Trailer winch install

[fordtruckman]

So I want to put a winch on my trailer. And its going to take the cost of the winch, the fabrication and steel to mount it, and the cost of whatever it takes to wire it up...

Which brings me to my next point... How do you get power to the winch? It's gotta be connected to your batteries on the truck right? Just wondering what's the best way to get power to the winch...

[Traveler]

There are a couple decent ways to do it. A lot of if depends on how much you are going to use it.

For just light use you can mount a battery on the trailer and then hook it to the truck batteries through the regular trailer light cord.
This will help charge the battery while driving to or from the destination, it is always best to charge the battery before leaving on a trip with a regular stand alone charger.
That will not carry the load so if the battery on the trailer is bad or dead you will not be able to use the winch, but it is simple and cheap.

The other option is to run actual battery cables to the back of the truck.
Then connect it to the trailer or the winch as needed.
A quick connect like this works well.
Booster cables and plug (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.goodallmfg.com/images/12.500.600.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.goodallmfg.com/12.500.600.html&usg=__TOslQ4mjJOvxtlyuacCfC2nC064=&h=452&w=510&sz=32&hl=en&start=3&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=f49OW3MTfV0-mM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=131&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbooster%2Bcable%2Bplug%26um%3D1%26hl% 3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26channel%3Ds%26tbs%3Disch:1)

A temp setup like pictured works or permanently run the cables along the frame rail it will be a little more dependable.
The down side is cost and cable runs that long lose current but no fear of running the batteries on the truck dead.

[binksman]

I run an 8k lb MileMarker winch on my scrap hauling trailer. I ran off a truck battery I used on the trailer for the breakaway switch/brakes for a couple years, but as the battery aged, I had to keep getting jumper cables out to run the winch. Last year, I got some quick connect battery cables and hardwired the cables in the truck and no longer use the trailer battery.

Cable was standard 4 gauge battery cable off the spool from Tractor Supply, and the quick connects were a $15 purchase off eBay. Time saved and stress relieved when I need to hook up quickly- VERY MUCH worth it :)

[fordtruckman]

those both sound like good ideas... I will prob run the cables into the bed just like the trailer light plug and that way it'll be easy to plug in. Once I get the winch then I will buy the cables to wire it up. That would be the best so that I know the winch has power...