Mounting a winch /fairlead on a tilt trailer.

[Low50s]

Hey everyone, I picked up my 20' manual tilt trailer over the weekend and I am trying to decide how to mount my winch. I had a winch plate installed when I ordered the trailer and I want to mount my winch inside a toolbox and have the cable come out threw the toolbox.

I am running into issues with now i plan on mounting the toolbox but my biggest problem is how to mount the fairlead.

I dont think the deezee can handle it alone. would you take some angle iron and just add reinforcement on the backside ?

any tips or pictures what you have done would be great thanks

 

[texasranger]

I'd probably make the cover flip open when you want to use the winch, flip it closed when done. Then you could just use a regular fairlead bracket between the mounting plate and winch.

 

[akguy09]

Most winch plates for trailer have the mount for the fairlead attached to them.
I Saw a trailer MFG that just put a steel plate in the deck with holes and called that a winch mount. Not sure what your trailer looks like.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Add a pulley tower so you can winch up the tilt.

 

[Low50s]

Most winch plates for trailer have the mount for the fairlead attached to them.
I Saw a trailer MFG that just put a steel plate in the deck with holes and called that a winch mount. Not sure what your trailer looks like.

This is what the plate looks like.

I plan on mounting winch inside the toolbox on the plate but trying to figure the fairlead.

I also have to figure a way to reinforce the bottom of the toolbox to stiffen it up along with the weight of the battery

 

[kbs2244]

So you want the rope coming out the front of the tool box,, then up and over it to the back of the trailer?

 

[matt_i]

Its too bad the mount is welded on and not bolted on and its all painted.

At this point, I think the cleanest way is to use heavy angle iron (not sure of size of fairlead) or another plate weldment in a 90deg configuration which has a rectangular cutout of the right size. Then duplicate the mounting holes you need for the winch. Then use XL bolts to sandwich the winch, the top angle and the bottom mount.

Last thing I would worry about is the toolbox. Its just a cover. At this point you could custom-bend a 3 sided box with some tabs on the bottom for mounting (could add a 4th side with a nice little diverter "flashing" for keeping rain off the fairlead. Then a 5 sided box slightly larger for the lid, use bolts to internal tabs or bungee cord to keep the lid on.

 

[Bretny]

Why not make the winch removable? I did this on my car trailer with a 2in reciever. My 9yr old winch looks nearly new and has never had a problem, probably because its not out in the weather. Cutting a large hole in the tool box isnt to water tight.

 

[Low50s]

Why not make the winch removable? I did this on my car trailer with a 2in reciever. My 9yr old winch looks nearly new and has never had a problem, probably because its not out in the weather. Cutting a large hole in the tool box isnt to water tight.

I ordered the trailer with a receiver tube but after lifting and moving the winch a few times I said hell with it and ordered a plate I wanted just less chance of getting hurt moving it.


I have some ideas I am waiting for steel to get cut and I will show everyone what I am doing when I get at it

 

[readhead]

Will the winch fit on the plate inside the box? It looks like the angle frame above is going to move the box forward on the plate and interfere with the winch mount. I have done a similar mount and I used a winch plate with the fair lead mount bent into the plate and placed it inside the box against the back and cut a matching hole in the box. Installed a roller fairlead and put it to work. I welded a plate in similar to what you have and drilled through the whole works to install the winch.

 

[Low50s]

Will the winch fit on the plate inside the box? It looks like the angle frame above is going to move the box forward on the plate and interfere with the winch mount. I have done a similar mount and I used a winch plate with the fair lead mount bent into the plate and placed it inside the box against the back and cut a matching hole in the box. Installed a roller fairlead and put it to work. I welded a plate in similar to what you have and drilled through the whole works to install the winch.

It will go like this

• 
  Winch
  1/4" flat that will get welded to hold fairlead
  Toolbox
  1/8" plate to lift toolbox and support the furthest front edges (box seems thin)
  Trailer winch plate

Everything will be sandwiched my 1/4" material I will run to the tail end of the toolbox and then make a 90deg and that will go like ( 1/4",toolbox, fairlead)

I am probably overthinking this entire project but I want to do something once and forget about it.

To all I know the toolbox is not 100% sealed never said it would be I am just trying to give it more protection than sitting in the open plus I have all wiring in one spot and I can have that all neat and clean

 

[Low50s]

Will the winch fit on the plate inside the box? It looks like the angle frame above is going to move the box forward on the plate and interfere with the winch mount. I have done a similar mount and I used a winch plate with the fair lead mount bent into the plate and placed it inside the box against the back and cut a matching hole in the box. Installed a roller fairlead and put it to work. I welded a plate in similar to what you have and drilled through the whole works to install the winch.

Or do you have any pictures of what yours looks like mine should sit similar to this


I don't know why my cell phone rotates them so sorry if I knew how to fix it I would

 

[Youngfd]

Winch not in a box, but here is how I did mine. J

 

[tarmy]

I welded up a box cover, with hinges and place for padlock. Made the box with an opening to accomodate the cable coming out of the fairlead.

I made it so I could cut up a push broom head and use it to cover the opening, allows cable to move around, kept wasps from making a nest and it kept the dirt and hands and **** from gettin in. My winch remote I wired with a plug on the out side of the steel box so I could remove it...and I think I opened the winch box Once in 10 years...

Soory, no pics. I can post some pics in a few weeks of a similar set up for a dock winch I made if you are interested...PM me...

 

[readhead]

Angle gone. problem solved. No pictures. Lots of places sell winch plates that are set up for a fairlead. HF, TSC, Four wheel parts.

 

[2oolhound]

Just thought I'd mention fleet angle. If you want your cable to wind like Youngfd's your fleet angle must be 1.5' so your fair lead has to be far enough back to allow this.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Winches get ruined by misalignment, don't mount them to flat plate, you need flanges around the footprint so the feet stay in constant perfect alignment or real thick L material.

 

[Lwel9226]

Why not make the winch removable? I did this on my car trailer with a 2in reciever. My 9yr old winch looks nearly new and has never had a problem, probably because its not out in the weather.

I did the same, works very well, there is no winch for the thieves to see,
and it is out of the weather.... No one believes me when I till them how old
my winch is.....

LW

 

[lightn95]

I had this same set up. I use a tool box identical to the one Low50s posted a picture of. I cut out the opening the same size as the opening in the fair lead. Bolted the fair lead to the tool box and sealed around the fair lead with silicone.