Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Can I mount the winch on an angle?
A:
Yes, the winch can be installed at up to 15 degree angle (tilted up or down),
avoid cable rubbing on the winch housing. NOTE: The winch should be installed so the cable/strap (as it exits the winch) is level
with the bow eye on the boat when the boat is in the fully loaded position on the trailer. If the winch is too high, extra stress is
exerted on the boat’s bow eye and rear of the trailer. If the winch is too low, it will pull the boat into the bunks instead of along
them.
Q:
How close can I mount the winch to the bow eye?
A:
We recommend 8 inches (20cm) clearance between the winch and
bow eye to prevent the cable/strap hook from being drawn into the winch drum. There is such a wide variation between trailer
and boat types, that you may need more clearance, or less might be acceptable. Consider your application and position the
winch so the hook remains outside the winch housing. If necessary, relocate the winch stand or bow stop to obtain clearance.
Q:
What is the best way to power the winch?
A:
There are three ways to power the winch:
1.
The best way is to use the vehicle’s battery. The tow vehicle’s engine (alternator/generator) puts out about 17 volts and
plenty of current (amps) to power the winch. This allows the winch to achieve maximum pulling power. To use the
vehicle’s battery, a vehicle wiring kit (Item T10135) can be used to route the power from the vehicle’s battery to the rear of
the vehicle where a plug system can be used.
2.
A deep cycle marine battery can be placed in the rear bed of a pick-up truck and the winch connected to it. Use good
judgment to secure the battery while trailering.
3.
A deep cycle marine battery can be installed on the trailer tongue. Be sure to use an adequate battery box and means to
secure the battery during trailering.
Q:
Can I use the trailer light plug on my tow vehicle?
A
: The older style “4-FLAT” plug (four electrical connections in a
straight row) cannot be used. The winch draws too much current for these light-weight wires. The new style 7-point round
connectors typically have a 30 amp circuit. The trailer winches can draw up to a maximum of about 35 amps. So, if the winch
is “maxed out” it would cause the circuit breaker to break the circuit. If the boat was light, or trailer had rollers, it is possible
the winch would not reach 30 amps. There are so many variables such a ramp angle, boat weight, resistance on the trailer
bunk/roller, etc., that we do not know if your rig would work or not. Many of our customers are successful using this circuit, but
we do not know if your boat and trailer would work or not. Wiring your vehicle with a high-current 60 amp circuit is
best. However, if you want to try the 30 amp circuit in your round plug on your tow vehicle, it is up to you. To use this circuit
you would need to ground the winch’s negative (black) wire to the trailer frame. The positive wire would be connected to the
30 amp circuit on your round plug on your vehicle. A round plug adaptor can be purchased (we do not sell them, check any
store that sells trailer lights) to plug into the receptacle on your vehicle. The receptacle on your vehicle plug does NOT have a
high-current ground (black wire), so the trailer and vehicle frame must complete the ground circuit, while the positive wire does
run through the round plug.
Q:
Where does the circuit breaker go?
A:
The circuit breaker gets attached to the positive (+) battery post. Never attach
the circuit breaker to battery negative. If for some reason, the circuit breaker cannot be placed at the battery post, it can be
spaced up to 6 inches (15cm) away from the post, by adding a short length of battery wire between the post and the breaker.
Q:
Why don’t you include the vehicle wiring?
A:
We are trying to keep winch costs low and not everyone requires the vehicle
wiring. A kit is available from TRAC (Item T10135), visit our website, TRAC-Outdoor.com, for details.
Q:
What size/gauge wire should I use to wire my vehicle?
A:
As a minimum, 10-gauge wire is acceptable. 8-gauge is best.
Q:
How much current (amps) does my winch use?
A:
It depends on the weight of your boat, if you have roller or flat
bunks on trailer, angle of boat ramps, etc. The rough range is 20 to 35 amps.
Q:
Can I place a strap on my cable winch?
A:
No, the spool is too wide and there is no good way to attach the strap to a
cable drum. We do make the Lite Cruiser with strap - Item T10129.
Q:
Do I need to lubricate the winch?
A:
The cable should be lubricated a minimum of once a year with a Wire Rope Spray,
WD40 or a similar product. Spray the spool and the cable as the cable is being wound. You may remove the cover and
lubricate the gears once a year with marine grease. Be careful not to get grease on the clutch lining. It is not necessary to
lubricate the internal gears on a new winch.
Q:
Should it be this loud?
A:
It’s an electric winch with steel gears and normally has gear noise. It’s normal.
Q:
Can I winch the boat in manually if I don’t have electric power?
A:
Yes, the manual crank comes with the winch and can
be used to winch the boat onto the trailer.
