Hey all you winching pros, I was hoping you would be able to give me a few answers or at least ideas here. I already did a bunch of searching and didn't quite find the answers I was looking for so here goes. I have a '90 F150 with the long bed and a tow dolly. I'm starting my own business and want to have the ability to tow people's cars that have broken down or might just be in the need of transport and there's no way I'm buying a wrecker.
I've read in this great forum that the general rule of thumb for how great a weight capacity is for a winch is 1 1/2 times the weight of the vehicle. I also know that I will be pulling different weight vehicles. I'm not ever planning on pulling a vehicle out of the mud so the worst I would have to pull is MAYBE a flat tire all though, more than likely, it would get the donut slapped on. I don't ever plan on pulling a vehicle weighing more than 9,000lbs. either. That's what towing companies are for.
So, is it safe to go with a 9k rated winch, which would be bed mounted or mounted to the frame underneath and come from under or through the bumper for a straighter pull angle, or should I go with something heavier?
Also, since it wouldn't be used too often I'm thinking that a deep cycle battery is a little excessive and wondering if a really big Interstate would be ok.
One last question then I swear I'm done. I've read from a lot of you that Warn is the absolute best. I'm wondering, since dollying ppl most likely won't be an everyday occurence or even every other day thing, if I'd be safe with a different, slightly cheaper brand. I don't want to buy a bottom of the barrel winch and strand myself and any future customers and I'm not afraid to spend the money and do the right thing, but can I do the right thing w/out going for broke? I really apologize for the looooong post, but would appreciate any and all feedback.

 

I'm just curious if you have looked at all the legal issues involved in what you are planning? As far as for the truck your going to have to look at your GVCW rateing, and what state regulations are. To be perfectly honest I would just leave this idea up to the professionals. Your are also going to have to worry about commercial regulations if your getting paid for your services, you will have to deal with D.O.T. If you honestly wanted to consider this you would do it right and buy tow truck thats designed for towing. Since this is going to be your business your also going to look at all the extra insurance policies your going need, I doubt any insurance company will insure you with a car dolly and not a real tow truck, car dollies are mainly designed for people that want to tow behind their RV's not pull, for a job.

 

you could just redesign the aim of your "business". instead of acting as a tow service with your dolly, you could be one of those scrap dudes that tows peoples scrap cars to the junk yard. you do the hauling for free, and collect the money for the car at the scrap yard. i have a bunch of friends that do that all the time. im not really a winching pro, but would you be able to get away with using one of those hand winches for that purpose?

 

If the vehicle rolls you don't need much, 9k is pretty beefy for pulling a car up a dolly!!
Go with a 5k or so and you could always block and tackle to double or triple your pulling power if need be!! It takes longer but you'll save money!! I would put the winch on a reciever hitch and put one on the front and rear or on the trailer, So you could move it around and it will be more versatile!!! A double battery system would be a good Idea that way you won't end up needing a tow!! If you jump start your customers alot or for an extended period of time, Not too mention you'll probably be working at night so adding extra lights, strobes,etc. for your safety!! and running a winch or jump starting will kill a single battery after a short time!! A couple 1000 cranking amp batts should work fine!!

 

It may seen like a good idea now, but the first time something gets messed up expensive and someone mentions lawsuit, I bet you'll wish you hadnt.

 

For all it is worth, I do agree with some of the legal issues that you may encounter. Not to mention the insurance requirements that you will not be able to obtain, and the risk you run when your regular insurance company finds out that you are towing with your daily driver. The liability is very high, and the risk is alos very high. Towing with dollies is not a preferred method. Vehicles love to jump off of those things.
But good luck with it if you choose to pursue this.
As far as the winch, I have never had a problem getting a vehicle that rolls onto a dolly. I used a Warn 2,000 lb wich for the longest time on a trailer. It would haul cars up the ramps with two flat tires and little effort.
You really do not need a very big winch for vehicles that are not stuck or missing tires.
I run large gauge cables with a connector to the rear of my trucks(s) and a shorter cable to the winch on the trailer. This keeps me from having an extra battery on the trailer when I do not really need it. Then I can plug in the winch when I need it, and since the extra battery is in the truck it is always charged.

 

> so the worst I would have to pull is MAYBE a flat tire all though

A cheap 2K/6k rolling load marine winch for $80 will do you. I have used a come-a-long with no problems to get FWD cars onto the tow dolly when dead. Why use my come-a-long instead of the winch in the bed? The ability to hold the load when you walk away and power is not applied.

If you are serious about throwing down a chunk of change, then get one with a wireless remote, so you can steer the car while winching. 6K is more then enough for a rolling load.

Generally, Warn, Milemarker, and other brand name winches are rated at their 45 degree ? angled pull. Their rolling load capacity on level ground is much greater and uses less amps.

 

Thanks for all your feedback guys, I appreciate it. It's not something I would use to tow daily with. If I know friends that have a dead car or if one of my customer's breaks down I would like to be able to pick them up and maybe do some light stuff when daily work is slow, I don't know yet. I have a few friends in the towing business and they thought it would be a good idea but I still haven't looked at the insurance aspects of it so I'm still not too sure of it but, again, thanks for the feedback and ideas that I can roll around in my empty head