electric trailer winch that works

[Neddey]

I suffer from arthritis in both shoulders so winching my 4.3 Renegade SC (50HP) with fuel, seats, trolling motor and battery is becoming quite difficult so looking at an electric winch that actually works and wont break the bank (on-line reviews for most around 2000 lbs to 4500 lbs are pretty bad). Most of the chats on here about them are quite old so looking for advice based on recent, actual experience. Price point would be under $350.

[Corry]

There's some good discussion on using an electric drill here recently, I run an electric winch on all my boats, wouldn't have it any other way (either electric winch or use a drill), the days of winching boats up trailers are just about done.
If you go down the electric winch path, I use X-Bull, and I'd go the biggest you can budget for, that way it's not labouring and stays quite quick. The latest one I got has the solenoid pack built into it so you're not trying to mount switches, remote receivers and solenoids somewhere, was easy as to fit.
Only thing you need is an Anderson plug at the back of your car.
Screenshot 2025-01-23 153339.jpg

[tunaticer]

how is your trailer configured? My 4.49m boat I drive on and off....zero problems ever and no damn winching.
Just have a boat latch fitted near the winch.

[ranmar850]

Look here for all the discussion on this, on this forum, here https://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sh...for-boat-winch

Then go to the end result https://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sh...nd-drill-power The battery drill thing works very well, and might cost you absolutely zero.

[39NESP]

i have a 4500 kg xbull i have had it about 8 years now winching a 18 ft boat has done a lot of work
https://www.xbull.com.au/collections/winch/products/x-bull-electric-winch-12v-synthetic-rope-4500lbs-wireless-remote-atv-utv-2041kg?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4MnhoIaTiwMV dqlmAh1u8S9nEAQYAiABEgJrY_D_BwE














[/COLOR]

[ranmar850]

Those little electric ATV winches certainly look the go, if you want a fixed winch. They take up more horizontal space than the Powerwinch type, but that shouldn't be a problem for most. How quick is the retrieve speed? ( couldn't be slower than a Powerwinch )And where did you mount the solenoid, to keep the weather off it?

[Dignity]

They're still on Xmas specialAttachment 127658

[steve099]

Just drive it on, works a treat for me with a little practice. Only thing to be wary of is wind and coming on sideways.

[Dignity]

Maybe Neddey is a solo operator like myself. Getting in and out for me is a bit of an issue.

[Corry]

Both my big boat and little boat are fully set up to drive on/off. I do this exclusively with the big boat, but only ever winch the little one. My preference not to drive on is so that I'm not sinking the hubs/bearings in the water.
Most of the fishing I do in the big boat is close to home, I don't have to travel too far, some trips in the little boat I'm driving long distances, and my theory is that if I'm not dunking the bearings, I'm not risking getting water in them, one less thing to worry about when then needing to drive 1000klm+ back to home, or when travelling for weeks at a time. And yes, letting them cool down before launching, and the fact that the seals should be good and shouldn't let water in, should prevent this, but when you're fishing really remote areas, the less 'chances' you take the better.
And driving on isn't really an option when the tide is crossing the ramp at 10kn, or if there is swell or waves at the ramp, and being able to remotely winch the boat on while holding a rear stern rope is a game changer.

How quick is the retrieve speed? And where did you mount the solenoid, to keep the weather off it?

Speed wise, takes less than a minute, I think, I've never timed it, I should, just for info, might do it this weekend if I can get out. The latest winch I got has the solenoids and remote receiver all built into it, so mounted on the winch motor, great set up, don't have to run cables or find somewhere else to mount them. You can see it in the photo above, it's the black plastic cover over the motor side of the winch.

[Neddey]

Thanks, have decided to go with X-Bull 6500 lbs, boat trailer style rather than 4wd style, but cant find any info at all about current requirements so that I can install a circuit in my Prado. Any idea what amps it would pull while winching a 6500 lb boat?

[Neddey]

Thanks for all the input. , have decided to go with X-Bull 6500 lbs, boat trailer style rather than 4wd style, but cant find any info at all about current requirements so that I can install a circuit in my Prado. Any idea what amps it would pull while winching a 6500 lb boat (that would be max capacity, my boat is 4.3m Renegade SC) on a keel roller trailer, assuming all working properly?

[Dignity]

Thanks for all the input. , have decided to go with X-Bull 6500 lbs, boat trailer style rather than 4wd style, but cant find any info at all about current requirements so that I can install a circuit in my Prado. Any idea what amps it would pull while winching a 6500 lb boat (that would be max capacity, my boat is 4.3m Renegade SC) on a keel roller trailer, assuming all working properly?

6500lbs is almost 3 Tonne, your Renegade must carry a lot of gear to get even halfway there. I don't know the current draw on the X-Bull but generally you'd be running the vehicle motor while winching.

[Corry]

I'm not sure on the draw either, but I run just a normal 50amp Anderson plug, and have no drama's. Mine is a 4.2 plate, fully loaded with crap ,so very heavy.
Remember though, you're not pulling the dead weight of your boat, it's floating, then coming up rollers.

[Neddey]

Thanks, just working off the specified capacity of 6500 lbs, and batt / alternator capacity is not the issue. I need a power circuit designed for a specific max current draw ie cabling, connectors, fuses / circuit breaker, Anderson plug and socket. Overdesign just wastes money and if not properly designed and catches fire, no insurance cover. As a side, the reviews for this style of electric winches for boat trailers are mostly, very negative so I looked at X-Bull (good brand) and the 6500lb is as you say a bit over the top, but only about $30 more than the 5000lb - moot though because all out of stock. Still after max 12v current draw at 6500lbs pull.