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Harbor Freight winch #2992779
12/07/21 12:37 AM
12/07/21 12:37 AM
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fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline OP
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fredericksburg,va
Looking at their winch’s for my trailer, has anyone bought one and how reliable is it? I know Warn is top shelf but pricy. I looked at Tractor Supply but they don’t have a remote for the 5000 pound one but HF does. TS is 9000 and up for remote. Any input will help a lot.

Last edited by cudaman1969; 12/07/21 12:37 AM.
Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: cudaman1969] #2992781
12/07/21 12:41 AM
12/07/21 12:41 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
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Florida STAYcation
Price diff ?

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: cudaman1969] #2992788
12/07/21 01:14 AM
12/07/21 01:14 AM
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st.cloud fl
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d-150 Offline
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st.cloud fl
I would get at least 9000lb winch in this case bigger is better

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: d-150] #2992793
12/07/21 05:09 AM
12/07/21 05:09 AM
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Mobile Al
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hemirdrnnr Offline
top fuel
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Mobile Al
I have a 12000 pound wench from Harbor freight and it hasn't let me down in 5 years has the wire control.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: cudaman1969] #2992796
12/07/21 07:25 AM
12/07/21 07:25 AM
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aZLiViN
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J_BODY Offline
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I have the 5k HF. It has the divorced solenoid so you’ll have to come up with a box for the wiring. Mounted it under a cabinet on the side and use a center anchor point that’s easily removable with a snatch block pulley. I opted out on the remote. Something else to go wrong. Pulls the car in with ease and pretty quick. I’d post picts but this forums a pita

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: hemirdrnnr] #2992797
12/07/21 07:27 AM
12/07/21 07:27 AM
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Posts: 6,363
Abilene, Texas
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fastmark Offline
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Abilene, Texas
My old 5000 USA made winch just barely did the job. It finally broke on a 1500 pickup. I had to use a double snatch when things got heavy. Get a bigger winch. I bought a new trailer with a 12000 lbs rating. It never even groans. Bigger is better.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: fastmark] #2992802
12/07/21 08:38 AM
12/07/21 08:38 AM
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Posts: 9,791
MI, usa
dvw Offline
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Depends on what you are winching? Do you need to pull your racecar into or onto a trailer? Rolling weight and dead weight are two different animals. Rolling weight you can pull roughly 50% over the rating. Winches are rated at dead pull vertical.
Doug

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: fastmark] #2992803
12/07/21 08:44 AM
12/07/21 08:44 AM
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Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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I bought the 12,000 lbs. one from HF about 6 years ago for my open trailer. I mounted it to a plate that lets me put it into a receiver hitch receptcle. I was all over the U.S. picking up cars for a couple of guys for about 3 years and used it at least a couple of times a week every week. It never failed. Not once and I put it through Hell! I pulled on cars with all 4 wheel locked and it got the job done! The best accessory you can buy with it is the wireless remote. It lets you be anywhere while pulling the car onto the trailer. I do keep it in my truck toolbox out of the weather when not in use so that helps with longevity. Needless to say, I'm a big fan.


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: GY3] #2992820
12/07/21 09:53 AM
12/07/21 09:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,678
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline
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W. Kentucky
A lot of my offroad buddies use HF winches, when the winch dies they just buy another. I have an ancient 9000# Warn on my trailer, I bought two parts winches and made one. It pulled a 55hp tractor with flat tires on and never slowed down. I used a 4500# Superwinch with a synthetic rope on my SXS.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: justinp61] #2992824
12/07/21 10:00 AM
12/07/21 10:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,704
KY
65pacecar Offline
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KY
I have a HF winch mounted to a D Ring sunk in the concrete of my garage to pull the car back into the garage when working on a project. Works perfect and never had an issue with it.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: 65pacecar] #2992833
12/07/21 11:07 AM
12/07/21 11:07 AM
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fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline OP
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fredericksburg,va
Great answers, I was looking at the rope type too, TS 12,000 is $600 The same HF is $400. I was going to use a trailer hitch to use in both trailer and hitch on truck or any other place I need it. Another question, do you use a separate battery or come off the trucks bat.? If separate Will it charge from the truck alternator?

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: cudaman1969] #2992837
12/07/21 11:25 AM
12/07/21 11:25 AM
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Posts: 43,459
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
I have used several, have a 12K to pull cars up the ramp in my building, the brake is not very good and will let the vehicle roll back down the steep incline. The remotes are nice until you lose them, HF does not like to replace them and the winch is useless with out it. I have been using a Champion 4500 with remote for yeas now, works great!


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

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A-Body's RULE!
Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: Rhinodart] #2992840
12/07/21 11:37 AM
12/07/21 11:37 AM
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Posts: 9,791
MI, usa
dvw Offline
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You can purchase generic remote kits from Amazon for less than $20.
Doug

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: dvw] #2992857
12/07/21 12:30 PM
12/07/21 12:30 PM
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fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline OP
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fredericksburg,va
Instead of remotes what about the long cable, with controls on the end, that plugs in the winch? They still buy able?

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: cudaman1969] #2992883
12/07/21 01:55 PM
12/07/21 01:55 PM
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Pikes Peak Country
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TC@HP2 Offline
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I've got a HF 3k unit. It came with enough line that I can double it up and use a snatch block if I have a vehicle nosed up to my ramps. I don't ever haul anything larger than that, so it has served my needs fine for loading the trailer. I don't leave it on the trailer full time. Its got a quick release plate between the winch and the trailer so I can remove it and store it inside. Had it for about 10 years now.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: TC@HP2] #2992908
12/07/21 02:54 PM
12/07/21 02:54 PM
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Shopping @ HoBo Fright
340SIX Offline
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I joined the site in 1997 when I bought my 1st computer.
I asked the same thing.
What winch to buy with remote
Carl who was not at the time posted to get the one with big [censored].
I did buy a Super Winch and it is still fine.

Last edited by 340SIX; 12/07/21 02:55 PM.

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73 Dart Sport 340/ 70 challenger vert. That may still get built, If I live long enough
Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: 340SIX] #2992929
12/07/21 04:09 PM
12/07/21 04:09 PM
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Posts: 3,919
Richmond, Indiana
19swinger70 Offline
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I have the 9,000lb on my 18' car trailer. Works flawlessly. No complaints.


1970 340 swinger. sublime
1967 barracuda fastback BB
55 Plymouth Project
Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: cudaman1969] #2992968
12/07/21 06:16 PM
12/07/21 06:16 PM
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Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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Originally Posted by cudaman1969
Great answers, I was looking at the rope type too, TS 12,000 is $600 The same HF is $400. I was going to use a trailer hitch to use in both trailer and hitch on truck or any other place I need it. Another question, do you use a separate battery or come off the trucks bat.? If separate Will it charge from the truck alternator?


I always used a separate battery and attached marine style terminals to the ends of the cables on the winch for quick disconnect.


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: GY3] #2993037
12/07/21 09:00 PM
12/07/21 09:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Freeport IL USA
Its been years, but the 1st winch I bought was a 3500lbs Superwinch. It worked great for around 10 years before one day it stripped the teeth off the planetary gears. The next winch was a 12,000 lbs warren electric winch. it was a brute, as long as it wasn't below freezing. It didn't work below 32 degrees very well at all. The last winch I bought was a 5,000lbs HF winch. It did not have the power the Superwinch 3500lbs winch had, but it was still working when I sold the trailer about 6 years later.

If I were buying now, I would get a bigger capacity winch then you ever expect to need.

Then at least keep it covered when not in use. If the power cord is at least 10' long, its workable, shorter then that can be a pain. be sure the plug in places on the winch housing are kept clean and dry, or problems occur in a few years. The remote switches seem to work pretty well if you keep track of them and protect them from the elements.

I have a friend that lets me borrow his trailer if I need one. He doesn't take care of his winch very well, and even though its only a few years old, every time you need the winch it doesn't seem to work very well. He keeps the trailer up just slightly little better then he takes care of the winch. I have to deal with trailer lights every time I want to borrow the trailer, which may be 1 time a year over the last 3-4 years. I'd rent a trailer rather then borrow his, if there was any place around here you could do that.

Re: Harbor Freight winch [Re: poorboy] #2993044
12/07/21 09:13 PM
12/07/21 09:13 PM
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Posts: 6,175
nowhere
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When I bought my 51 Plymouth a couple years ago I rented a Uhaul car trailer. I took it home, checked the tire pressures, low, and the lug nut torque, low as well. The lights didn't work either.

So renting might be as bad or worse (no winch).

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