Winch placement on trailer

RedMF40 · Aug 17, 2023

Going to finally put an electric winch on my car trailer. It has a long tongue I plan to weld steel plate to. That's where I want to mount the winch. Is it a good idea to raise it up a bit over the deck or does it matter? I'm trying not to over-complicate this project. Thanks for any thoughts about this.
Gerrit

Janicholson · Aug 17, 2023

Fairlead rollers should be positioning the cable an inch or so above the deck. Higher makes the mount pull from too high for strength, lower rubs the deck quite often. Jim

caterpillar guy · Aug 18, 2023

Mount it so it is ahead of the deck surface so it does not interfere with loading other things that might need the flat space of the floor. Depending on winch size should be pretty easy to mount on the center of the tongue. unless you are going to put something like a 12 ton winch on support should not be to hard to get on the tongue either. Weld a section of tube in length ways with the bolt holes in it use at least a 1/4 inch thick tube can cap one end if you think you really need to. Length ways will solve the tube pulling the tube out of shape as it would be pulling length ways of the tube if you follow me there.

showcrop · Aug 18, 2023

You see a lot of them with a receiver tube mount arrangement for versatility.

DoubleO7 · Aug 18, 2023

(reply to post at 00:57:01 08/18/23)

On the tongue is a good spot.

I would mount it so that the top of lower fairlead opening is just barely above the deck.
Cable is going to rub on the beaver tail anyways unless winch is two feet higher than the front edge of the deck. You don't want it that way.

Think on the base a bit.

If you make the base a certain size you can then construct a sheet metal cover to protect the winch during storage.

DeltaRed · Aug 18, 2023

I dont see a front rail on the trailer. Mount the winch high enough so it doesnt rub on the trailer. As said,too high will compromise strength.

Oregon Tractor Jack · Aug 18, 2023

I welded a receiver tube on my trailer so I could easily remove the winch. I didn't want it sitting out in the weather when it wasn't being used. I also make a long set of jumper cables to power the winch off of my truck batteries. I also keep a few scrap 2x4's to put on the top of the beaver tail for the cable to rub on.

OTJ

Pitalplace · Aug 18, 2023

I have mine on a receiver hitch mount that I made. It works great on the trailer. I can use it on my tractor, skid steer and pickup. The best part is I can store it under a work bench out of the weather and thieves.

Hdonly · Aug 18, 2023

Mine is mounted to a piece of U-channel that is welded to the tounge. I think I will change it to a receiver hitch mount. That does make it much more versatile.

montidale · Aug 18, 2023

This is the set up I use on our toy hauler. All I have to do is remove two bolts and I can remove the winch. Its a little on the heavy side. But its better
to have too much winch than not enough.

Eagle Beagle · Aug 18, 2023

It's working out fine if the winch isn't centered on the trailer. Most times I use a snatch block and hook the winch line on
the side opposite the winch.

RedMF40 · Aug 18, 2023

Thanks for the ideas, glad I asked. I like having some kind of cover over the winch since I'll probably leave it in place. I'll try to allow enough room at the base to allow for that, without it looking too cobbled together.

BTW this big boy looks to be every bit of 150 lbs. Maybe more. I'd have to plan my day around trying to move that.

Gerrit

DoubleO7 · Aug 18, 2023

(reply to post at 13:56:28 08/18/23)

Friend of mine used a steel ammo box to cover his winch.

Bolted the cover upside down sandwiched between the winch base and winch mount.

buickanddeere · Aug 18, 2023

(quoted from post at 23:57:01 08/17/23) Going to finally put an electric winch on my car trailer.

Glad to see somebody using a winch . So many times at shows we see tractors with the front wheels in the air and nearly flip over while loading . Then there are the steel wheeled tractors with no traction on a flat metal surface .
Ask emergency responders who work near fairgrounds .

john in la · Aug 18, 2023

Hummm

Welding a steel plate to the horizontal face of the tongue
frame rail.

I wonder how well that is going to turn out.

montidale · Aug 19, 2023

Yes its a little on the heavy side its a two-man operation get it off the trailer. But I can pull anything up on the trailer that I can legally haul. its really
come in handy over the years.

Winch placement on trailer

RedMF40

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Janicholson

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caterpillar guy

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showcrop

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DoubleO7

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DeltaRed

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Oregon Tractor Jack

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Pitalplace

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Hdonly

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montidale

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Eagle Beagle

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RedMF40

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DoubleO7

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buickanddeere

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john in la

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montidale

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