A winch to lower a trailer down a slope.

[rtbcomp]

I made one - got a hand winch and a hitch from Towsure, a bit of steel channel and bolted/welded them together.

https://www.towsure.com/bolt-on-hand...aking-capacity

https://www.towsure.com/50mm-pressed...ailer-coupling

You can restrain a load going downhill using the handle and engaging the ratchet when you want to stop.

[Stephen Edwin]

Yes. I'm cogitating that. Thank you.

The idea of fixing a winch to a trailer hitch is yes, the way to go. Dos the winch/hitch combination twist about on the tow ball in winching use?

The method of using the winch is the other thing. I'll bet that winch is not intended for lowering. But it must be a lot better than doing the job by a few people without a winch I reckon.

I shall indeed cogitate. There's a good local engineer would do any welding for me....

Stephen

[rtbcomp]

I does move as the handle goes up then down but not much.

I'm not quite sure how you'd easily make a winch for lowering - the ratchet will be working against you.

A friction brake would be useful, especially one applied by a spring but released by a lever, thus being failsafe if you let go of the lever.

Another alternative would be a worm drive, the worm will need a fine pitch though so it doesn't get turned by the pinion. Belle cement mixers use a worm-drive gearbox with a reduction of about 40:1

[Stephen Edwin]

Right. I have found and ordered a modestly priced winch with an automatic brake. I shall take the 240 and the winch to a local engineer to discuss fixing it. I might adjust the plan. Fix the winch to a towball so that can attach to the trailer. Same concept but cheaper than using an additional hitch.

Thanks again - Stephen

[rtbcomp]

Sounds interesting - pictures please!

[Stephen Edwin]

I suppose one day I might learn to take pics, and to put them on the forum?

My thought is simple here, as usual. A steel plate. Bolt the winch to it. Fix a towball to the other end. I need really the type of towball that fixes by a threaded stud going straight down underneath the towball and one big washer and nut underneath. I know where I can scavange one temporarily. Off an old 240 towbar that I happen to have out of use.

We shall see how it works, I hope.

.

[rtbcomp]

This is mine

DSCN1404 Small.jpg

[Stephen Edwin]

Thank you. I shall try to print that out and take it to the engineer.

That is a grand old hitch/coupling. I like it very much.

Stephen

[rtbcomp]

If you use a pressed steel hitch like mine and decide to bolt it on instead of welding it use crush-tubes on the bolts to stop it crushing as you tighten them up.

[Stephen Edwin]

The winch has arrived. It's a nice green colour.

OK. It is by ABLE, a USA firm sold in the UK by an importer. Maybe USA made. BHW-1200. 1,200Lbs. Auto braked in both directions. Enclosed mechanism. Nice smooth action. 10m cable included but capacity for at least 20m.

I'll probably visit a local engineer tomorrow. I'm tending back towards the use of a coupling hitch like you have done. If so, a cast coupling isn't really that much more than a good pressed coupling.