Very slow trailer winch, air compressor, tool box modification

[Ridgerunner]

Wanted to add a 12k winch to a trailer and hope to finish by the end of this year. I had to modify the existing tool box lid to keep it as low as possible when open so the winch mount would not be so high. I cut the stock lid in two lengthwise and welded on some hinges to make it open like a bi-fold. Welded in some channel and made a mount for the winch. Bent some diamond plate and milled the diamonds off to conform to the shape of the winch hawse so it would sit flat. I am installing an air compressor that will work off the winch battery. I had installed air spring helpers on my truck so the air compressor will work for that and other things. The project is at the point where if I really need the winch I can bolt it in and use it but the whole project is a long way from being finished.

This is what a stock tool box lid looked like.



Cut the tool box lid



This is with the hinges welded on and open. The hinges are hidden when closed.



And with the lid closed



Bent up bracket for winch and machined winch rope opening

[Ridgerunner]

Winch and battery box



Diamond plate milled for hawse



Diamond plate welded in and painted



Where the air compressor will sit. Might end up in a different orientation.

[true temper]

Looks real good, I bought a 12,000 lb winch last month. I am going to mount it on a 2” receiver hitch mount so I can move it around to one of my 3 trailers or on the back of the truck.

[Ridgerunner]

This will be my first winch with synthetic rope. My other winches always had regular wire rope so will have to see how this stuff works out.

[4miller1]

I switched to that rope cable replacement, so far it works fine, much easer on the hands.

[wierdscience]

I like the toolbox/chain box idea, perfect place for it. I never liked the side mounted toolboxes under the deck, they always get hung up on stuff too easy.

[eKretz]

The synthetic winch cable is very good stuff, you will like it. I have been using it for 15 years.

[Ridgerunner]

I had a guy take down a few trees and he connected up some rope and had me pull the tree with a machine as he cut. It was some kind of synthetic stuff. I was afraid I was going to break it. He assured me it would not break and was right.

I have to remake the bottom of the chain box deeper. The chain ratchet binders are about an inch to long to close the lid. I talked to an equipment dealer with a similar trailer and the guy said they cut an inch off their ratchet handles. I have plenty of tread plate so will make the box about 4 inches deeper; if I can get the time.

[tom_d]

Nice, professional looking installation. Looks like it came from the factory that way. Hard to be sure from the photos, but it looks like that box can be at least 4 inches deeper, if not more, and still not go below the position of the landing gear when fully retracted. Plenty of clearance. Definitely do that before modifying ratchet handles. A little extra storage space is always good. I've yet to have a storage box that had too much room in it.

[Ridgerunner]

I plan on adding another box I have in the goose neck for more storage. I have already moved the spare tire mount there a little more forward to accommodate the box. The potential glitch is it will block a direct view back to the trailer deck. I have a camera to be able to see the load on the trailer which I can install. Right now I have a camera to assist in connecting the trailer goose neck ball and another camera mounted on the back of the trailer to help backing it up. The monitor has plugs for three cameras so it should not be to much of a problem.