Trailer Winch Fixture Add On

Okay guys here I have seen a ? or two about how to add a winch to a trailer that doesn't have one so here goes my set up. A piece of 4x4 square tubing, 2x4 square tubing, 1/4" plate, L-angle, hardware, and of course the winch itself. Had a buddy weld it up and then drilled it up on the trailer. Primed, painted , installed and there you have it, works great.

Ooh, Hey you guy's don't pay attention to all that stuff in the background I normally keep a cleaner garage........

Steve, the spare tire carrier is original from CC. Doesn't look like much but I can take a few close ups of the set up and post here if anyone is interested?

I believe they quit making trailers in 89. I'm sure Brian or the Dr. knows for sure.

I too am a firm believer of winches and never did like the power on concept that CC came up with way back in the late 60's. I think we all have been there with a common problem at the ramp. The trailer never seems to be at the proper angle and as most of the ramps are steep, the rear is always a lot lower than the boat.Because of this, it can be difficult to get the boat far enough forward on the trailer. As the trailer and boat are pulled out the boat sits down on the bunks and the bow is now not fully forward against the bow stop. Solutions have been to first move the bow stop forward on the trailer which is a pain or to get up to about 30MPH and slam on the brakes! I finally came up with the fix on my wishbone bunked trailers. The winch needs to be mounted about 6" higher than the bow eye on the boat when it sits on the trailer. This will pull the boat bow up as well as forward. The key to helping the winch is the addition of the keel roller which also lifts the bow up as the boat is pulled forward. The end result is now the boat bottom is almost parallel to the trailer bunks which allows the bow to rest on the bow stop in it's proper position for trailering. Trust me on this one since it took me several designs and about 15 years of screwing around!! When and if you put a winch on the trailer, start with mounting it high.

Steve, I'll probably have to live with the purist comments the rest of my life!! Winches were a option and since CC made it difficult to load one of their trailers without one then I too made a exception!! You said that you almost ripped out the bow eye but I have seen it happen. It was on a very washed out ramp and the trailer wheels were down in the hole.

It's interesting that you are into the precast. I remember the early versions weren't bolted together and pretty soon with all the power loading you would end up with something like they used at the beaches of Normandy! The latest version our DNR put in at the landing I use, all the precast sections are bolted together. So far it is holding up better.

Fulton makes a tire carrier that states it will fit up to 3" x 5". I just found it in the West catalog but I'm sure someone else has it for less.

If you guy's notice the last picture,the winch is even with the bow eye when the rig is totally on the trailer.

8122pbrainard wrote: Morfoot wrote: If you guy's notice the last picture,the winch is even with the bow eye when the rig is totally on the trailer. You may have missed the point we both made. It should be higher but that is our opinion.

Mine is nearly even with the bow, perhaps slightly low. Maybe mounting it slightly higher is preferred, but mine works great- even on the shallowest ramps.

Morfoot wrote: Didn't mean to offend. I guess the ramps up North are steeper then down here in the south.

Absolutely no offence taken. You are lucky that the ramps you use have a shallow angle. The system works with steep ramps or ramps that are really eroded out from power loading. I also have never liked to slide any boat on the bunks forward by the bow eye and a winch. I always worry about the strength of the eye.

The bolts do not need to be of a high grade,rust more of cometic than strength.
That strap is only good for 2000 lbs. and in a year it will not hold that load.Gonna take more purchase than what he has to pull that off the trailer,I would swap to S/S fastners as Chris suggested.....boat dr

Thats exactly what I thought when I saw it...copy of the factory installed winch setup. I've only seen it in pictures. Very nicely done Tim.

Any chance you wanna make another one? or a kit? I could buy the pieces off you and have it welded up here. I'm way too lazy to go buy the stock and get it all cut to length/fitted.

Where did you pick up that hardware? Aircraft-Spruce?

[QUOTE=Bremsen]

Any chance you wanna make another one? or a kit? I could buy the pieces off you and have it welded up here. I'm way too lazy to go buy the stock and get it all cut to length/fitted.



I'll look into and get back with you. I got all the iron from crap piles here at wrk. I'll check in with the "appropiations committee" and see what I can come up with.

73SN wrote:    BTW Does anyone know what kind of trailer this is:

Looks like a Correct Craft trailer built for a 2001, probably between '83 and '87.

I can make the kit up if I can get a min of 7 people that want one.

Tim

Nope, thats the way the bolt is designed. It sorta has a built in washer on the head of the bolt. Not sure why but I'm sure there is a reason for it. My guess is so the corners of the bolt don't gouge the metal if it were installed without a washer. Have to ask a structual engineer that one.

I did this about 5 years ago. Has worked really well.

Morfoot
I apologize for busting your chops over nothing. The winch IS a very good idea.Over the winter I'll fab one up.