How to Wire an Electric Winch on a Car Hauler Trailer

Question

Question:

I have a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 and am wondering if the 4-pole terminal outlet in my bumper beneath the 7-pole can provide power to my winch. If so, can I run quick disconnects from the winch power cables to plug into the 4-pole? I’m trying to avoid external battery or running cable from the battery and putting in quick connects.

asked by: Andy

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Expert Reply:

Unfortunately the ~16 gauge wires used on a 4-pole trailer connector would deliver only a fraction of the power required to run a winch.

There are two basic alternatives, as you stated. You could run a cable from the battery back to the truck, terminating in a quick disconnect which would plug into a quick disconnect installed on the trailer mounted winch, using a wiring kit like # BDW20207.

The second option would be to have a secondary battery installed on the trailer to power the winch. When 110V power is available you can use a battery charger like the # 3329-GENIUS5 to keep the battery charged up. You can use the 12-volt feed from the 7-way to keep the battery topped off, but it will not be able to deliver enough amperage (due to voltage drop and small wire gauge) to charge the battery once it's fully discharged.

I've linked you to our help article that explains how to wire up your winch in more detail, you can see the article by clicking the provided link.

expert reply by: Mike L

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Answer 1

The Bulldog Winch part #BDW15020 would be a great option for your setup. This is a 4,400 lb 12 volt winch which uses a synthetic rope instead of a steel cable. It powers in and out and has a built in brake as well. The winch also moves at 19 feet per…

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Answer 2

For your enclosed trailer the Bulldog Winch Trailer Winch part #BDW15020 would be a great option for pulling in your drag truck as it has a 4,400 lb capacity and was designed for this type of application. Or if you wanted something that would work a…

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Answer 3

A diode like the part #RM-690 is a great idea but the only issue is that is has a max load of 85 amps. A standard 5,000 lb winch, like the ComeUp DV-5000si #CU645010, will greatly exceed the 85 amp rating of the diode so it would be useless. What you…

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Answer 4

I would be happy to recommend a winch for your enclosed car trailer. I recommend the Bulldog Winch Trailer Winch - Synthetic Rope - Hawse Fairlead - 4,400 lbs #BDW15020 which will be plenty strong to roll your 2700lb car into the trailer as it has a…

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Answer 5

The Bulldog Winch Trailer Winch - Synthetic Rope - Hawse Fairlead - 4,400 lbs #BDW15020 you were looking at is a fantastic choice for your enclosed car trailer and will pull your 3000lb race car very easily as it has a rolling capacity of 44000lbs on…

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Answer 6

You would want to go with a deep cell battery. Having a battery larger than you would need would be the way to go as having a battery that is similarly rated as the draw of the winch will drain it quickly. We don't carry any deep cell batteries…

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Answer 7

We have the Bulldog Winch part #BDW15020 that was designed for mounting to a trailer like you have and would be a great option for pulling a vehicle up onto a trailer. It has a 4,400 lb capacity which would be more than enough for a 3,000 lb car.

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Answer 8

In regards to choosing an electric winch, there are several factors that go into choosing the correct option. I have attached a help article which goes into more detail about each of these. The ComeUp UW-5000si Trailer Winch part #CU645010 would…

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Answer 9

In order to power the Bulldog Winch Trailer Winch part #BDW15020 from the vehicle's battery I recommend using the Bulldog Winch Rear Wiring Kit part #BDW20206 which contains 20' of 2 AWG power and ground wire in addition to quick disconnects…

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Answer 10

You can put a battery inside the trailer but you would want to place it in a box of some kind since batteries have gases and chemicals in them. We have different battery boxes depending on the size you will need. I have included a link to them for…

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Answer 11

I have attached a photo for you below which shows how both a vehicle side and trailer side trailer connector is typically wired. I say typically because this is not always exact and so long as the trailer and vehicle side both match it will not…

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Answer 12

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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