Mounting winch on trailer

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   Just to show that I was not a TOTAL sloth during the off season I thought I'd share this little project. 
 I have been wanting to be able to put a winch on the front of my flat bed trailer to help pull disabled vehicles or logs.  I wanted it to removable to protect it from weather and theft.  I wanted it to be forward of the trailer front to maximize the use of the trailer.  I wanted synthetic rope and since I am usually working alone I wanted it to have a wireless remote control.  And last, because I am cheap,  I mean thrifty, I didn't want to spend a fortune on the project.  I ended up finding most of the pieces of the puzzle on Amazon.

First I marked and cut out the trailer frame to accept a 2" receiver standing up vertically.

Then I welded in the receiver.

Next I fabricated the winch mount.

Winch mounted.

Then come the controls.  I had a plastic ammo box laying around that would be perfect to protect the controls as well as provide a handle to carry the whole thing around with.  I mounted the box on top and proceeded to wire everything in.  I used a reversible winch relay and a long range wireless remote system rather than the one provided with the winch.  I also have a wired remote that plugs into a watertight receptible on the front of the box in case the wireless one stops working.  The wired remote and cable store right in the box.

Finally, I needed to get power to the winch.  I decided to run wire straight to the vehicle battery rather than add a battery to the trailer.  This way I can use any vehicle to pull the trailer and save the expense of another battery.  For the long wires I used 30' 1gauge jumper cables and used an Anderson type quick connector to connect to the winch wires.  I had to modify the plastic connector a little to get it to mate. 

To attach the terminals to the heavy wire I found a nifty little tool.  Using a 3lb hammer and tapping into my Neanderthal assembly skills it made a nice neat connection.

Finished project in action.

Works like a champ!  Loaded these locust logs all by myself - no sweat.   In case you're wondering, the barbeque grill top helps me skid logs through soft ground without digging in and bridges between the ramps while starting the logs onto the trailer.  Barbeque grills have SO many uses!

Hope this helps someone else with ideas for their trailer winch!

-Barry

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Barry S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 01 Mar. 2020 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 661	Post Options Post Reply Quote Barry S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Mounting winch on trailer Posted: 05 Apr. 2022 at 9:06pm
	Just to show that I was not a TOTAL sloth during the off season I thought I'd share this little project. I have been wanting to be able to put a winch on the front of my flat bed trailer to help pull disabled vehicles or logs. I wanted it to removable to protect it from weather and theft. I wanted it to be forward of the trailer front to maximize the use of the trailer. I wanted synthetic rope and since I am usually working alone I wanted it to have a wireless remote control. And last, because I am ~~cheap,~~ I mean thrifty, I didn't want to spend a fortune on the project. I ended up finding most of the pieces of the puzzle on Amazon. First I marked and cut out the trailer frame to accept a 2" receiver standing up vertically. Then I welded in the receiver. Next I fabricated the winch mount. Winch mounted. Then come the controls. I had a plastic ammo box laying around that would be perfect to protect the controls as well as provide a handle to carry the whole thing around with. I mounted the box on top and proceeded to wire everything in. I used a reversible winch relay and a long range wireless remote system rather than the one provided with the winch. I also have a wired remote that plugs into a watertight receptible on the front of the box in case the wireless one stops working. The wired remote and cable store right in the box. Finally, I needed to get power to the winch. I decided to run wire straight to the vehicle battery rather than add a battery to the trailer. This way I can use any vehicle to pull the trailer and save the expense of another battery. For the long wires I used 30' 1gauge jumper cables and used an Anderson type quick connector to connect to the winch wires. I had to modify the plastic connector a little to get it to mate. To attach the terminals to the heavy wire I found a nifty little tool. Using a 3lb hammer and tapping into my Neanderthal assembly skills it made a nice neat connection. Finished project in action. Works like a champ! Loaded these locust logs all by myself - no sweat. In case you're wondering, the barbeque grill top helps me skid logs through soft ground without digging in and bridges between the ramps while starting the logs onto the trailer. Barbeque grills have SO many uses! Hope this helps someone else with ideas for their trailer winch! -Barry
	1947 CJ2A 93664 "Grasshopper" 1947 CJ2A 90729 194? CJ2A 04893/194304 1946 CJ2A 46745 1946 CJ2A 36723 1945 MB 413665 1971 CJ5 8305017 375392 Drive train parts donor Bantam Trailer T3-C 25487

TMRoper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 23 Aug. 2016 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 192	Post Options Post Reply Quote TMRoper Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Apr. 2022 at 8:13am
	That's an interesting way to mount a winch? I'm thinking of doing this to one of my trailers but was going to go horizontal. Was there much flex on the winch mount when you were using it?

jhg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 07 Nov. 2016 Location: colorado Status: Offline Points: 917	Post Options Post Reply Quote jhg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Apr. 2022 at 10:06am
	Well done.
	1948 cj2a. Rebuilt L-head, steering, T90, WO 636, steering, brake lines. So far.

dasvis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Sponsor Member Joined: 07 Sep. 2019 Location: Salem, Oregon Status: Offline Points: 1546	Post Options Post Reply Quote dasvis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Apr. 2022 at 11:11am
	That is nice. good job
	1947 CJ2A #88659 "Rat Patrol" 1953 CJ3A #453-GB1 11266 "Black Beauty" 1964 Thunderbird convertible ..... & one of them moves under it's own power!!

Barry S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 01 Mar. 2020 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 661	Post Options Post Reply Quote Barry S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Apr. 2022 at 4:58pm
	Thanks guys! I know that mounting the receiver vertical is a little unconvetional but it lent itself well to my situation. The diaganal brace that goes down to the front of the tongue made it more of a challenge but in the end helps prevent any flex of the reciever. Also making it vertical let me keep the winch forward of the trailer deck without building a lot of extra framework. Again this was what worked best for my situation, most folks do mount it horizontal. I just wanted to offer another idea. Post some pics of what works for you! -Barry
	1947 CJ2A 93664 "Grasshopper" 1947 CJ2A 90729 194? CJ2A 04893/194304 1946 CJ2A 46745 1946 CJ2A 36723 1945 MB 413665 1971 CJ5 8305017 375392 Drive train parts donor Bantam Trailer T3-C 25487

TMRoper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 23 Aug. 2016 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 192	Post Options Post Reply Quote TMRoper Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Apr. 2022 at 7:35am
	Got it very interesting,what size winch were you using(couldn't make out the size. Also good idea on the repurposing of the barbecue lid,American ingenuity at work!

BD1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 18 Dec. 2019 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 630	Post Options Post Reply Quote BD1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Apr. 2022 at 8:36am
	Looks good. Back in the day, when junk VWs could be found almost anywhere, we used VW bug front hoods upside down just the way your using the grill top.
	BD '47 CJ2a, Shiny on top! '55 CJ5 project

Barry S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 01 Mar. 2020 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 661	Post Options Post Reply Quote Barry S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Apr. 2022 at 8:50am
	The winch is a Tyrannosaurus 5000 lb with synthetic rope from Amazon. It came with the mounting plate, hawse, and wireless remote. I wanted the winch to be small enough to carry easily and I figure if I need more pull I'll run a snatch block. I was actually looking for a car hood to use when I remembered our old grill waiting to go to the scrap yard! A VW front hood (trunk lid) would be the perfect shape! Too bad those are a little hard to come by these days. -Barry
	1947 CJ2A 93664 "Grasshopper" 1947 CJ2A 90729 194? CJ2A 04893/194304 1946 CJ2A 46745 1946 CJ2A 36723 1945 MB 413665 1971 CJ5 8305017 375392 Drive train parts donor Bantam Trailer T3-C 25487

drm101 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 12 Dec. 2012 Location: Clarkston, MI Status: Offline Points: 1470	Post Options Post Reply Quote drm101 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr. 2022 at 10:04am
	I like that mount and your choice of winches. I have one of those 2000 lb. utility winches and made a mount for my buddies trailer below. So far we have used it to pull a CJ5 and a '69 Camaro onto the trailer. Both times we thought we need a bigger winch, but with a little effort got them on. The CJ5 had 1 locked brake, and the Camaro two flat tires. I think a 2000 lb winch is fine if all the tires on the car hold air, and the brakes aren't locked up. My old trailer had a 12,000 lb Warn winch and pulled a '58 Chrysler Imperial 4 door out of a muddy field with 4 flat tires and locked brakes. Tim Taylor would have be proud. Edited by drm101 - 08 Apr. 2022 at 10:06am
	Dean '47 CJ2A "Ron" '66 CJ5 "Buckie" The less the Power the More the Force