'Lectric winch retrofit?

[Engineer]

Got the logger to deliver two trailerloads of pine from my woodlot yesterday, looks like it scales about 5000 feet.  Some of the logs are 30" x 16 ft.  I don't have a set of log forks yet for my tractor and don't think it could lift them anyway, so I have to use the manual winch on my LT30 to load them.

I got to thinking - Warn makes a tiny DC winch (1700 model) that has a 1700 lb pulling capacity and runs on 12V.  Has anyone retrofitted an electric winch to a manual mill, and if so, is it as easy as it sounds?  It looks like all I have to do is pull the old winch, bolt on the new one, and run two wires.  The little Warn winch is even ORANGE!

Cranking that manual winch on a big log is a pain, and I have a big pile of logs.

[Minnesota_boy]

I have hydraulic  lift, but I use an electric winch to roll some big logs onto the lift.  I made a bracket to hook it to my flip-up log clamp and ran a power wire to an outlet I mounted on the frame so it was easy to put it on and take it off again.  If I was loading the logs up a ramp, I'd probably make a bracket to mount the winch near the off side of the mill, so I could remove it when I wasn't using it.  I prefer to store my winch inside my truck instead of on the mill.

[Fla._Deadheader]

Don't have yer set up, but, only consideration I would think about, is, the smaller winches have no self holding or brake feature. If that doesn't matter, I would go for it.
  Just thinkin in case the log needs twistin or starts gettin awry, while goin up the ramp

[HUNTER700]

Hey Engineer, I use a Warn 2.5 xi 12v winch on my fourwheller to winch log onto my mills bed. The winch is rated at 2500 pounds. It works pretty good, to keep it near its top rating I usually dubble the lines throught a snatch block.
The 1700 pound model should work if you have a good set of roollers.  Good luck on the milling.  
Hunter700

[Mark M]

I use one of those Warn 1700 winches to load logs on my Norwood sawmill and it works real well. I don't know how much holding power it has but I can stop with a log halfway up the ramps and it does stay there. Has forward, reverse, and free wheel. I've done this with some big spuce log that weighed about 800 lbs.

Here is a Picture

[music_boy]

I'd be real interested in some pics of your setups. Just put my mill track on a trailer and am setting up the log on ramps and a winch. I came across a boat winch at a store when I was looking for some trailer parts. Has a 4000 lb rating. Yea! it's overkill but he only wanted 50 bucks for it. I got some pics that I'll try to post tonight. Got to go to work now.
Rick

[ADfields]

Is it rated for a 4000 pound boat or a 4000 pound single line pull?   With electric winches the more overkill the better, saves on the battery draw and life of the motor.   I also think electric winches are way way over rated on the labels, they will pull that load but not for long without cooking.   Looks like Mark has a great setup on his mill!
Andy

[music_boy]

Once I figured out to click on pic, I could see that.Mine is a single line pull rating.
     I'll bet you're absolutely correct on the winch rating. The last winch I was married to wouldn't cook.
    Rick

[ADfields]

Rick, that just may have been a very good thing!!!!
Andy

[music_boy]

AD
    Yeah, it worked out that way. Unfortunate before, but I got me a good one now. 15 years this March. Wonderful son from the previous and a beautiful daughter from current. My son made me a Grandpa (with some help) this Sept. Fantastic Thanksgiving.
      Got carried away there.  Nice pics on the winch. The whole seies are worth looking at. Got some good ideas for my winch set up.
Rick

[Fla._Deadheader]

Well, corngrats, there Rick  I'm still waitin. Don'T look good

[fencerowphil (Phil L.)]

Hey Engineer!

Just a point to consider:

Those big pine logs weigh between 2400 and 3300 each. This typical range encompasses Eastern White on the low end and Loblolly on the high end.  Southern Longleaf exceeds 3800 lbs. at this size.  A similar size Red Oak would be just under 4K.  (I was using 30"  big end and 24" little end.)

I you step up a notch, you may be ready for all contingencies.
Phil L.