Design for a cradle for a winch

[Todd NE WY]

Does anyone have a good design for a cradle for a portable winch. I want to be able to move my #3500 winch between my two flatbed trailers. Or even mount it in the receiver on my pickup so the cradle will set on a 2" square tube. I am open to all designs and ideas.

Thanks,

Todd

 

[Shield Arc]

Here's one I built years ago. Thought I might need it if I got the tractor stuck.

 

[CNC Dan]

check with off-road parts stores.
What you want is available.

 

[paulwestski]

I built one also.
Harbor freight sells the bare mounting plate or the receiver hitch mount assembly.
I set mine up for receiver hitch mounting and self powered with a deep cycle battery mounted to the rig.
I also added a "D-ring" to use when double lining.
This saved a considerable amount of money on heavy gauge wire.
It is very heavy for one person to move. I always remove the battery when mounting.

 

[chuck172]

Paulwestski, I use the same winch mounted on an old ford tlb. For the life of me, I can't keep the cable spooling in evenly. Think I tried everything. How long does the battery charge last?

 

[Shield Arc]

For the life of me, I can't keep the cable spooling in evenly. Think I tried everything.

Sometimes you have to spool all the wire rope off the drum, and let it lay on the ground. Attach it back to the drum, install a swivel in the other end so the wire rope will spin freely, and attach this end to your pickup. Spool the wire rope back up on the drum with the pickup holding tension.
I was involved in doing this to a crawler crane down town Seattle at 8:00 AM. The wire rope went for 2 1/2-city blocks. When the Seattle police showed up, they were not very happy:laughing:! Then we had to do it again, when the cops came back the second time they threatened to put us in jail if we did it again.

 

[paulwestski]

Here's some links to some mounting parts.

Universal Channel Winch Mount

Hitch Receiver Mount for Winches

 

[Todd NE WY]

Thanks for the ideas and the part references

 

[Sodo]

Very nice Paul!

It is very heavy for one person to move. I always remove the battery when mounting.

Good point. I will make on of these too, will keep in mind --not-- to tax the portability of the unit. I had (in mind) a plan to have an "anderson" plug at the hitch (of my truck, and my tractor) but the battery on the unit makes it all in one. But heavy as you say,deep cycle battery must be 70 lbs alone.

Would you choose a 12,000 if you did it again? Man, that would lift almost four F150s vertical :shocked:.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I used the Anderson plugs on my Jeep. I have a front receiver hitch. I also made a 20 foot extension cable with anderson plugs and welding wire so I can put it on the rear receiver trailer hitch. I made my cradle with 2.5 inch square tube with a 2 inch stinger on one end. So I can put a trailer hitch on it so I can have the winch in the back and still pull a trailer.

I've used this setup to winch a disabled tractor up onto my trailer.

You could also make up jumper cables with an anderson plug on one end so you can jump a battery with it.

 

[sdef]

View attachment 407267

I like Anderson type plugs for any high amperage accessory connection I make. This includes a 9k winch on my Jeep's winch bumper, power inverters off of a portable solar battery system, along with a 12k winch setup similar to yours on the tractor. I ran 14' of 0 gauge welding cable directly from the tractor battery back to the portable winch. Cabling and connector cost ~ $100. Plus I can also hookup the power inverters to the tractor with Anderson plugs, if necessary.

I also have a set of battery jumper cables I made with Anderson connectors I can use on the tractor also.

 

[paulwestski]

Very nice Paul! Good point. I will make on of these too, will keep in mind --not-- to tax the portability of the unit. I had (in mind) a plan to have an "anderson" plug at the hitch (of my truck, and my tractor) but the battery on the unit makes it all in one. But heavy as you say,deep cycle battery must be 70 lbs alone. Would you choose a 12,000 if you did it again? Man, that would lift almost four F150s vertical :shocked:.

I'd guess the battery weighs in at 50lbs
I can always add the wiring to the trucks and tractor later, the wire is pretty expensive if you use the proper gauge for the rated amp draw at maximum pull rating.
I'd did overbuild the mount where the receiver tube is welded to the bottom of the HF mounting plate. It's sandwiched and fully gusseted.

The winch was only $300 on sale at Harbor Freight. Both of my trucks weigh about 8 or 9k each so the 12 k winch is required.

 

[paulwestski]

Yeah I used Anderson power pole connectors.
The trailer connector is to charge the battery off of the truck when not winching.

 

[sdef]

I have found some pics of my winch setup for the 3PH with Anderson type plugs. I originally thought I had used welding cable from the tractor battery, but now see it is not. For storing the cable when not in use, I just drape it around the tractor seat and the plug end lays under the seat on the left side. All heat shrink is glue lined.

 

[pat32rf]

You can start out with a Harbour Freight plate and cut it down to match your winch, just make sure that the steel extends far enough out to protect the ends of the winch. I use Andersons as well with an aux battery tied into a charging circuit, live when engine running. I have a 4000lb winch on my wife's Liberty plus another three 8000lb portables for trucks and tractor. The 2 1/2" receiver under them is a Godsend as well.
My float also has a receiver on the tonque for winch mounting.... Don't forget to throw in a couple of slings,shackles, load chains and snatch blocks....