbor fright
- Thread starter 41ratrod
- Start date
fflintstone
Well-known member
I bought a little camo one and mounted it on my trailer. I have used it 3 times with no problem. I also bought a 10,000 LB model for my jeep. Unfortunately the leads are about a foot to short to hook to my battery. I cannot comment on how well it works. It was 25% cheaper than the 8,000 LB model @ 4WD hardware. That one is also a China made winch.
luv2ride
Member
Personally, I would not buy anything with moving parts (even some that don't) from HF. Just my .02.
I bought one last year for my trailer, decent sized 3,000 lb model.
It was broke right out of the box, but I should clarify:
The "in" solonoid was broke. So I have to reverse the wires every time I want to power out and power in. Just free spool it right? No because also right out of the box broken was the free spool trigger. I decided fawk it I'll just start shopping for another one right away, then I thought ya know, it's dangerous as hell with no power out in case I snag or bend something I don't want (like a body part) but I figured in the 10 years I had my warn on my CJ I never had a close call so I decided to use it till it completely breaks.
Since then I've pulled my willys with flat tires up onto the trailer, and dragged a 300 pound steel snowplow out of some brush and onto the trailer, bunch of chunks of heavy steel and other things too. I gotta say for being half broke out of the box it has been one tough cookie since then. Pulls like hell, lives up to it's rating for sure.
That said, don't buy one
A winch is not something you want to fail. Go with the Superwinch UT3000, made in the USA!!!!!!!!!!!
It was broke right out of the box, but I should clarify:
The "in" solonoid was broke. So I have to reverse the wires every time I want to power out and power in. Just free spool it right? No because also right out of the box broken was the free spool trigger. I decided fawk it I'll just start shopping for another one right away, then I thought ya know, it's dangerous as hell with no power out in case I snag or bend something I don't want (like a body part) but I figured in the 10 years I had my warn on my CJ I never had a close call so I decided to use it till it completely breaks.
Since then I've pulled my willys with flat tires up onto the trailer, and dragged a 300 pound steel snowplow out of some brush and onto the trailer, bunch of chunks of heavy steel and other things too. I gotta say for being half broke out of the box it has been one tough cookie since then. Pulls like hell, lives up to it's rating for sure.
That said, don't buy one
A winch is not something you want to fail. Go with the Superwinch UT3000, made in the USA!!!!!!!!!!!Well hate to spoil the na sayers of this hf winch ..i bought the 10,000 big boy and have had it for over a year and used it on average about 3 times a month more so now that garage is built and i have to say its a beast biggest thing i winched was a 71 chevy tanker truck about 100 feet fully out and slightly up hill and it did it no problem then up on trailer no problem, now i keep it inside when not using it i welded a 2in receiver dickydoo on it and just pin it when needed in any 2in receiver, gotta say i love it.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Just curious....did you mis-spell your thread title "Horbor fright" on purpose?
If so, then why bother asking if you already have a pre-disposed opinion of their stuff?
If so, then why bother asking if you already have a pre-disposed opinion of their stuff?
Pug}{maN
Well-known member
Orangestang
Well-known member
Maybe the guy has a public school edumaction LOL.....
I bought the 3000# one about 6yrs ago to pull my racecar in/out of my trailer it works fine.
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GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
I thought it was a Halloween joke of some sorts..Harbor Fright and Witch One....I kept waiting for the Pumpkin punch line....
1983Camperspecial
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2011
- Messages
- 96
Yawn,..This harbor freight bashing is getting old , You guys realize you are driving you jap car and posting on your jap computers? HF is fine with some things, Most moving part items from HF are fine, Tire changer great, 12 volt boat type winch, works perfect, recently pulled a 4,000lb 3/4 ton truck with all four wheels locked up across the yard , hardly strained. Hardly ever had any problems with any thing I have bought from there, You just have to look at things to see how well they are made. You can tell a decent product from a total POS. Matter of fact I have a Mac tools 3/8 impact gun with Japan cast in the bottom of it, So alot of **** is made overseas, even your coveted name brand **** that you pay way to much just to say you have the name brand tool.
Pug}{maN
Well-known member
this is my go to when some one bashes on the h-f stuff...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67850&highlight=gearwrench
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67850&highlight=gearwrench
bmwohio
Well-known member
trbomax
Well-known member
Ive had an 8000# one on my tilt bed back hoe trailer for 5 yrs.Its pulled a lot of heavy stuff up on to that trailer,including the tractor/back hoe.Its outside in the weather 12 months a year and has never missed a beat.
DGC15
Well-known member
I have a 6000# one on my trailer. I made long battery cables for it. When I get ready to pull a car onto the trailer, I run the cables to the front of my truck and clamp onto the battery. Have pulled several cars on that had the wheels locked up, no problems. have had it about 4 years.
Steevo
Well-known member
I have one of the smaller ones, and I use it to pull non-op and heavy stuff into my trailer.
The only problem I have had is cable getting off the end of the spool if it isn't monitored while winding up under load. I think a fairlead to keep it on the drum would help.
The only problem I have had is cable getting off the end of the spool if it isn't monitored while winding up under load. I think a fairlead to keep it on the drum would help.
econoaddict
Well-known member
I bought the smaller camo one with the remote key fob control for in and out.
So far it has been used for loading dead cars onto my trailer. It has done well so far, gets iffy when you have a really heavy rig on the ramps but it slowly works it on up.
Got my 73 F250 stuck one day and the little winch managed to drag it out.
I am happy with it but plan on getting a bigger one soon.
So far it has been used for loading dead cars onto my trailer. It has done well so far, gets iffy when you have a really heavy rig on the ramps but it slowly works it on up.
Got my 73 F250 stuck one day and the little winch managed to drag it out.
I am happy with it but plan on getting a bigger one soon.
Rixter58
Well-known member
A freind of mine and I bought a goosneck trailer in partnership about 6 years ago. He calls me one day right after we bought it and says..."Lets put a winch on the trailer, Harbor Freight has them on sale". Very reluctantly I agreed thinking how it was going to be a joke and what a waste on money it was going to be. Well, shortly after he installed it he was diagnosed with cancer, so I bought out his half of the trailer. I've got to tell you, I couldnt have been more WRONG about the winch. It is now 6 years later and the thing is still going strong. If it layd down and died tomorrow it wouldnt owe me a dime and I'd be at aharbor Freight's doorstep the next day with money in hand for a new one.
Sorry if I offended anyone by miss spilling HARBOR I was should of cough that.
I was there yesterday and bought some stuff.
Been thinking about winch for some time ,I been buying used cars to repair
and some of them is a real pain to load when working alone. Most of the time they aren't running.
I was there yesterday and bought some stuff.
Been thinking about winch for some time ,I been buying used cars to repair
and some of them is a real pain to load when working alone. Most of the time they aren't running.
Well, I have 3 of them. None purchased new, I bought them all at auction. I use one ATV winch for pulling things up to the rafters in the shop. It works OK, the freewheeling portion of it is broken so you have to power it in and out, no big deal in the situation that I use it. I had another one with the keyfob wireless remote. The winch itself worked OK, but the wireless was terrible. There was too much lag time from when you hit the button to stop until the winch actually stopped. I always though someone was going to get their hand caught and I wouldn't be able to stop it in time. I changed that one to a wired switch, it's still working on my buddies ATV. The last one I have is the portable unit. I use this one to pull cars up on my tow dolly and any other winching I need. It works well, hasn't broken yet and was well worth the $40 I paid for it. I like that it is portable so I don't have to have it attached to anything. My advice is to forget the fancy wireless model and get a good old fashioned wired remote.
383 240z
Well-known member
ive got the 10k on the front of my JK, works great but is SLOW, if your not in a hurry its a good winch, but it is showing its age from being out in the elements for the past 5 years. And I work for 4wd.com Keith
Bender78
Well-known member
That said, don't buy one
Guess again. Superwinch's motors and most of the components are made in China. The high end winches are assembled here.
Zeke
Well-known member
I have one that I'd sell. I used it a few times for a small race car and it worked fine.
regguy1
Well-known member
Maybe he was "Homescholed"
Attachments
eborcim
Well-known member
Falcon67
Well-known member
I have a 3000# unit I bought with a coupon about 2 years ago. It sat under the bench until recently. I bought a deep cycle marine battery at O'Reillys and used it to pull the mill and lathe up on my car trailer for moving. Worked real nice. I did have to go buy the bracket for it to make it a bit easier to mount - woopee, another $10. Haven't tried a car with it but I imagine it'll work just fine. It's not a Superwinch, but I don't use a winch very much so it fits the need and was all under $100 even adding in the bracket.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3000-lb-capacity-12-volt-winch-with-roller-fairlead-91781.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3000-lb-capacity-12-volt-winch-with-roller-fairlead-91781.html
Case IH
Well-known member
So all in all these things seem to be decent, not?....I Think I would still want a Warn winch to pull something out of a back country trail but for ditch recovery or stumps or race cars it seems pretty decent
Rockerbox1
Well-known member
Sorry if I offended anyone by miss spilling HARBOR I was should of cough that.
I was there yesterday and bought some stuff.
Been thinking about winch for some time ,I been buying used cars to repair
and some of them is a real pain to load when working alone. Most of the time they aren't running.
you mean misspElling?
and you might have cAughT it if you hadn't coughed so hard
and I think the original post was something about horbor FRIGHT... was harbor friEght that scary?
just ribbin ya man, I can't spell for **** when I am typing either, my brain works faster than my fingers
Rixter58
Well-known member
..."Well, shortly after he installed it he was diagnosed with cancer," ... "If it layd down and died tomorrow..."
Ummm...How's your friend?[/
They were able to treat him and get it into remission at the time. It is now back with a vengence and has spread. Just before Christmas, the descision was made not to go through any more Chemo.....As of last week, he is no longer up to taking visitors or phone calls. I expect the dreaded phone call......... Thanks for asking.
mrtwo91
Member
I bought the little camo 3000# winch a few years ago with a 20% off and it was sale at the time, think I ended up paying about $25 for it. I welded up a bracket to stradle the crossbar on my HD-9 Lift and use it to winch dead vehicles on and off the lift. The remote comes it real handy, allows me to steer the vehicles while I winch.
tcianci
Well-known member
I am sorry to hear about the condition of your friend. I too have a HF winch 12V that I bought to pull my project truck back into the garage (slight incline to the door way). I think I paid 39 bucks for it...worth every penny.
NJHandyGuy
Well-known member
MIne failed epically moving a 88 astrovan with no motor up a 12$ grade onto my car trailer some years back no experiences other than that one i brought it back and got my $$$ back
arkracing
Well-known member
I've had the 5500lb winch on my car trailer for over 2 years. No problems yet - and I love the 80 feet of heavy cable that it has on it. I've pulled cars with no wheel (yeh yeh, I'm serious). The only problem that I had was that the remote switch stopped working, so I replaced it with a momentary toggle switch.
This winch get USED frequently, I repair cars for a living and scrap cars as well. I would say i use it @ least 2 times a week. I just pulled a junk out of a snow bank. The winch pulled my truck & trailer, my buddy had to get in the truck and hold the brakes to stop it.
NOTE: I have a battery on the car trailer close to the winch so that the cable leads are close the the power source. I do this so that there isn't a long current draw which can burn out motors.
This winch get USED frequently, I repair cars for a living and scrap cars as well. I would say i use it @ least 2 times a week. I just pulled a junk out of a snow bank. The winch pulled my truck & trailer, my buddy had to get in the truck and hold the brakes to stop it.
NOTE: I have a battery on the car trailer close to the winch so that the cable leads are close the the power source. I do this so that there isn't a long current draw which can burn out motors.
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Falcon67
Well-known member
We went through this with a friend/co-worker just last year. I feel for you, truly. And for your friend.
mdbeck1
Well-known member
The little camo one is the second one that I bought. The first one had a 2,000 lb rating and just was a pain to pull my jeep up on the trailer. I bought the little camo one (3,000 lb rating) because it had a higher weight rating and the remote. Now I can walk beside the jeep while it is loading and steer it onto the trailer. It also works on the smaller cars that I end up hauling for friends. It's a win in my book. I started bulding a toolbox for the tongue of the trailer just to keep the winch and battery close to the work.
I took the 2,000 lb winch and put it on top of my HF crane. The crane is mounted on the back of the jeep. I use it to retrieve and skin deer during deer season. It works good for that.