ProMark Offroad Blog

Loading a Boat with an Electric Trailer Winch

Written By: Esther
May 16th, 2012 | Filed under Electric Boat Trailer Winches | No Comments »Tags: Electric Boat Trailer Winches, Electric Boat Winch, Loading a Boat, Trailer Winch, Trailering Your Boat

Loading your boat is easy with an electric trailer winch.

Loading and unloading your boat with an electric trailer winch is fast and easy. Just follow the instructions below.

Loading Your Boat with an Electric Winch

Connect the trailer winch to the power source. Connect the remote control (if using a corded remote).
Line up the trailer and boat to get ready for loading.
Release the clutch on the electric winch so that you can freespool the cable out.
Spool out enough cable to reach the boat. (If the cable is difficult to freespool, you can try powering out with the motor for a few seconds, with the clutch fully released. Then continue freespooling.)
Attach the winch hook to the bow eye on your boat.
Engage the clutch to set the brake. Be careful not to overtighten the clutch.
Get clear of the cable, electric winch, and boat. Make sure all bystanders are out of harm’s way in case anything should go wrong.
Power in the cable until the boat is fully loaded and the boat juts up against the bow stop.
Disconnect the remote control (if using a corded remote).
Secure the boat to the trailer.

Unloading Your Boat with an Electric Winch

If not already connected, attach the winch hook to the bow eye on your boat.
Connect the electric winch to the power source. Plug in the remote control (if corded).
Remove the boat tie downs and the chains that secure the boat and trailer, leaving only the winch hook connected to the bow eye.
Disengage the clutch so that the cable is allowed to freespool.
Let the boat slide off the trailer into the water. If the boat slides down too fast, you can tighten the clutch slightly to slow down the boat.
After the boat is in the water, release the winch hook from the bow eye.
Engage the clutch so that the brake is set.
Keeping a steady amount of tension on the winch cable, power in the cable with the winch remote. Be careful not to let your fingers get too close to the winch.
Secure the winch hook to prevent accidental damage.
Unplug the remote control and store it in a safe, dry location.

Respooling Winch Cable

Written By: Esther
May 10th, 2012 | Filed under Winching Techniques | No Comments »Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winches, Winch Cable, Winching Tips

Wear leather gloves to respool winch cable.

Letting your winch cable spool up like a bird’s nest is a sure way to damage your winch or cable. Follow these tips to respool your cable in neat, orderly rows.

Respooling Cable After a Pull

Safety first: Always wear leather gloves for respooling winch cable. They protect your hands from burrs, wire splinters, and extreme temperatures.

To respool correctly, you need to keep a slight load on the cable. Hold the cable with one hand and the remote control switch with the other. Start as far back and in the center as you can. Then walk towards the winch as you power in the cable, keeping a load on the cable as you move forward.

Do not allow the cable to slide through your hand. Be careful not to approach the winch too closely. Getting your hand or glove caught in the winch is extremely dangerous.

Turn off the winch and repeat the procedure until all the cable except 3 feet is spooled onto the drum.

Disconnect the remote control switch and finish spooling in the winch cable by rotating the drum by hand with the clutch disengaged.

On hidden winches, spool in the cable under power, but keep your hands clear of the opening.

Uneven Spooling

Winch cable that spools unevenly while you are pulling a load is not a problem unless the cable is piling up on one end of the drum. If this happens, reverse the winch to relieve the load; then move your anchor point further to the center of the vehicle.

After you’re done winching, you can unspool and re-wind for a neat lay of the cable. Neat, tight spooling avoids cable binding, which is caused when a load is applied and the cable is pinched between the other wraps.

ATV Winch Buying Guide: What Size Winch?

Written By: Esther
May 2nd, 2012 | Filed under Choosing a Winch | No Comments »Tags: ATV Winch, ATV Winches, Choosing a Winch

A 1500lb winch is a good size for sport quads. (photo by Adam G.)

When you get stuck in the middle of nowhere or need to drag a deer out of the thicket on a hunting trip, you’ll be glad you have an ATV winch on your quad. Here are some tip to help you make sure the winch you buy is big enough to handle the job.

How heavy is your ATV / UTV?

The first thing you need to know is the weight of your ATV, UTV, or side-by-side. The heavier your quad is, the more winch power you’ll need to pull it out.

Winch Size Recommendations:

Sport ATVs: 1500 lb – 2500 lb
Utility ATVs: 2500lb or larger, depending on size
UTVs: 3500lb or larger

Smaller ATV winches (starting at 1500 pounds) tuck nicely into the tight mounting space on sport quads and smaller ATVs.

For ATVs and UTVs, you’ll want more pulling power. Winches up to 4500 lbs are available for the heaviest quads.

How do you plan to use your winch?

What size winch you need depends partly on how you plan to use the winch. Pulling an ATV out of the mud requires more winch power than lifting and lowering an ATV plow.

Figure out how much heavy pulling your winch will have to do. Mud, sand, and other sucking forces require more winch power, so buy a larger winch if you’re into mudding, sand dunes, and bogs.

Choosing a Boat Trailer Winch

Written By: Esther
April 26th, 2012 | Filed under Electric Boat Trailer Winches | No Comments »Tags: Electric Boat Trailer Winches, Electric Boat Winch, Trailer Winch

An electric trailer winch makes it easier to load your boat.

Need a power winch to load your boat? An electric trailer winch lets you load faster and easier. With a corded or wireless remote, you can load the boat one-handed, with the other hand guiding the boat onto the trailer.

What Size Winch?

The winch power you’ll need will depend on the size, length, and weight of your boat. Look at the max load rating and/or the maximum boat length for the trailer winch to find the right one for your boat.

Wireless Remote or Wired?

Electric trailer winches come with wireless or corded remote controls. Either way, you’ll have to keep track of the remote. A wireless remote lets you load the boat from further away, and there are no cords to trip over or get in the way.

Winch Strap or Cable?

Both straps and cables are durable and efficient when handled properly. A trailer winch with a nylon strap is easier on your hands, since there are no stray wires that can slice into your skin and it won’t get pinched between layers on the drum. Steel cable, on the other hand, is better able to withstand rugged conditions and won’t rot when exposed to rain and harsh weather.

Since a winch strap is thicker and takes up more space on the drum than a cable, you’ll want to go with cable if you need a longer reach with the hook.

Jeep CJ Winch Install Video

Written By: Esther
April 18th, 2012 | Filed under Customer Testimonials, ProMark Garage, Video, Winch Installation, Winch Reviews | No Comments »Tags: Jeep Winch Mount, Jeep Winches, Offroad Photos, Silverback Recovery Winch

Big thanks to one of our customers for sending us the link to a winch install video that he posted on Photobucket. The video features a 1978 Jeep CJ-7 with a 10,000 lb ProMark Silverback winch and custom mount plate fitting.

The videos and photos posted by FJguercio describe in detail the form and fit for the Jeep winch and mount plate. See one of the videos below.

Jeep CJ with 10K Silverback ProMark winch

Keep Your Winch Working

Written By: Esther
April 10th, 2012 | Filed under Winch Maintenance | No Comments »Tags: Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement, Winch Maintenance, Winch Safety

Use your winch at least once a month, even if just to power the cable out and back in.

Use It or Lose It

We highly recommend using your winch regularly (at least once a month). Even if you don’t need to use the winch for anything, get the motor running and warmed up to keep the winch in good working condition.

Simply power the cable out 5 feet, spool out another 2 feet, and then power back in. This will keep all components in good working condition so that the winch will be ready to use when you need it.

Maintenance

Every so often, check the mounting bolts and electrical connections to make sure they are tight and free of corrosion or damage. Remove any dirt and corrosion that may have accumulated on the electrical connections.

Lubrication

The gearbox and drum bearings are permanently lubricated. No internal lubrication should be required for the life of the winch. Re-lubrication is necessary only after repair or disassembly.

Cable Safety

Always check the condition of the wire or synthetic cable before using. If there are signs of damage that could compromise the safety of the cable, do not use your winch until the cable is repaired or replaced.

Never substitute a heavier or lighter wire rope as a replacement. The rope should have the same diameter and load capacity as the original cable.

ProMark Offroad Sponsors Off-Road Jamboree

Written By: Esther
April 2nd, 2012 | Filed under ProMark Offroad News | No Comments »Tags: ATV News, Offroad Event, PROMARK OFFROAD News, Sponsorship

Thrills in the Hills Offroad Jamboree

ProMark Offroad is an official sponsor for the Thrills in the Hills Off-Road Jamboree hosted by Burning Rock in West Virginia. Don’t miss out on one of the best ATV, side-x-side, and dirt bike riding events of the year.

You’ll get the chance to meet Brian Fisher, the host and executive producer of Fisher’s ATV World on Outdoor Channel, along with tons of other ATV fans just like you.

Thrills in the Hills takes place this summer from June 15-17. Here are some of the activities you can look forward to at this off-road event:

New! Guided Trail Rides: Kids & Adults
New! Challenge at the Rock Obstacle Course
New! Pro Armor’s Burning Rock Xtreme Mountain Challenge
New! Radio Control Off-Road Track & Races
New! Moonshine Run
New! Mud Pit Competition & Runs
Fireworks (big ones!)
Food Vendors
Vendor & Manufacturer Row
Beer Tent
Kids Play Area
Live Music

For tickets and more details, see the Burning Rock website.

Wireless Winch Remote Installation

Written By: Esther
March 29th, 2012 | Filed under ATV Accessories, Winch Installation | No Comments »Tags: ATV Accessories, Winch Accessories, Winch Remotes, Wireless Winch Remote

A wireless winch remote lets you operate your electric winch from a safe distance, with no extra cords to trip over. Most ATV and recovery winches can be upgraded with a wireless remote kit even if your winch did not originally come with one.

Disconnecting the Battery

Before installing your wireless switch kit, disconnect the vehicle ground and positive leads from the battery. Make sure the battery or power supply is adequate to handle the wireless switch. If the winch is under heavy use, we recommend upgrading with an auxiliary battery and heavy-duty alternator.

ProMark wireless winch remote wiring

Winch Wiring Instructions

1) Decide where to mount the contactor.
The contactor is mainly a safety component for your winch system. It separates your winch from the power source when not in use. We recommend mounting the contactor near the winch. Make sure the location you choose allows sufficient clearance from all metal components, such as frame tubes.

2) Mount the switch.
The typical mounting location for the switch is on the left handlebar. Use a piece of black electrical tape to prevent rotation on the bar. Do not install over any wires or hoses.

Once mounted, route the wiring harness back to where the contactor will be mounted, attaching the harness to hard points on the vehicle with cable ties. Splice the end of the red wire to a key controlled electrical wire on your ATV. Use a test light to find the “hot” wire. The wire should only have power when the key is on.

Keep in mind that your installation requirements will vary depending on your ATV model and winch. If the wires are not long enough to reach the battery, switch mounting point, and winch, you may need to increase the length and/or wire gauge of the wiring harness. Also, make sure the wiring harness does not interfere or come in contact with any hot or moving engine, suspension, steering, braking, or exhaust parts.

3) Attach the wires.
Attach the two short red and black wires to the winch. The red wire attaches to the positive terminal and the black wire to the negative terminal.

4) Mount the contactor.
Mount the contactor in the location you chose. After properly routing all the wires and securing them with cable ties and electrical tape, take a moment to double check that the wireless system is properly installed and free of restrictions. Then attach the long red and black wires to the battery positive and negative terminals.

5) Test the system.
Make sure the switch-mounting position does not inhibit the operation of the ATV in any way. You should be able to turn the handlebars all the way to the right and to the left without getting cut short by the switch wiring. Then reel off a few feet of rope and test the operation of your wireless winch remote.

ProMark Facebook Contest Winners

Written By: Esther
March 23rd, 2012 | Filed under ProMark Offroad News | No Comments »Tags: Contest, Facebook, Offroad Photos, PROMARK OFFROAD News

Congratulations to Brandon Mullins, our Grand Prize winner for the ProMark Facebook contest! Congrats to our weekly winners as well: Christopher Burgess, Brendo Farr, Glenn Douglas Wisehart, and Jerry Pleasants.

See the winning photos below. For more contest entry photos, visit our Facebook page.

Grand Prize Photo - Brandon Mullins' kids in the Rhino

Week 1 Winner - Christopher Burgess

Week 2 Winner - Brendo Farr

Week 3 Winner - Glenn Douglas Wisehart

Week 4 Winner - Jerry Pleasants

Recovery Winch Operation and Safety Tips

Written By: Esther
March 16th, 2012 | Filed under Offroad Recovery, Winching Techniques | No Comments »Tags: Recovery Winches, Winch Safety, Winching Out, Winching Tips

Jeep recovery winch

Even experienced winch users need to be reminded of the basics sometimes. Your safety and the safety of those around you is the most important consideration in the winching process. See below for tips on operating and using your recovery winch safely.

1. Dress for the Job.

Don’t wear loose clothing or jewelry. They can get caught in moving parts.
Wear leather gloves when handling winch cable. Don’t handle cable with your bare hands! Loose wires, barbs, and extreme temperatures can cause burns or injuries.
Wear sturdy, non-skid footwear.
Keep long hair pulled back, and keep long beards out of the way.

2. Keep Your Distance.

Make sure everyone in the area is standing well clear of the winch cable and load during the recovery process. We recommend a distance of at least 1.5 times the cable length. If the cable pulls loose or breaks under load, it can lash back and cause serious personal injury or death.
Don’t step over the winch cable.
Watch your footing and keep your balance at all times.

3. Don’t Abuse the Winch.

If the motor gets uncomfortably hot to the touch, stop winching and let the motor cool down for a few minutes. Electric winches are designed for intermittent use.
Shut off power to the winch if the motor stalls.
Stay within the maximum line pull ratings for your electric winch. Shock loads should not exceed these ratings either.

4. Avoid Unintentional Starting.

Disengage the winch clutch when not in use.
Make sure the clutch is in the fully engaged position before use.

5. Repair Damaged Parts.

Before using your winch, you should inspect the winch and cable carefully for any damage.
Repair or replace damaged parts before using your winch. Contact the manufacturer or an authorized service center for repairs.
Use only identical replacement parts when repairing your recovery winch.

6. Respool the Cable.

Wear leather gloves when respooling the winch cable. To respool correctly, you need to keep a slight load on the cable. Hold the winch cable with one hand and the remote control switch with the other. Start as far back and in the center as you can. Walk towards the winch, keeping load on the cable as the winch is powered in.
Don’t let the cable slide through your hand, and be careful not to approach the winch too closely.
When your hand gets within a few feet of the winch, turn off the power using the remote and repeat the process, grabbing the cable again as far back and in the center as you can.
Keep spooling in the cable until only 3 feet of cable remains in your hand.
Disconnect the winch remote (or shut off the wireless remote) and finish spooling in the cable by rotating the drum by hand with the clutch disengaged.
On hidden winches, spool in the winch cable under power, but keep your hands clear.