This 6,000 lb winch is installed on a TopHat car-hauling trailer. We fabricated our own mount for the winch using 1/4 in plate. The rest of the installation is standard. Four-gauge wire connectors (ASTC9034) were bolted to the trailer tongue for quick battery connection. The connector indicates the positive and negative fields.

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PS6000 Installation Overview on a TopHat Trailer

Step 1 — Mount Fabrication

The PIERCE PS6000 is a standard base-mount winch. It uses a 4-1/2 in × 10 in bolt pattern, the industry standard for this class.

Step 2 — Install the Roller Guide

Install the roller guide first to allow easier access to the back side of the winch mounting bolts. Once the winch is in place, clearance gets tight, so seating the roller guide ahead of time saves time.

Step 3 — Winch Installation

Bolt the winch down to a flat plate. Use at least 1/4 in bolts (3/8 in preferred when available). 1/4 in bolts are sufficient for a 6,000 lb winch. Note that the thimble and sledge will not pass between the rollers in the roller guide.

Step 4 — Reinstall the Roller Guide

Place the rollers in the rolling frame. Slide the shaft through the frame and reinstall the spring clip.

Step 5 — Hook Installation

The supplied clevis slip hook with safety latch installs to the end of the cable.

Electrical Connections

The ground and hot wire—as with all PIERCE winches and hydraulic pumps—need to make a complete, uninterrupted circuit to the battery. We used a quick-connect plug large enough to handle the amperage of this winch.

Quick-Connect Installation (ASTC9034)

The connector has metal contacts that install at the end of the cables. In the video, the contacts are crimped with a manual crimper, but they can also be soldered.

Final Wiring

There is no male/female distinction on this connector—the mating part on the towed vehicle is the same part number. Mount it securely to the trailer tongue so it can be plugged and unplugged by hand.

Completed Project

The finished installation is compact and out of the way. The remote control plugs directly into the weatherproof control box that comes pre-installed on the winch.

This is an installation overview, not a step-by-step procedure. Refer to the PS Series Winch Manual for exact instructions and torque specifications.

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