Installation Questions for Garage Winch

[Patent1]

This spring I will be moving into a new-to-me home with an attached 2 car garage. The floor is concrete, with cinder block exposed walls. The driveway is pretty steep, going down to the street.

I would like to install an electric winch in the garage to haul up a Harbor Freight trailer I use to transport my track bike. I could just back the trailer up the driveway, but backing the trailer up the hill will be a pain. Don't want to provide free entertainment to my new neighbors!

If I mount the winch on the floor of the garage against the back wall, I will need some sort of roller/race at the front of the garage to pass the wire rope down the driveway to the trailer.

Has anybody done something like this? Any recommendations (other than to get better at backing a trailer).

TIA,
Jim

 

[matt_i]

Can you ride your track bike down to the street level?

What you propose is possible to do, but it seems like an awful lot of cable will have to be spooled up on a drum that wouldn't normally be a part of a hoist.

 

[Radix2]

I used to do that to get my boat trailer into the garage. (Had to be tongue first)

Just drilled a hole in the concrete floor and attached the winch with a pin.

I wouldn't worry about the cable scraping on the ground personally, but if you do, just put a peice of wood down to run the cable over.

 

[gungatim]

I'd probably just pull in forward with the trailer, unload it, and move it in by hand. those trailers are extremely light. if you want to do it loaded, get one of these (or make one)

http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Acces...tml?feed=npn&gclid=CM7h1e_qydECFYQAaQodO5UDzw

or is it too steep? otherwise I'd use some anchors in the cement and fab up a steel bracket for the winch.

 

[Falcon67]

Build a little fixture holding a hard rubber V type roller like you see on a boat trailer.

 

[brveagle]

Fellow track guy here.

I'm assuming no kick stand on the bike?

I'd recommend getting better at backing up a trailer. The reason why is that loading a bike into a trailer that isn't secured at the tongue is a pain. It moves, tilts and is unstable. If you can back your trailer up the driveway and then slide it to where you need it to be in the garage, you are set to load it and then can even unhook it overnight before leaving for a race.

my two cents

 

[Patent1]

Many thanks guys.

I will wait until I move in, and see just how easy it is to back it in first. Something to be said about improving one's skills..

Jim