Riser for Winch in trailer box

[Amphicar770]

Hi All,

I am a total hack fabricator, so apologize for misuse of terms.

I would like to mount my winch (Badland 9,000) in tool box on my aluminum flatbed car trailer. Due to lip of trailer I would need to raise the winch approx 7" inches from the floor.

I was thinking of a big aluminum I-beam about 12" long, 7" high, 7" wide. thus I could bolt bottom of bean to trailer, top of beam to winch plate. FInding i-beam in suburbia is a challenge.

Any better ideas?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[texasranger]

Another option is to cut a slot in the trailer lip to let the cable through. If it is sturdy enough mount the fairlead on the lip.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Mount a pulley at the lip of the trailer.

 

[Brad54]

Call a metal supplier, ask if they have "drops" of metal. Start there, and if they can't help, ask if they have any suggestions.

Instead of I-beam, C-channel might be another option.
-Brad

 

[kbs2244]

I would go with the roller on the lip idea.
Maybe a wide, shallow "V" like the ones for a boat keel on a boat trailer.
But replace the plastic "V" with steel?
That should be a simple lathe project.

 

[Amphicar770]

Looking again today, the tongue (part trailer box sits on) is actually lower than the aluminum trailer bed. Thus, I need to come up 4 inches if I mount winch in tool box. Might visit metal store tomorrow.

 

[ilovevocs]

If you want a beam call some fabricators in your area that do structural steel work. Better luck round here finding drops from fabricators then suppliers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[matt_i]

What I would do is to build a box tube, from flat bar and aluminum angle, with some type of triangulated brace to the top of the box tube.

I would drill and bolt the box tube together, if you buy the "sharp corner" angle then its just a matter of accurately drilling some holes and a box of hex bolts and hex nuts, lockwashers, etc. I would use Grade 5s zinc plated myself.

The brace is to prevent the post from simply pulling over when its loaded up. It could be a single rib like a shark fin.

I can't totally help you on sizing without seeing it but I'd recommend going 3/8" thick on both your flat plate and angle. Also need some way to attach the base to the V-neck (?) of the trailer. Be wary of drilling the flange of an aluminum channel and weakening it...

 

[Amphicar770]

If you want a beam call some fabricators in your area that do structural steel work. Better luck round here finding drops from fabricators then suppliers.

Thanks for the lead. The supplier indeed had nothing so I looked up a fabricator. They had all sorts of stuff in their yard. They cut me a piece of I-beam that should work perfect. They did not even charge me for it and said that if it does not work out to just stop by and they will find something else.

The winch mount plate fits perfectly on the I-beam, just need to drill a couple of holes. I will do the same on the bottom, get some grade 10.9 bolts, and then use some heavy c-channel to brace from underneath and attach through that.

Thanks again, I'll let everyone know how it goes.

 

[Amphicar770]

Hi all.

Mission accomplished. I found an access panel door on Amazon so used that as well. Thanks for the help and ideas.