winch sizing for loading logs onto trailer

[ChoppyChoppy]

Expect 400-500amp draw on a winch at near full pull.

 

[M.R.]

Expect 400-500amp draw on a winch at near full pull.

The starter motors on the diesel locomotives were
placarded ...with 30 seconds of cranking to allow 2 minutes
of cool down.
Yip, amps equal heat ....
intermittent duty cycles, without allowing for cooling down periods (allows batteries to recharge some also)
It's easy to let the smoke out of them. ;-)

 

[muddstopper]

I think the closer you get toward the load limit on a winch the more likely you are to burn it up. A 3000lb winch running at its load limit will get hotter faster than a 8000lb winch running at 3000lbs load. Little winch's come with short lines for a reason, they are not intended to make 100ft pulls, and the more line you have on the drum, the less weight it can pull. Personally, if I intended to make large pulls over long distances, I would opt for the biggest winch I could afford.