[fyrffytr1]

I need to replace the battery on the trailer winch,
. Some have recommended a deep cycle while others have said to get a regular heavy duty battery. The winch is a Warn, but an old one and I will be loading a 1939 Pontiac 4 dr sedan on an 18ft open trailer.
What batteries and brands do you all use?

[Jack Gifford]

I don't have a dedicated winch battery. For unloading, I just use the trailer's small breakaway-braking battery. For loading I idle the tow vehicle and use its system to power the winch. This doesn't require any switching, since the full-time voltage through the trailer connector is always routed to the trailer's braking battery (to keep it charged).

[Bills Auto Works]

Responded on the HAMB as well, but just in case.....

I also do NOT use batteries on either trailer. Since both my transporting trucks are diesels with dual batteries I just ran a number 2 cable from the batteries back to the rear bumper of each truck with a 175 amp marine/NASCAR plug under the bumper (as shown below) the plugs are the same on both trucks & both trailers, so it does not matter which combination I am using.
Doing it this way once is so much easier than messing with a battery in or on the trailers, removing, charging, etc,etc.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[chuckies76ta]

If you do use a trailer battery, my understanding is a Deep cycle. I have an Interstate. Mine is charged from the truck through the RV plug. The Trailer small breakaway-braking battery is strictly for the electric brakes on the trailer, it is too small for any winch in my opinion. There is lots of folks who forget to check this battery each year.

[72projectbird]

I run a big ass deep cycle battery on mine. It runs a 12k lb winch, and has pulled some heavy stuff, including cars that have no wheels or suspension and sunk in the mud, lifted full size 1 ton trucks, off road Jeeps etc etc.

I throw a trickle charger on it every now and then, and it's always been ready for work.

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Bills Auto Works

Responded on the HAMB as well, but just in case.....

I also do NOT use batteries on either trailer. Since both my transporting trucks are diesels with dual batteries I just ran a number 2 cable from the batteries back to the rear bumper of each truck with a 175 amp marine/NASCAR plug under the bumper (as shown below) the plugs are the same on both trucks & both trailers, so it does not matter which combination I am using.
Doing it this way once is so much easier than messing with a battery in or on the trailers, removing, charging, etc,etc.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

SWEET wiring set-up.

Will be doing the same on my older Cummins Dodge, am not enamored with the winch & current battery positioning on the triangulated nose of my open car trailer.

[joelau27]

For your Warn winch and loading that '39 Pontiac, a deep cycle battery is probably your best bet. They're great for long-term use and don't drain as quickly. By the way, I've had some luck finding trailer gear at a place called boomandbucket. Might be worth a shot to see if they've got the right battery for you.

[Cardo]

I bought a deep cycle AGM battery from Sam's club. Works great so far. I've had it for 3 years and no problems yet.

[Mr Anonymous]

I use a setup like Bill's usually, but I just use a cheap Rural King car battery when I am using a different tow vehicle. My open trailer usually uses a cheapie HF winch that i got over a decade ago. It is removed and stored inside when not in use. I took it apart when it was new and loaded it up with the proper grease, they had just enough in there from production to keep it from throwing sparks. I'll admit, I've subjected the poor thing to near stalling over and over, it just keeps working. I've had it long enough that I had to replace the cable!

My enclosed trailers have decent winches and inexpensive, car batteries - which are charged by the towing vehicle as we zip along the hiways and byways of America. I do like that capability.

The most off-the-hook winch I had was a giant Warn that I had on a three axle equipment trailer, it had the biggest 12v battery I could find. The winch had 1/2" cable AND a pulley block for those tough situations. I went to get a derelict chevy truck out of the woods once, it broke the damn truck in half.

There's a local acquaintance with a hydraulic winch on an old F250, and I saw him pull out a six axle dump truck near a ravine close to my house. Had five pulley blocks set to various places, and had out hundreds of feet of cable. I was looking for the safe place to stand in case the cable broke, then quickly realized the horror that would be thrust upon the EMS personnel that would arrive on the scene to see multiple decapitated bodies in the event it let loose. I sat in my truck with the doors closed, just in case!

[DOC]

I use a Deep cycle battery for the winch however, I also have my breakaway switch wired to it as well. No reason to run 2 batteries. I ran the 12V from the Truck Trailer plug to the trailer battery terminal to keep everything charged as I drive down the road. Has been working well for 7+ years. Still same battery as well.