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Pulling a trailer can be amazing, only if you have the right winch attached to it. The winch does the pulling onto the trailer for whatever you're pulling, be it a car, or something else. Well, keeping the uncertain jobs to be done in the future, you need a which that offers you enough room to plan for all sizes and kinds of jobs. But the problem is, there are too many options in the market that are enough to leave you confused. No worries, let us get you through the best winch for car trailer that you can rely on. And that you can do without doing tons of research because we've done that part for you. We've talked every aspect into account that makes a good winch and had the ease of setup and installation on your trailer. Let's dive right in. What Size Of A Winch Do I Need For A Car Trailer? The rule of thumb for deciding a winch size is that the winch should be able to pull at least 1.5 times the weight you're going to pull with it. For example, if your car trailer's pulling capacity is 4,000 lbs, you'll need a winch that can pull at least 6,000 lb of weight. Now, of course, you can go below that estimate and buy a lower-powered winch. But, doing that will badly affect your ability to put the winch to proper use. In fact, the best practice is going for 2x, even 3x the highest weight the winch is going to pull. However, that is mostly true for an off-roading car bumper as we often hook extra weight to the car. As this is for your car trailer, a 1.5 times winch will do just fine. Since the average load capacity for typical car trailers is 7,100 lbs, going for a 10650 lbs winch is good enough. But if you're using a heavy duty trailer with a weight capacity of 12,000 or more, multiply that by 1.5 to decide the winch size. Table Of Contents: Comparison Chart: Name Weight RecoveryWinch LineWeight of the itemDimension Smittybilt GEN 2 XRC Winch9,500 lbsteel78 lb20.88 x 6.3 x 7.4 in WARN 96800 VR8 12V Electric 8,000 lbSteel25 lb25x 14×9 in X-BULL 12V Steel Cable Electric Winch12,000 lbstainless steel80 lb53 x 16.5 x 23.5 inch Bravex Electric 12V 3500lb/1591kg3500 lbsteelabout 9 kg12.4 x 4.72 x 4.17 ORCISH 12V 13000-lb Load Capacity13,000 lbSynthetic61 lb24 x 14 x 11 inch Smittybilt X2O10,000 lb synthetic rope and steel wire- 22.3 X 5.4 x 9.4 in VEVOR Truck Winch15500lbsteel8 lb25x14x13 in Kanruis 13000lbs Electric Winch13,000 lbSynthetic37 kg24x 15×13 in FieryRed Electric Winch13000 lbsteel and synthetic53 lb20.28 x 6.30 x 11.02 in Mile Marker SEC1215,000 lb steel or Synthetic96 lb20.8 x 6.3 x 7.8 in 10 Best Winch For Car Trailer Reviews Now you know what size of a winch you need for your trailer. So, let's introduce you to a series of winches that are fully suited for your car trailer and its towing capacity. We have tried to keep all regular winch sizes for all different sized of trailers that we typically use. As a result, you should have a winch or more that matches your trailer's capacity. Try to keep it on the higher end since you never know when you might have to tow to the trailer's fullest! 1. Smittybilt GEN 2 XRC Winch - Best Overall As the first winch of our choice, we have the Smittybilt XRC winch. It's the 2nd generation latest model of the Smittybilt lineup that packs in a bunch of extra features compared to its older model. Namely, the Smittybilt GEN 2 XRC Winch is a winch model that has a capacity of pulling 9,500 lb to 17000 lb of weight. That means you can choose just the right size to match your necessity, whether you're pulling a small, medium, or large car trailer. Thanks to its 6.6 HP Series Wound motor, it can effortlessly work in all types of road conditions. Furthermore, it's got a cable length of 90ft. So, it's fully suited for pulling heavy-duty cargo onto your trailer and helping you get ahead without worries. Moreover, as this is an electric-powered winch, it runs on a 12-volt battery (separate or your car's battery). It weighs around 78 lbs. So, when you install this winch on your car trailer, it won't be an extra burden for your vehicle or the trailer itself. On top of all that, this machine is rated with an IP67 waterproof rating. Therefore, you don't have to worry about its longevity in muddy or watery conditions. Winch around, even when you're outside without worrying about getting it wet. And, not only is the solenoid of this 500 AMP winch fully protected from water, but its wiring is also completely safe from moisture as well. Also, this winch comes with all the necessary tools that are required for installation. So, you don't have to go through the trouble of finding additional tools to install this thing. Now, the real perk of this machine is that it comes with a lifetime mechanical warranty. In addition, it also offers 3 years of electrical warranty. So, if you buy this device for your car trailer, you can rest assured that your money will not be in vain. Specifications: Waterproof rating: IP67 Weight pulling capacity: 9,500 lb Capacity of motor: 6 HP Control unit: remote Ratio of gear: 28: 1 Clutch type: sliding ring gear Brake type: in drum (automatic) Battery voltage: 12-volt Appearance: textured black Weight of the item: 78 lb Dimension of the item: 88 x 6.3 x 7.4 in LEVEL of warranty: lifetime warranty for mechanical Manufacturing country: China What We LikeHighly durableComplete waterproof protectionAdequately powerfulPerfect dimensionsHigh value for moneyWhat Should ImproveElectrical warranty is not that long Final Verdict As this winch offers the necessary features alongside versatile weight options, you can make your decision more wisely with this. With IP67 weatherproofing, remote control, and heavy duty build, SmittyBilt is the best winch for car trailers. It's a highly suited choice for all kinds of winching jobs. So, go ahead and work your size! Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price Check ExtremeTerrain Price 2. WARN 96800 VR8 12V Electric - Best User-Friendly Winch WARN 96800 VR8 is a USA-made electric winch that is perfectly suited for all types of 4-wheeled vehicles including ATV, utility vehicles, and car trailers. So, if you are a proud owner of a car trailer, you should look into this electric winch. A noteworthy feature of this warn winch is that it's got a full waterproof contractor that ensures high durability and reliability. On top of that, it's an electric winch that offers efficient control over its actions. So, it's easy to use for the new user, especially with a trailer. Also, as it's got the capability to pull up to 8,000 lb of weight, it is perfectly suitable for a medium-sized car trailer. And, as this is an electric winch, it draws power from a 12-volt DC battery. Therefore, you can conveniently use the battery of your car trailer to run this winch. Now, although this is a very powerful winch, it only weighs about 71 lb. So, installing this thing on your trailer will not give your vehicle much drag compared to what it was before. As a result, your vehicle won't have any difficulty carrying this. In terms of appearance, this particular electric winch is powder coated with attractive colors, and it also offers primer undercoating. So, this winch looks very futuristic and sleek in design. That means if you are a fashion concerned person, this electric winch is a perfect match for aesthetics too. Lastly, this winch is equipped with a 3 stage planetary gear train for better control. So, controlling and using this electric winch in your time of need will be a very smooth experience for you. Specifications: Maximum capacity of weight pull: 8,000 lb Motor power draw: 12 volt DC Gear train: planetary three-stage Braking system: automatic direct drive cone Weight of the item: 25 lb Winch line: 94-in metallic wire Fairlead: cast iron hawse Finish type: powder-coated Dimension of the item: 25x14x9 in What We LikeEasy to useEasy to installExtremely durablePerfectly waterproofHigh capacityWhat Should ImproveNo warranty is provided with this winch Final Verdict Although this winch doesn't offer any warranty with it, its durability is well enough with at least 3 to 5 years of hassle-free usage, or more. So, if you are looking for an easy-to-use electric winch for your car trailer that is both sturdy and durable, this is it!! Check Amazon Price Check HomeDepot Price Check Ebay Price 3. X-BULL 12V Steel Cable Elec tric Winch - Best For Steel Wire In case you have a large-sized car trailer, you'll need a robustly powerful electric winch that has highly strong winch wire. Also, the winch must be able to pull a large amount of weight. That's why we have decided to recommend you the X-BULL Winch. It's a steel cable winch that offers a maximum weight pulling capacity of up to 12000 lb. So, no matter how large a car trailer you have, this winch is perfectly capable of pulling it (without any hardships). Not only that, the steel wire that comes with this winch is 26 m in length. So, thanks to the long-sized cable, you can easily pull your car trailer out of any geological predicament within moments. In addition to that, it's got a 3-stage planetary gear system. Therefore, it's powerful enough to handle your car trailer even if it's fully loaded. And, it's a very quiet and efficient electric winch. As a result, using it is a very pleasing experience. On top of that, the body and the wire of this winch are fully corrosion-resistant and waterproof. That means you can use it in rain, mud and all kinds of wet terrains. Lastly, thanks to the heavy-duty seal contractor, energy consumption efficiency is very high with this winch. And, because it's got a wireless remote control, this winch is very easy to use as well. So, if you're looking for an easy machine, this particular winch is fully suited for you. Specifications: Fairlead: four-way roller Cable length: 26 m Weight capacity: 12,000 lb Battery voltage: 12 volt Winch line material: stainless steel Control unit: remote control Motor power rating: 5 kW Gear issue: 265: 1 Braking system: automatic load-holding brake Dimension of the item: 53 x 16.5 x 23.5 inch Weight of the item: 80 lb What We LikeSuper high weight pulling capacityTop-notch construction materialFully weatherproofCorrosion resistanceWireless controlWhat Should ImproveNo warranty is offered by the manufacturer Final Verdict As this electric winch is equipped with a high tensile stainless steel wire that is fully suited for heavy-duty jobs. So, if you've got a heavy vehicle like a large truck, SUV, or car trailer, this is the machine you should grab right now!! Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price Check OverStock Price 4. Bravex Electric 12V 3500lb/1591kg - Best Lightweight Winch In case you have a small-sized car trailer, a relatively lower powered electric winch will be enough to pull its weight. Therefore, you should look into a small-scale electric winch such as the Bravex Electric winch. The noteworthy feature of the Bravex electric winch is that it's only 9 kg in weight. So, it's very lightweight and easy to carry if you're planning on making a portable winch for your trailer. For the power, it's got a 1.1 kW 1.5 HP motor on board. As a result, it can easily pull a weight of up to 3500 lbs. As this electric winch works in 12 volt DC electric power, it can easily draw power from your car battery. And that's for an indefinite time if you provide enough resting period for cooling. So, if you have this winch installed, you don't have to worry about running out of power in the middle of your winching. As for the extension rope, it comes with 50 feet of stainless steel wire. Thanks to the super-strong winch line, it's perfectly suited for heavy-duty jobs. On top of that, the manufacturer of this electric winch offers 3 years of factory warranty. To ease your control with this machine, you're getting both a wired and a wireless controller. So, you can choose to stay away from the trailer while pulling in, keeping yourself out of the danger radius in case of an emergency. Furthermore, this particular electric winch comes with a full set of a control box with a 4-way roller fairlead, tow hook, and remote (wired and wireless) for you to get started right away. Thanks to all these components, installing and using this winch is a very easy and pleasing experience. Specifications: Maximum weight capacity: 3500 lb Power draw: 12 volt DC Motor power: 5 HP Rope length: 50 ft Weight of the item: about 9 kg Warranty period: 3 years of factory warranty Gear ratio: 153: 1 Dimension of the item: 4 x 4.72 x 4.17 Suitable for: ATV, SUV, car trailer, etc What We LikeLightweight constructionEasy to installOptimum durabilityEfficient power consumptionLess vibration and noise generationWhat Should ImprovePower capacity is mediocre Final Verdict This particular electric winch is specifically suited for small-sized vehicles. That means, if you are the owner of a small car or car trailer, you should grab this winch without any second-guessing!! Check Amazon Price Check PartLimit Price Check DesertCart Price 5. ORCISH 12V 13000-lb Load Capacity - Best Synthetic Rope Winch If you prefer a synthetic rope to the winch line, we've got the ORCISH electric winch for you. Its distinct feature is that it's got one of the best top-quality synthetic ropes with maximized safety compared to steel wire. So, its winch line is fully waterproof (perfectly resistant to water, mud, or corrosion). And, not only is the rope fully resistant to all kinds of corrosion, it's got a perfect length of 50 ft, enough for any car trailer you might attach this winch to. Therefore, it's suitable for all types of medium to high tier load pulling jobs. And, in order to ensure the utmost safety, this electric winch has got an automatic load-holding brake system. Furthermore, its motor has a weight pulling capacity of up to 13,000 lb. That means it's fully suitable for all sorts of vehicles including trucks, Jeeps, SUVs, car trailers, etc. Now, a positive feature of this winch is that its engine is also sealed with guaranteed resistance against water and liquids. As a result, it's a very durable machine. Also, the manufacturer provides 1 year of the limited warranty and a lifetime of free technical support. So, even if you face any problem while using this machine, you've got nothing to worry about. Lastly, this winch comes in a full package that includes a control box, a rope guide, a wireless control system, a claw hook, a wired control unit, a power line, and hand gloves. Therefore, the user experience of this device is sure to be top-notch. Specifications: Weight load capacity: 13,000 lb Length of the winch line: 50 ft Dimension of the item: 24 x 14 x 11 inch Weight of the item: 61 lb Winch line material: synthetic rope Compatible vehicles: SUVs, trucks, Jeeps, car trailers, etc Braking system mechanism: automatic load-holding brake Control unit: wireless and wired Manufacturer's name: ORCISH Warranty service: 1 year What We LikeSmart appearanceweatherproof designExtreme durabilityCorrosion resistanceHigh value for moneyHigh price to performance ratioWhat Should ImproveShort warranty service period Final Verdict A major positive side of using a synthetic rope as a winch line is that it can last for a very long time. However, the capacity of synthetic ropes is less than stainless steel wires. So, if you don't have the need to pull heavy loads, this winch machine is the perfect choice for you. Go grab it right now!! Check Amazon Price Check ShopAbunda Price Check Ajansev Price 6. Smittybilt X2O - Best Premium Electric Winch In case you have some extra money to spare for a good quality electric winch, we have brought the Smittybilt X2O for you. It's a premium quality electric winch that comes in a premium price segment. Its special aspect is that it's fully waterproof, and it has a huge weight load capacity of up to 10,000 lbs. You're getting a 3-stage planetary gear system to support that huge amount of weight you're about to pull onto the trailer. In addition to that, if you choose this electric winch, you have the option to pick two versions of the winch line: synthetic rope and stainless steel rope version. Therefore, depending on your particular need, you can choose either option. Kinky, right? Furthermore, the cable length for this winch is about 100 ft. Also, the cable has a ⅜" diameter. As a result, it is fully capable of pulling large-sized vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, car trailers, etc. On top of that, this machine comes with a lifetime mechanical warranty and 5 years of electrical warranty. That means, if you buy this winch for your car trailer, you won't have to worry about durability even a bit. Moreover, this device has an IP68 waterproof rating. That means you can easily use it in the rain without any interruption in your work. And, the motor of this winch has a 6.6 HP power rating. As a result, it's perfectly fit for heavy-duty jobs. Lastly, the weight of this winch is only 100 lb. So, it's not a heavy burden for the vehicle to carry. Instead, all sizes of vehicles can easily carry this winch without having a massive increase in momentum. Consequently, if you install it on your vehicle, you won't even feel the additional weight of this machine. Specifications: Dimension of the item: 3 X 5.4 x 9.4 in Cable length 100 ft Warranty lifetime: mechanical, 5-year electrical Waterproof rating: IP68 Weight Load: capacity 10,000 lb Motor power: 6 HP Control unit: remote switch Gear train: three-stage planetary Gear ratio: 218: 1 Battery powered raw voltage: 12 volts Winch line: synthetic rope and steel wire What We LikePremium designTop-notch construction materialAmple warrantyHigh load capacityNoiseless performanceWeatherproof and waterproof designWhat Should ImproveThe pricing is a bit too high Final Verdict Although this device comes in a premium price section, it offers a high value for its price. Therefore, if you are not a budget-restricted buyer, you should go ahead and buy this winch right now! Check Amazon Price Check AmericanTrucks Price Check ExtremeTerrain Price 7. VEVOR Truck Winch - Highest Load Capacity If you are an owner of a heavy car trailer, you will need a massively powerful winch that can pull up to 15000 lb to 16000 lb of weight without any hardship. That's why, at this point, we have brought the Vevor Truck Winch to you. The distinct feature of this electric winch is that it's got a motor that has a whopping 8 HP of power rating. As a result, it can easily pull up to 15500lb of weight. And, it's got a gear ratio of 370 :1. So, without a doubt, it's a robustly powerful machine. Furthermore, in order to extend its pulling power, the manufacturer has given a three-stage planetary gear system in this electric winch. Therefore, it's perfect for pulling cars, trucks, Jeeps, boats, car trailers, etc. Moreover, this particular winch is rated with an IP67 waterproof rating. And, it's also got a super powerful 500 AMP solenoid valve that is well protected from water moisture or external sprays of liquids. It means you can keep using this electric winch even in the rain, mud, or any other weather condition. Lastly, this specific winch also has a fully water-resistant and corrosion-resistant winch line with a very high tensile strength rating. Namely, the winch line is a 94 ft long stainless steel cord with a 25/64” diameter. As a result, this winch is able to pull any type of light or heavy type of load. Specifications: Weight load: 15500 lb Cable raw material: steel Winch power draw voltage: 12V Control unit: wired and wireless Motor power rating: 8 HP Gear issue: 370: 1 Warranty service: lifetime technical support Winch line length: 94 ft Waterproof rating: IP67 Manufacturer's name: VEVOR Weight of the item: 8 lb Dimension of the item: 25x14x13 in What We LikeExtremely high capacityFully weatherproof and waterproofExtreme tensile strength (in wire)Attractive appearanceHigh price to performance ratioWhat Should ImproveThe weight of the item is a bit high Final Verdict This particular winch is only for those people who have large loads to pull. Therefore, if you are a car trailer owner, this is the kind of machine that you should own. So, go ahead and check out its current prices. And, if you like the price, buy it right now!! Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price Check ShopAbunda Price 8. Kanruis 13000lbs Electric Winch - High Value For Money Want the highest value for the money you're spending on the electric winch? Get the Kanruis 13000lbs electric winch that makes it up for your investment. Its specialty is that it offers all the necessary features that you would expect from the best winch for car trailers. Yet, it comes in a budget-friendly price segment. Now, as this electric winch comes with a motor that has a power rating of 6 HP, it can pull a maximum weight of up to 13,000 lb. And, it's got a three-stage planetary gear system. So, the performance of this winch is very smooth. In addition to that, it's got a 265:1 gear reduction ratio which makes this winch powerful enough to pull all types of 4 wheelers such as SUVs, UTVs, car trailers, etc. Moreover, this winch comes with 2 wireless control units and 1 wired control unit. So, the user experience of this winch is very satisfactory as well. Furthermore, because this winch has an IP67 waterproof rating, it is perfectly suited for use in any weather condition, be it rain or sun. And, as it draws a 12-volt electricity line, you can easily run this winch from your car battery. So, it's a very convenient electric winch. Lastly, to add the cherry on top, it comes with synthetic rope as its winch line. Therefore, its winch line is fully protected from water or moisture corrosion. Also, this machine only weighs about 65 lb. So, it's not a heavy burden on the vehicle to carry. Specifications: Weight load capacity: 13,000 lb Electrical voltage draw: 12-volt Motor power rating: 6 HP Gear system: three-stage planetary Waterproof rating: IP67 Gear ratio: 264:1 Winch line raw material: synthetic Drum size: 5 X 9.6 in Cable diameter: ⅜” Cable linked: 85 ft Weight of the item: 37 kg Dimension of the item: 24x 15x13 in Manufacturer's name: Kanruis What We LikeLightweight constructionWeatherproof and waterproof designEasy to use and installHigh value for moneyHigh price to performance ratioWhat Should ImproveNo warranty is available Final Verdict As this winch offers a high value for its price, it's a perfect electrical winch for budget-restricted consumers. On the other hand, it's got all the necessary features that an average user would want from a winch for car trailers. So, we wholeheartedly recommend this product to those customers who want the best for the price they are paying. Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price Check Photo4gift Price 9. FieryRed Electric Winch - Best Budget-Friendly Winch As the 9th product in our recommendation list, we have brought you an electric winch that comes in a very budget-friendly price segment. But, this winch offers a lot of features that even the premium winches fail to offer. We're talking about the FieryRed Electric Winch. Although it is a budget-friendly product, this electric winch comes with a motor that has a 6 HP power rating. That's why it can easily pull a maximum weight of up to 13,000 lb. And, it's fitted with a three-stage planetary gear system, So, this winch is perfectly suited to pull an average to a large-sized car trailer. On top of that, it offers both wireless and wired control units. And, the control unit has built-in LED lights, so you can work with it at night. Also, this winch has an IP67 waterproof rating. Therefore, you can effortlessly work with this winch in rain or any other weather conditions (without having to worry about damage from moisture or liquids). Furthermore, this winch has a 26 m synthetic rope with a 9.5 mm diameter. Therefore, the rope is strong enough to pull off all sorts of heavy-duty jobs. In addition, because it's a synthetic rope, it doesn't have any possibility of getting corroded by moisture or rust. Lastly, this winch comes in a complete set of 1 hook, 3 controllers, 1 hawse, 1 signal receiver, 1 control box, 2 connection cables, screw parts, 1 user manual, 1 hook strap, and the winch itself. Therefore, you won't need any additional tools to assemble this winch for use. Convenient, right? Specifications: Motor power: 6 HP Weight recovery capacity: 13000 lb Waterproof rating: IP67 Dimension of the item: 28 x 6.30 x 11.02 in Weight of the item: 53 lb Gear reduction ratio: 265: 1 Length of winch line: 3 ft Braking mechanism: Automatic Load-Holding Brake Winch line raw material: steel and synthetic Control unit: wireless and wired Solenoid construction material: copper What We LikeHigh price to performance ratioEasy to use and controlLightweight constructionWaterproof designCorrosion proof winch lineHighly powerful motorWhat Should ImproveTakes quite a few minutes to cool off after performance Final Verdict As this device is a budget-friendly device, it offers all the necessary features at a very limited price point. So, it's suited for all classes of consumers. Therefore, go ahead and buy this winch without any worry!! Check Amazon Price Check ShopAbunda Price Check Ubuy Price 10. Mile Marker SEC12 - Best Expensive Winch This is a product that is particularly suited for those people who are willing to spend a considerable amount of money to buy a good quality winch for their car trailer. It's the Mile Marker SEC12. The distinct characteristic of this winch is that it's a premium winch that comes in a very high price segment. But, don't worry, it does offer enough value to satisfy its consumers. For starters, this winch can easily pull a weight of upto 15,000 lbs. That's a huge feat from an electric winch that has a synthetic rope as its winch line, don't you think?. Now, the perk of having a huge capacity electric winch, paired up with strong synthetic wire, is that it offers both strength and durability. How? It's because the winch line is fully protected from corrosion from rust or moisture because corrosion does not affect synthetic materials. Additionally, this winch is fully protected from water or other liquids as well because it has a total of 19 seals in its structure that protects it from all external liquid contaminants. Consequently, it is rated with IP68 waterproof rating. Not only that, this winch can be effortlessly used even when it's fully submerged in water. Amazing, right? Furthermore, because this winch has a 4.9 HP electric motor that is encased in stainless steel framing, it can provide a robust performance. And, at the same time, it is estimated to last for at least more than half a decade. Lastly, although it comes with a synthetic rope winch line, you can still choose to have stainless steel rope if you prefer steel wire as your winch line (it's got a dedicated steel wire version). Specifications: Weight recovery capacity: 15,000 lb Suitable for vehicles: trucks, Jeeps, SUVs and car trailers Waterproof rating: IP68 Gear train: three stage planetary gear Gear issue: 150 : 1 Motor power: 9 HP Dimension of the item: 8 x 6.3 x 7.8 in Winch line: steel or Synthetic Weight of the item: 96 lb Manufacturing country: China Name of the manufacturer: Mile Marker Construction material: stainless steel What We LikeHighly durableRobustly strong constructionPremium appearanceHighly capable motorNoiseless performanceWhat Should ImproveThe pricing is a bit too high Final Verdict Although this winch is a very expensive machine, don't hesitate to try it out. Why? It's because its offerings make sure that it is worth the price paying for. Therefore, if you've got enough penny to afford it, go ahead and grab it right now!! Check Amazon Price Check MileMarker Price Check 4xtuff Price Things You Need To Look For When Buying A Winch For Car Trailer ( Buying Guide) It might seem that buying a winch for your car trailer is a straightforward thing to do, But, let me tell you that, it isn't. There are a bunch of factors that you have to keep in mind before choosing a particular winch for your car trailer. You might ask," what are those?". Well, we have listed below all the things that you need to be careful of before buying a particular winch for your car trailer. Check The Weight Recovery Capacity As we have indicated at the beginning of this discussion, the weight recovery or weight pulling capacity of the winch is a major criterion. That's why you have to give the most priority to it before buying a winch. To be more specific, we recommend that you make sure that the winch you are choosing has at least the capacity to pull 1.5 times the weight of your vehicle. Therefore, go ahead and measure the weight of your own car trailer, and choose a winch that can pull one and a half times the weight of your vehicle. For example, if your car trailer is about 3500 lb, you have to choose a winch that can pull around 4,000 lb of weight. Electric vs Hydraulic vs Combustion Engine The type of winch is something that you must choose carefully. It's because, depending on which type of winch you choose, the performance level can massively vary. For instance, if you choose an electric winch for a small vehicle, it's going to be fine because electric winches can handle small to medium-sized vehicles very easily. However, you need to keep in mind that electric winches are not fully suitable for larger-sized vehicles. Why? Remember that electric winches take power from the vehicle's battery. Therefore, their performance level has a very limited range. On the other hand, hydraulic winches are harder to install because they take power directly from the car's power drive. Now, although these are complicated to install, they can provide heavy-duty performances. That's why these are more suitable for large size vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, and car trailers. At last, you can also choose combustion engine winches as well. Although these types of winches are very powerful and can provide long-term performance, they are very noisy and bizarre in appearance. So, if you don't have any problem with noise, choosing a combustion engine is not a bad option either. Rope vs Cable Some winches come with metallic wires and some offer winch lines of synthetic ropes. Now, depending on your particular need, you'll have to choose one type of wire for your winch. In this particular case, our recommendation is that you go with metallic wires. It's because car trailers are heavy vehicles. Therefore, if you need to pull a car trailer with a winch, you need to have enough strength in the rope to be able to safely pull or tow the vehicle. On the other hand, synthetic ropes are not suitable to pull large-sized vehicles such as trucks and car trailers. Rather, these are more suited for pulling small to medium-sized vehicles or loads. That's why, if you want to be able to easily pull your car trailer without any hardship, we fully endorse that you choose a metallic wire winch over synthetic rope winches. Frequently Asked Questions Can I Run My Winch Off Trailer Plug? Although electric winches run on 12-volt batteries, the 12-volt power that comes from the trailer plug will not be sufficient to power the electric winch of a car trailer. You might be able to use the trailer plug to partially charge your battery, but it will not be able to actively drive the electric winch. Can You Power A Winch With A Car Battery? Yes, absolutely. The major working principle of electric winches is that they drop power from the car battery. So, you can easily connect your electric winch to your car battery and work with it as much as you want. How Long Will A Car Battery Run A Winch? The answer to this question is not actually very specific. Meaning, the duration of how long you can run a winch from a car battery entirely depends on the capacity of that battery. If you have a huge battery in your vehicle (truck batteries), you might be able to run the winch for around 3 hours. However, this estimation is not fully accurate because the capacity of batteries massively differs in each unit. But, the bottom line is that the electric winch will work indefinitely until you have electric power left in the battery. Can You Use Jumper Cables To Power A Winch? Jumper cables are fully suited for quick Short or easy pull (in your electric winch). However, if you want to receive consistent performance from your electric winch for a long time, you need to use more robust cables that can effortlessly transfer power from the battery to the winch. How Much Winch Line Will Fit on Your Winch? The quantity of winch lines is actually not The same for all winches. However, if we have to give an average estimate, an average-sized winch drum can easily fit 90 to 100 ft of winch line cable made of metal wire. On the other hand, if you go for a synthetic winch line, a winch might be able to house up to 150 ft of the synthetic winch line. Final Thoughts At this point, now that you have gone through all the winches we have recommended, you should have no problem choosing a suitable winch for your car trailer. However, if you don't want to go through the trouble of a detailed evaluation, we suggest that you directly choose the Smittybilt GEN 2 XRC Winch | 9,500 Pound Load Capacity. This winch is a fully balanced electric one that offers the best performance from an overall perspective. With a selectable pulling capacity of up to 17,000 lbs, you're getting the ultimate option to choose the winch of your exact necessity. It runs on your car's battery, can be mounted as a portable one on the trailer, and has tensile steel rope to be the most dependable machine on the list. So, go ahead and choose your winch for your car trailer now and get along with your job. Best of luck!