Adding a winch to a flat trailer

[Handy Don 12,151]

I have a Northern Tool 5x8 flat utility trailer that I plan to use as a horse hauler. There is some work needed (new deck, tiedowns, new LED lighting, maybe a paint job, etc.) but the two parts I haven't figured out are the best/practical ways to mount the spare tire and a hand-crank  strap winch.

 

My goals are:

1. Have the spare tire easily accessible, not cause excess wind resistance, and not interfere with using the trailer (hitch/unhitch, load/unload).

2. Support the 2500 lb capacity winch so its more than able to hoist a WH onto or off the trailer easily via ramps at the rear (strap is 26')

3. If feasible, also have the winch able to hoist a WH onto the trailer via ramps on one side (for a crosswise load to accommodate two horses)

4. Be able to put a cover over the winch to protect it from weather while the trailer is stored or on the road

 

In the pictures, you can see the winch and the front "triangle". The strut across the front beams is reinforced and has two holes to hold the spare tire horizontally with a suitable "U" bolt and nuts so that is surely an easy option.

The frame is bolted-together 2.5"x3.25" channel and I suspect it is high-tensile stuff not easily drilled. There are pre-drilled holes for two stake pockets on each side, the front, and the back. There are 2x8 sides bolted on using 2x4's at the moment, but that is subject to change, since they prevent side-loading. The spare tire is about 21.5" in diameter (5.30x12). The hitch height is 18" (so putting the spare under the front triangle seems ill-advised--too little ground clearance). Other dimensions are in another picture, below.

 

I don't have a welder (yet ) so a bolt-up option would be nice but I'm open at this point and, counting on the collective brains of this group (and yeah, I already know the risks .)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by Handy Don

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

Here’s my 5x8 setup… 

 

Single bolt holds spare. HF hand winch…

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2021 by SylvanLakeWH
Added better picture of winch and roller…

[Handy Don 12,151]

Just now, SylvanLakeWH said:

Here’s my 5x8 setup… 

 

Single bolt holds spare. HF hand winch…

I suppose I could add a center tongue beam...

How do you protect the cable where it goes over the railing?

 

Hoping I don't have to mount the spare sideways--too much air resistance.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

I have one of these on top bar… cable can go any direction no binding… you can see it in the second picture.

 

[ebinmaine 67,275]

46 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

accommodate two horses

What's the Gross/Net weight capability of the trailer?

 

 

47 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

have the winch able to hoist a WH onto the trailer via ramps on EITHER side

Note my above addition. 

 

Perhaps some sort of free swiveling angled pulley to accept a cable pulled by the strap off the winch. 

 

 

49 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

spare tire easily accessible

 

50 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Support the 2500 lb capacity winch

 

 

Spare could be attached at the red lines. 

 

Winch perhaps where the blue circle is??

 

 

[8ntruck 6,991]

Lay the spare flat on the triangle and build a 'bridge' over it to support the winch?

[R Scheer 502]

I don't know about the winch, but a spare tire holder for a boat trailer should fit on the side of your A frame.  Just a thought.

[roadapples 6,983]

@Ed Kennell has a nice simple winch set up....

[Handy Don 12,151]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

What's the Gross/Net weight capability of the trailer?

 

Note my above addition.

 

Perhaps some sort of free swiveling angled pulley to accept a cable pulled by the strap off the winch.

Hmmm. I

 

 

Spare could be attached at the red lines. 

 

Winch perhaps where the blue circle is??

Net is 1540; tare is 350 (from memory) (I remember the gross is under 2,000 so no brakes required. I don't intend to go beyond 1,200.

 

Yes, either side is very desirable (it does not have the metal rails or drop down mesh ramp of the commonly seen landscapers trailers.)

 

For an angle pull I was thinking of the ****** blocks that I've seen loggers use. I've been scouting for strap-compatible rollers and pulleys. 

 

Hmmm--possibly a "standard" vertical tire mount on the "red" member. But the winch has to be elevated enough to give the crank clearance, so it'd need some sort of pillar in the blue area..

 

Thanks for the "bridge" idea, @8ntruck, that would not have occurred to me but now my mind is churning that way. 

[squonk 41,024]

I mounted my winch on the front rail  and the spare on the side. I bolt my winch on and only put it on when I think, I'm going to need it.

[Daddy Don 905]

I put a electric winch on mine and used an over size battery plastic case with a cover to  protect the winch. It works great and you can store tools in also. My winch has a remote control to so I can control it from any distance or if you need to watch what you are loading you do it from back to front or either side. Works great. My trailer is a 4X8 also. Harbor Freight winch. 

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

 

I mounted the spare on the side as in the first pic.       In the second pic, the steeel tool/strap box can be seen bolted to the front A frame.

The winch is bolted to the front left corner and the strap is routed around a center roller.

 

[Pullstart 62,791]

What about making the winch removable with a 2” receiver hitch?  Mount the tube vertical, have a mount made for the winch to just drop it in the hole and even add a pin if you’re feeling safe?

[clueless 2,976]

9 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

 

I mounted the spare on the side as in the first pic.       In the second pic, the steeel tool/strap box can be seen bolted to the front A frame.

The winch is bolted to the front left corner and the strap is routed around a center roller.

 

Anybody know where Ed got that strap roller?

[ebinmaine 67,275]

11 minutes ago, clueless said:

Anybody know where Ed got that strap roller?

I can't speak for Ed specifically but I got one from e-trailer. 

[Ed Kennell 38,022]

9 minutes ago, clueless said:

Anybody know where Ed got that strap roller?

I don't know what it was made for origonally.   I bought it in a one dollar  junk box at an auction.      Solid aluminum.

[AMC RULES 37,127]

2 hours ago, Pullstart said:

...if you’re feeling safe?

 

🤣😂🤣😂

[squonk 41,024]

27 minutes ago, AMC RULES said:

 

🤣😂🤣😂

Who does that around here? 

[Handy Don 12,151]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

I don't know what it was made for origonally.   I bought it in a one dollar  junk box at an auction.      Solid aluminum.

 

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

What about making the winch removable with a 2” receiver hitch?  Mount the tube vertical, have a mount made for the winch to just drop it in the hole and even add a pin if you’re feeling safe?

 

13 hours ago, squonk said:

I mounted my winch on the front rail  and the spare on the side. I bolt my winch on and only put it on when I think, I'm going to need it.

 

11 hours ago, Daddy Don said:

I put a electric winch on mine and used an over size battery plastic case with a cover to  protect the winch. It works great and you can store tools in also. My winch has a remote control to so I can control it from any distance or if you need to watch what you are loading you do it from back to front or either side. Works great. My trailer is a 4X8 also. Harbor Freight winch. 

 

Thank you all for chipping in such useful ideas.

Probably should have noted that I borrowed a 5x10 roll-on landscaper trailer to transport a WH before I had my own trailer and between the extra weight and the mesh ramp, I couldn't believe how it affected power and fuel economy even when it was empty (my car has a turbo and 210 hp--not a simple econobox; no truck in my plans!). That made me lean toward a smaller flat trailer. (I also have a nicely refurbed, low miles 4x8 HF folding trailer that's likely to go "on the block" in the spring.)

 

I discounted electric winches because I wanted the trailer to be car-independent and I don't expect it'll get that much use. but I may have to reconsider that given the idea of a battery box on the trailer. Wonder if the battery can charge by connecting it via a diode to my "always on" rear lights?

 

I can see that I'll have to consider adding some sort of strong rail across the front at least as part of a winch-supporting structure.

 

The side-mount spare seems plausible. At that point, there is little extra wind resistance and little effect on load balance. Ahead of the fender it'd block side loading from one side but behind the fender might just work out. Either way, that clears the front area for the winch.

 

Between @8ntruck's bridge idea and @Pullstart's receiver tube idea and @Ed Kennell's side mount (with a second roller, it could do rear or side loading--cool!), I can see something coming together here.

Edited December 23, 2021 by Handy Don

[Lee1977 6,642]

On 12/23/2021 at 6:19 AM, Pullstart said:

What about making the winch removable with a 2” receiver hitch?  Mount the tube vertical, have a mount made for the winch to just drop it in the hole and even add a pin if you’re feeling safe?

If you mount the receiver tub horrozinal you could easily move it to a tractor.

[Handy Don 12,151]

I've been gathering some hardware and bits to build a temporary version to see how that works. I'll be moving the trailer into the garage tomorrow to do some assembly and I'll take it from there.

The suggestions about removable a 2" receiver to keep it from unnecessary weathering and be usable in different locations are terrific. I'm already thinking of how to brace it at both the front and side of the trailer. I hadn't thought of transferring it to the tractor--brilliant! It is a hand-crank strap winch so the mount needs "handle swing" clearance and it'll definitely be mounted horizontally so the strap winds onto the spool neatly.

[JPWH 6,033]

Not having a welder unistrut may make for a simple install. Base plate and various brackets available.

[Handy Don 12,151]

10 hours ago, JPWH said:

Not having a welder unistrut may make for a simple install. Base plate and various brackets available.

I picked up some unistrut, nifty stuff that, but I gotta get one of those metal gluing gadgets and learn how to use it so I can expand my horizons!

[ebinmaine 67,275]

10 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

metal gluing gadgets

I did a fair amount of research before I decided to get a vintage stick welder and learn how to use that.

 

I could have gotten a hold of a 120 volt wire feed welder and been proficient enough to make metal stick together in just a few hours.

Can't do anything with any thickness but in our world of tractors and equipment it would be fine.

 

If you're looking for simple and fairly quick that would certainly be the way to go.

 

 

[AMC RULES 37,127]