Howdy all - My good friend is moving from LA to AZ. He purchased a Harbor Freight 5000lb winch (Link To ManualIt comes with 5 gauge wire to be used on front of the tow vehicle; However, he wants to use it on the car trailer he's using to pull his 'works in progress' onto the trailer.I suggested he mount the winch on the trailer and then turn his truck around, pop the hood and use some quick connects between the front of the truck and the front of the trailer. That Idea got nixed.So the question is this:What gauge wire does he need to run from the battery of the truck to the rear of the truck (a distance of about 21') and what connector can he use to connect from the truck to the trailer (mind you he's not going to tow with the connector attached, just when pulling the cars on the trailer).The other alternative, is to put a battery on the front of the trailer connect the winch there, and when he's driving to AZ, it'll recharge the battery (albeit slowly) over the 8 hour trek.Thoughts?Thanks in advance!josh

I would run nothing less than 4GA but why not put a battery on the trailer and use it.. 0ga might be better for the long run.Another option is to ask someone who does thatXtreme Auto in Townsend Ga.. Louis rigged up his car hauler trailer with a winch last spring.. I do not know if he has a battery on that trailer or not but think he does. If it's big enough to need the winch you likely have a battery for emergency brakes on the trailer. Just upgrade it a bit

2/0It would be cheaper to mount the battery on the trailer but remember that if the charge wire from the truck is connected while using the battery there could still be a large amp draw from the truck. The cheapest thing to do in that case is to not be connected to the truck during battery use.

I vote for the battery and let it charge when driving. Disconnect the battery from the tow vehicle when the wench is in operation.

DutchmenSport wrote:Disconnect the battery from the tow vehicle when the wench is in operation.Wench? Hmmmm, she may not like being "disconnected". :W

SoundGuy wrote:DutchmenSport wrote:Disconnect the battery from the tow vehicle when the wench is in operation.Wench? Hmmmm, she may not like being "disconnected". :WWhat she dont know wont hurt her :)

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boogie_4wheel
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
www.awdirect.com/ramsey-quick-connect-battery-cable-for-front-winch-mounting-20-ft-stc1802005/winch-accessories/

I bought just the connectors (from same website) and made my own for a front hitch mounted winch (Warn M8000). They work great with the exception of the connector contacts get a thin corrosion over time so I have to clean them about once a year.
red31
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
jodeb720 wrote:

I agree it would be easier to turn the truck around; However, he'd need a hitch on the front of the truck to hold it down while the car is pulled up on the trailer.

the tongue rise makes it easier and if not desired if can be stopped with simple cribbing on the rear of the trailer.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 11, 2018
The 7-pin connector should have a charge line to maintain the trailer battery.
jodeb720
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
OP Here... I'm just giggling about the wench and her battery being disconnected. What would would she need a battery for in the first place! ?? LOL

I agree it would be easier to turn the truck around; However, he'd need a hitch on the front of the truck to hold it down while the car is pulled up on the trailer.

I think he needs to realize since he has electric breaks and a break away cable, he needs a battery in the trailer for safety break away line.

Even though there might be a draw on the tow vehicle, and there would be a large loss because the wire from the factory to the 7 pin is smaller gauge, it's better than trying to run the wire from the front of the truck to the 7 pin to the Trailer for the winch.

Thanks again!

Josh
RobWNY
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
5g, 4g, 2/0g, jumper cables, put a battery on the trailer, turn the vehicle around for shorter run.....If the OP wasn't scratching his head when he posted, he sure is now!
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 11, 2018
Put a battery on the trailer. Charge with existing system. Use existing #5 wire.
jkwilson
Explorer III
Apr 11, 2018
red31 wrote:
much shorter run if ya turn the vehicle around, chock the trailer, use heavy duty jumper cables to wench/battery/trailer.

Problem is the tongue of the trailer won't stay down when you are loading. You can actually winch it into the air if the load isn't free wheeling.
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 11, 2018
I would have thought a trailer of that size might already have electric brakes with a battery and safety breakaway switch. I'd put a larger battery in for that (assuming it's just dinky little one to begin with) and use that for the winch. If it doesn't have brakes, or has electric brakes but no breakaway switch, I'd add those parts. Obviously, if it has surge brakes, things are different.

As for a connector for the truck, should one go that route, I think the usual connectors are the "quick connect" connectors also used for semi-permanent jumper cables often equipped on tow trucks etc. (where there's a connector on the grill of the truck that the other half of the cables plug into). Here is one example (but please note that I don't know if these particular ones are great, or junk, or something in between).
red31
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
much shorter run if ya turn the vehicle around, chock the trailer, use heavy duty jumper cables to wench/battery/trailer.
gbopp
Explorer
Apr 11, 2018
azrving wrote:
SoundGuy wrote:
DutchmenSport wrote:
Disconnect the battery from the tow vehicle when the wench is in operation.

Wench? Hmmmm, she may not like being "disconnected". :W

What she dont know wont hurt her :)

It depends on how long and how often the wench is in operation. :)

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