Mounting my winch

[Tim Claremont]

My winch probably weighs 100 lbs. It is the antique Beebe Brothers winch shown here:

http://www.grandamregistry.com/winch.jpg

I want to mount it on the tongue section of my trailer, and therefore will be having a platform welded onto the trailer. My question is, how thick of a mount do I need?

I plan on leaving the winch on the platform shown in the picture above. Would a solid piece of steel provide any advantage over just a crossbar that the winch will bolt to? I question this because my weight distributing hitch will need to bolt to the frame, and a solid sheet of steel would get in the way, whereas a crossbar might not.

Figure I will be winching loads up to 1500 lbs, but they will be on wheels.

Is there a rule of thumb other than 'bigger is better"?

[Franz©]

Mounbt the winch on the curb/front corner of the trailer deck, and use a snatch block in the center of the trailer. That way, you are pulling across the deck, rather than putting downforce on the front of the deck with the winch cable.
OR, you can mount the winch in the center of the deck nose, and make a long handle for the crank.
OR you can mount the winch under the deck, make a long cranking handle, and a roller to get the cable over the nose of the deck.

Don't forget to install tiedown rings across the nose so you can use a snatch block at the load, and cut the winching pull in half. Also, a tiedown for a snatch block at the back of the deck comes in real handy unloading.

Having done more than a few, I preferr the winch in the center of the deck nose with plenty of tiedown rings on all edges of the deck.

[Bill Wehrman]

I thought this was a family site!!!

[Tim Claremont]

Here is a better picture of what I am up against:

http://www.grandamregistry.com/winch2.jpg

I think this arrangement is what I will wind up with.

A piece of steel to replace the 2x4 and I think all will be well.

It puts the brackets for the weight distributing hitch where they need to be, and leaves enough room to turn the crank handle without busting your knuckes.

It also gives me a good amount of tongue weight!

By the way, I found a patent date under a bunch of crud. 1928. So, it is 'period correct' anyway.

[Franz©]

Little cutting & a little welding, you could turn that base into a nice tool box, and strengthen it as well.
I don't think the 2x4 is gonna do the job though, even if you glue it into the frame with Liquid Nails.

[Tim Claremont]

Franz, can you hook me up with one of these in diamondplate or equivalent?

http://www.grandamregistry.com/plate.jpg

[Franz©]

Diamond plate inventory is low. Diamond plate is expensive, but I may have some 10 ga or 3/16 hrs plate.

No extra charge for mill scale or rust.

[Tim Claremont]

Shouldn't take any more than a few minutes to spin one of these off...no?

[Franz©]

I don't do time estimates Tim, ain't real sure how fast you can push a hacksaw.