I’m looking for a new trailer winch. I’d like one that will will a car up without any help.

What would you guys recommend? Size? Brand?

Trying not to break the bank.

Been very happy with my Superwinch stuff. Been using them for years. Currently have an S5000 and an S4000 in my two trailers. I belive they have updated to 5500 and 4500 these days both also have wireless controls.

My 5000# Badland from HF works great.......I know, China.....

I Know plenty that run the Badland units. 2 of them run the 12K units on their trailers hauling scrap cars in.Work horse.....

WARN AXON....synthetic rope...FTW

Been using the Superwinch 4500 straight pulling my 3200# car for 17 years with no problems.

All of the Champion generators and stuff from them has been very good. Would not hesitate to buy one of their winches if I needed one.

I have a superwinch 2500 that I bought in the 90's on my open trailer. It's a little undersized but always got the job done. I also don't have a dedicated battery for it. I have a 20' set of hd jumper cables. It's only used when needed.

So go for 5000+ in my opinion.

Take care. Tom Worthington

I've been using a T2000 Superwinch for years now to pull my car into my trailer, can't get out if I drive it in. I can easily take it out and use it on my open trailer as I hook it to a D ring with a clevis.
Just this morning I was looking at a new winch to permanently mount to the side floor of the trailer. So far I think Champion is the best deal. I've had a Champion generator for years and it just keeps on going. I needed parts for it like a valve cover gasket and they were great to deal with.

I have a HF 3500lb ATV winch in mine for dragging in my car, with remote. It's been flawless. I changed it to synthetic rope, also from HF. Can't complain.

Also have a 1200 watt champion generator that I've had for years and runs like a champ. I do take my Predator 8500 watt to the track as well though, because the little one won't run the compressor...Gonna get the 3500 or 4500 inverter one so I just need one. My big generator is a bit loud....

And yeah, I know, china....but they were purchased when I had limited funds for stuff like that and they have worked as good as any other name brand stuff out there...

My 3500 Lb winch works fine when needed, I am curious what the technical guidelines might be for weight rating a winch to pull a car into/onto a trailer?
For example, suppose we assume a 3000# car. In theory, a 3000# winch would be able to actually lift that car vertically, right? (or not)?
We are not hoisting the cars, and it may only take 2 or 3 hundreds pounds (or less) of pulling tension to pull that car horizontally on flat ground, in neutral. But trailers have ramps, and that same car may require 1,000 # or more of pull to get it up a ramp with a 30 degree grade / angle.
So the true minimum pulling rate needed for a hoist may be around 1500/2000 Lb or more.
And obviously, you want some overkill for safety reasons, and durability.
So is there a formula, or rule of thumb for choosing a winch? None of us needs a 10,000 pound winch, but I would imagine a 1500# unit is probably not enough, even if it will get that car on the trailer in perfect conditions...
Thoughts?

I use an old Warn A2000 with 2500 conversion kit (wiring, contactor). Also I installed a wireless remote kit so I can winch it in by myself without issue. Synthetic rope is a great thing to have as well. I got the winch for "free", came off of a traded-in yamaha big bear as I remember, when I worked at the dealer. It does not, however, have a brake built into the winch so if you stop halfway up the ramp, it'll slowly creep backwards. It takes about 2 hours to go back down the ramp on it's own so it's not like it's gonna just take off, BUT you can't use it to tie the car down nor would I ever suggest doing that even if it did have a brake.

If the car rolls you don't need much more than 2000 lbs of single line pull to get it into most enclosed trailers. It takes a good bit more to pull a car up a lot of open trailers, particularly up the "tractor ramps" (angle iron style). 3500 on the other trailer, open, 18' with dovetail and the aforementioned style ramps. It works fine. Once I left it in park and drug the rear tires about halfway up the ramps before I realized what I did wrong.

If you need more line pull get a block & tackle, or just make one like I did. I have never used it but it's there should I need it.

So far Tom wins. LMAO unless she is filling mouth.

I just bought a Champion 4500 on Amazon for $166 comes with the wireless remote. Haven't mounted it yet but it looks as good as any I've seen and yes it's made in China.

I have a new trailer. My 20 year old Superwinch S3500 came from my old trailer to this one. Got a New cable and it still works great. Compact and clean package.

Not that Superwinch got sold a while back. The new models look different and are larger for the respective sizes.

Superwinch all the way