winch replacement question

[craze1cars]

Hello all,<br /><br />It's time to replace the winch on my trailer. Still working, but it's rusty and the original strap is 15 years old so I want to be safe. But all the varying sizes and weight limits available in winches has me a little confused. My boat specs are approx 2,100 lbs, plus gear, usually one person while loading, fluids, etc...probably 2,500 lbs is a safer # to estimate with. However my present strap winch (original winch on original trailer that was originally designed for this boat, and always has worked fine), has a 1,400 lb stamp on it.<br /><br />Now I fully realize that I'm not going to actually hang my boat from this winch and pull it up the side of a building, but should I use that 1,400 as a "good enough for the OEM, good enough for me" winch rating, or do I need a massive, beefy 2,500 lb rated winch since that's what my boat weighs?<br /><br />Thanks for any expert advice you can provide.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: winch replacement question

Go with the gusto, better to have more than less. The cost difference isn't too great.

 

[neumanns]

Re: winch replacement question

You can twist the frame on a to light rated winch fairly easy.

 

[BillP]

Re: winch replacement question

If a 1400lb winch has worked ok for 15yrs I don't think you have any problems with another of the same size. Just compare gear ratios so you don't get one that is harder to turn. I winch a 2400lb (loaded)pontoon boat up the last few feet on a non roller trailer with the OEM 1800lb winch...no problem.<br /><br />If you do a 2200+lb winch it will likely be 2 speeds and a bigger footprint. Check your trailer to make sure the larger winch will fit. I tried upgrading another trailer once from 1500lb to 2400lb and the winch framework was too narrow for the big 2 speed winch.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: winch replacement question

Thanks for the thoughts. The interesting thing about all this is that this boat/trailer is so easy to load I don't think I have EVER had to pull more than about 2 to 3 feet of strap out of my present winch! I just idle right up until the bow touches the front roller and whoever is standing there just hooks the eye and snugs up the winch with a few turns. On one very shallow ramp I use, I just back the whole truck way into the water until I can float the boat on. So gear ratios and such mean little or nothing to me since I almost never have to actually crank and pull the boat with it. My winch is used mostly just a securing strap for trailering.<br /><br />But thanks to all for your ideas. I'll figure something out soon.

 

[rwidman]

Re: winch replacement question

My winch is used mostly just a securing strap for trailering.

Please, don't use it for that, get a safety chain to connect the bow eye to the trailer. A bow tiedown strap is a good idea also. All of these items are cheap compared to the cost of a boat leaving the trailer.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: winch replacement question

I'm almost as dumb as I look, but not quite. <br /><br />Of course I have a safety chain in addition to the winch, AND I've added a bow strap for extra good measure. Good comment, though...they are extremely critical. Thanks!

 

[rwidman]

Re: winch replacement question

I'm almost as dumb as I look, but not quite.

Well, I couldn't see you from here! <br /><br />Many people read these forums and their level of experience ranges from "newbie" to "done it all" so I think it's a good idea to make things perfectly clear to all. I didn't mean to offend.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: winch replacement question

You didn't offend one bit...that's why I acknowledged that it was a good comment. No harm done. See ya!