Installation Recommendations of Superwinch LT2000 Winch on a Flatbed Trailer

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Refer to the attached photographs in regard to questions I will be asking. I have a 7k GVW steel flatbed trailer with a 5,500# cargo capacity. I will be using it primarily to transport cars in the 3,000-3,600# weight range, and occasionally up to a 5,000# weight. The flatbed surface is 22inch off the ground, the ramps are 48inch long, and the trailers dovetail is 24inch long. Including the dovetail, the grade I will pull a vehicle up using the ramps is approx. 30. Given the sizing tables you have posted on your site, I am considering a 2k Superwinch LT2000 Electric Utility Winch, 2,000 lbs - 1120210 to install on the trailer - with a pulley block if/when necessary. I am looking for suggestions for how best to install the winch to the flatbed. I would like to avoid simply mounting the winch to the front surface of the flatbed for a three reasons - first, I would rather not drill holes in the trailer floor, or leave the winch exposed to weather, nor do I want the winch to impinge on the floors length if I have to load a very long vehicle onto the trailer. Ideally, Id like to mount the winch off the A-Frame of the trailer, perhaps in a toolbox. I was interested I finding a bolt-oninch bracket that could be used on the A-Frame, but cannot seem to find one. All the installs I have seen have required some amount of fabrication and/or welding on the trailer. As I mention above, I would like to avoid permanently modifying the trailer if possible. Does a bolt-oninch bracket for an A-Frame install exist? Or - could I mount the 2k winch to the bottom of either an aluminum or steel toolbox, with the cable running through a fairlead on the back wall of the toolbox? Would a steel toolbox even be strong enough to do this, even though its a relatively light-duty winch? Note that the top of the c-channel on the trailer is 6inch above the a-frame, or 2inch above the flatbed. the 2k winch is approximately 4inch high, so the fairlead would only have to be a couple inches above the winch itself if I could mount the winch directly on the floor of a toolbox. On a similar note - if I also run this 1hp winch off its own battery - also enclosed in the toolbox - what size battery would you recommend?

asked by: Jason S

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Expert Reply:

You could put a winch in a toolbox but the winch will have to be attached to the frame of the trailer somehow, either directly or via a steel plate that spans the distance between the frame rails. The toolbox itself will not be strong enough.

The line pull of a winch will have to come out straight at least 12 inches from the winch before making any turns. So because the top of the C-channel is 6 inches above the top of the frame the line would have to exit the toolbox, go out 12 inches to a pulley such as # CU881079, then go up and connect to another pulley mounted on top of the C-channel so it can continue on down the trailer.

Winch # 1120210 is 11" long x 4.1" deep x 4.1" high so it would fit in many of the A-frame toolboxes. I have included a link to the A-frame boxes for you. The winch draws up to 100 amps so you would need a battery rated higher than that, something in the neighborhood of 440 cold cranking amps.

Honestly I do not see a way to do this without making some modification and/or drilling or welding to the trailer. You can limit the amount of modification by mounting the winch in one of the front trailer corners, on the deck, but facing so the line comes out towards the center of the trailer. Then you could mount a pulley at the center, front of the trailer so the line can turn to go down the trailer. The D-ring tie down at the corner you use would have to be removed for this to work.

expert reply by: Michael H

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Installation Recommendations of Superwinch LT2000 Winch on a Flatbed Trailer

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