Harbor Freight electric winch installed onto a Tractor Supply Trailer

#realmanskills
2500 Badlands ATV Winch
Harbor Freight #63476
ATV Winch Mounting Plate
Harbor Freight #62445
6" Hitch Receiver Tube
Steel Square Tube
2" X 2" X .125"
6" in length
johndeere214.com/

[@cryingleftists2290]

I would have welded the hitch tube all the way down to the lower part of the trailer just incase you pull up heavier loads or binding loads.

[@kevinsievert5489]

Super easy setup but super strong and should pull anything you need to get up onto your trailer! Thank you for the great video!

[@RealManSkills]

It's been great! Thanks for watching!

[@krisw8597]

Awesome! I was thinking of doing this the other day and tossing plans around. This is exactly what I’m now planning to do with the same combo. Thank you for the better plan to go with! Welds look good BTW👍

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching! I mulled this around in my head a lot before I did it.

[@ljprep6250]

Just in case you haven't twisted or bent the top tube you welded the receiver onto yet, consider another brace from the bottom of the receiver tube to the bottom angle iron on the bed of the trailer. Dragging non-wheeled things onto the trailer can build up a lot of tension and the trailer wasn't designed for that kind of load. I like those little winches and put one on a receiver tube for the hitch on the back of my Tundra. I mostly uproot small trees and shrubs with it.

[@RealManSkills]

It's been good so far. But I probably will make that improvement. It's been suggested by others. Thanks for watching.

[@judge058]

Great video, you explained everything perfectly. I’m going to a very similar setup but with a hand crank winch that I have. Like you, the only thing I’d be cranking onto the trailer would be a lawn tractor. Thanks for the video.

[@RealManSkills]

Happy to help! Thanks for watching!

[@robertbowling8393]

Nicely done! You planned your work, then worked your plan, and it turned out very well. If I may add, you carried it out without lacing profanity throughout the video as well. That's a rarity anymore! Lol ... You offer some very helpful ideas, as I am about to install a Badland 3,500# winch onto my Texas Bragg tilt-bed trailer. I'll no doubt use some of your ideas. Thank you for sharing.

[@RealManSkills]

I did a lot of youtube searching for different ideas before settling on this plan. I am very pleased with how it turned out. Thank you for watching! When I was young, profanity was my language of choice. I am a much wiser and mature individual now. Thanks again!

[@Paulilmys]

Dude this is awesome! I am looking add a winch on my trailer and this is exactly what I needed. Thanks for sharing!

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@85rockhound]

Ditto.

[@mountaindewdude76]

Thanks for sharing this video! That's a real simple and neat way to mount a small winch. I have the same style (different brand) winch and I'm definitely going to have mine setup like yours. I really like that!

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching

[@stevehunt8305]

Thanks so much for posting this, much appreciated. I’m getting ready to start exact same project with same winch on the 4x8 TS trailer. My plan was to simply bolt a HF bumper receiver hitch to top rail (upside down), and then mount the winch on HF hitch mount. I lack the equipment to weld. I would use it to crank up dead quads or riding mowers, so the weights and forces would be much smaller than cars or heavy equipment. I’d imagine it would work without reinforcement, but though I’d solicit your input Step Hitch Bumper Mount 2" Receiver 5000 Lb Load Capacity Trailer Truck Rv + Guide Gear Universal Winch Mount for ATV, UTV, Truck, 2" Receiver, 3500 lbs

[@RealManSkills]

I think you have a good plan. Thanks for watching!

[@ManthatsCool100]

i know alot of guys have added a wire from the battery to your 12 volt source on the 7 pin beings it already grounded to the truck they put it on the hot side of the auxilary battery with a fusible link, ive never tried it but it makes sense to keep the winch battery charged

[@Comm0ut]

Socketed mounts also permit instant winch upgrades and using one winch for multiple tasks. I use one of those on a handled plate to pull machine tools etc where I want them. They run fine off my JNC 660 jump pack or jumper cables etc. I chain mine to any suitable anchor and use a snatch block (cheap, strong, small, good!) to direct the wire rope as needed. You can never have too much rigging gear.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@freda1078]

Nice job, I put one on my trailer with a battery box and a Harbor Freight solar panel hooked to the battery. It works like a trickle charger to keep the battery topped off. Your welding is far superior to mine. LOL

[@RealManSkills]

I may have to do that with my battery. Thanks for watching.

[@williamgates4399]

FYI. To install a hitch pin, drill the hole to prevent the wench from riding up on the receiver.

[@RaginEagle]

You might want to add a gusset in the center in the angle iron/mount on the trailer

[@RealManSkills]

It's not angle iron. It's 2" square tubing.

[@RaginEagle]

@Real Man Skills ah. MInd Is angle. I assumed and I should not have

[@msgajhimelret9496]

Great job, Thanks. A lot of boat owners should do this on their trailers, for recovery ...

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@AztecWarrior69]

Several things First Mounting the reviver vertical is not a good thing. The forces pulling will want to twist that top rail/tubing. The wall on those TS trailers is not that thick. Should mount it on the bottom angle with an extra 2x2 tubing as a "gusset" for support. Also you can use the off the trailer. Like backing up to a stump you need pulled out. Or if you have a car dolly. Use the winch on an ATV. 16:25 When you free spool like that you should ALWAYS take it out all the way and baby the cable back onto the spool. Rolling it back on like that will allow the cable to slide under itself and cause it to jam up. Can also cause pinching on the cable. Buying the synthetic wire rope will help. Weld a loop to the bottom of that winch mount. Using a snatch block (or pulley) and the cable running back to the winch, hooking cable to loop under mount, it doubles the capacity on the winch and makes it last longer. Carry a length of cable with a hook on one end and an eye on the other will make up for the length lost. I have a 3500 badlands winch I use to pull up cars and trucks onto my 18ft utility trailer. Had it going on 15 years now. Here is the best suggestion that will save you effort and make using the winch that much easier. Use ANDERSON POWER CONNECTORS. Place them between the battery and controller and in between the controller and the winch. This makes it easy to move the winch about. Like I mentioned. You can also put one on your vehicle and charge your battery on your way to whatever you are going to load. Or if the battery dies while you are there.

[@barrybegley5379]

NICE JOB. That is a good looking outfit. Well setup and functional. Thanks for Sharing. Greetings from Ontario, Canada.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@capman911]

I did my winch the same way but drilled a hole through the tube that goes into the 2'' receiver and put a locking pin through it in case I was at a store towing my trailer and didn't want someone to steal the winch. Plus if you needed to tow another vehicle out of a ditch you can just mount the winch on the receiver of your truck. I have the same winch as yours my other one drowned when Hurricane Michael came through in Eastern N.C. and had my trailer underwater for about a week.

[@RealManSkills]

I live in a low crime area, so not too concerned there. However, I do store the winch in the tongue box and lock the box. Thanks for watching!

[@larrywells6331]

Great Idea, thanks for sharing!

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching.

[@brentjohnson6654]

Good job. I am considering a 2 ton swivel crane for my trailer. I have seen them on a trailer hitch for a pickup but may weld it to my trailer. The lifting is via hydraulic Jack. Again, good video.

[@RealManSkills]

Sounds like a great idea. I am sure that you will make a much stronger support than what I did. Thanks for watching.

[@joecrumpler]

Your vision is better than mine. I would have used a speed square to line up the box receiver for the winch mount. Neat work with that mig welder!

[@RealManSkills]

I used the holes that came predrilled to line it up. I had to line it up so that the three holes needed for the winch were exposed. They were close. Thanks for watching!

[@williamlott7612]

Good job. Darlington, South Carolina

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@guyh.4121]

Great idea, and easy to do👍👍

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@JohnFrytag]

Looks good. If you had mounted the box tube horizontally your winch mount would be usable in your trucks receiver hitch also.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching.

[@damienmielcarek356]

Got 2500 winch on my car trailer for my demo cars works great push it to it's limits and no issues

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@ManthatsCool100]

so im curious do you have a angle trailer? 2500 lbs to me seems like it would be really small to drag a derby car up, not doubting your idea at all just curious i was kinda wanting to do the same, just most cars weight about 3000 lbs

[@rtoguidver3651]

I did the same on my trailer, this is what happens when we get old - we look for the easy way to do things..

[@RealManSkills]

The old body just doesn't work as well! Thanks for watching!

[@SegoMan]

@@RealManSkills The body gets old because we don't use our minds and a winch

[@RealManSkills]

Truth!

[@philipbrake5263]

Already done this to my utility trailer, only I used one and one half inch. Plus I went all the way down with the tube so it wouldn't twist.

[@philipbrake5263]

About 10 years ago.

[@artszabo1015]

A couple tips from an old timer. Try to avoid welding outside with a MIG welder because a little breeze can blow your gas away and screw up a good weld. You welding a little cold, I noticed looking at the 3/16" plate on the other side it didn't look like you got optimum penetration though I did notice you had taken the flap disc to it and maybe removed the evidence. When you weld cold the weld has a tendency to build up on the surface instead of sinking into the metal requiring grinding to make it look good. A good hot weld will be convex not concave. Further, depending on what you are going to winch on the trailer, you will probably need to reinforce that cross tube. Outside of these unsolicited tweaks I think you did a bang up (good) job on this. If you decide to put a battery in the tool box you can keep it charged through the center wire on a seven pin trailer plug.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for your input and thanks for watching.

[@myrond3588]

The center pin is reverse lights. Pin 4 is 12v supply.

[@dans8978]

I would suggest you place a knee brace from your receiver tube down to a added cross member on the tongue, if your weight load shifts it will twist that top angle like a pretzel

[@RealManSkills]

I understand your concern. Thanks for watching.

[@jackkielty8241]

I did the same thing on my trailer and for a while carried a spare battery on the trailer to power it up until I realized that I could simply rig up a coupler to the power output of the trailer socket to utilize the truck's battery. I use it a great deal to winch up motorcycles onto the trailer which is a good deal safer than riding the bike up.

[@RealManSkills]

I plan to do something similar, but just haven't done it yet. Would like to see your setup. Thanks for watching!

[@mrmotofy]

Feeding a winch through that 7way plug is normally a bad idea. Too much draw for the wire which is only about 10ga normally so 30a max. A winch always needs a battery

[@jackkielty8241]

​@@mrmotofy I circumvented that concern by not depending on the factory wiring harness and running a heavier wire back to the trucks battery using an incline fuse. The winch I had was about the smallest that HF had to offer at the time and I was using it primarily to winch motorcycles up onto the trailer safely. It had a wireless remote on it with a lanyard which I had on my wrist and I rode the bike slowly up the ramp and up on the trailer. I never liked the idea of riding bikes up onto a trailer, there is too much to go wrong, so I set up the winch on the trailer.

[@mrmotofy]

@@jackkielty8241 Yep we've all watched vids of people riding up and uh falling in some way

[@simpleminded5215]

Nice set up.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks.

[@jackshipman9209]

You did a good job on that. Jship51 from Arkansas. Enjoyed the video

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks!

[@vikingwind25]

Great job! You keep to your channel title name. Creative work!

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@bobhunt3197]

After some use have you had the angle iron it's mounted to twist ? Lot's of good ideas here.

[@RealManSkills]

It's square tube and it's still as good as new. I mostly use it to pull lawn tractors onto the trailer. Some of those tractors had flat tires but the winch dragged them up with no problem. Apparently, my welding is holding up as well! Thanks for watching

[@kagnewmp12]

You used your angle grinder to remove the paint from the trailer but did you also grind the paint off that receiver tube before you welded them together? Great Mod though and it will make loading things easier.

[@RealManSkills]

The receiver tube was unpainted, clean metal. It welded up well. Thanks for watching!

[@visumexcipio]

Enjoyed watching

[@RealManSkills]

Thank you!

[@enochperkins9835]

Can you slide the winch upside down from the bottom if you need the winch cable to be lower to the deck?

[@RealManSkills]

I would have to drill a hole for the pin but I don't see why not. Thanks for watching.

[@donaldcampbell5277]

Why grind such a big area when you weld a narrow line? You should pin your winch in. It may not come out, but it is possible.

[@johngriffin1847]

Great job.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks

[@0_video241]

Hi, I would like to ask what is the distance between the round holes of this winch mounting plate? I'm working on this product now, thanks a lot!

[@RealManSkills]

The two holes that I used to mount the winch are 2 inches apart ( on center).

[@freda1078]

Nice job! I could not tell if you had the cable or the "rope" on the winch. The rope will give you the same pull power with a lot less hassle. Again, nice job.

[@RealManSkills]

It's the cable. I may switch to a rope some day. Thanks for watching.

[@renaewilliams8126]

QUESTION: WHERE DID YOU PURCHASE THE 2X2X.125 SQUARE TUBE?

[@RealManSkills]

I bought it off of Ebay. Thanks for watching!

[@PainterD54]

I suggest running cables from the alternator to charge that battery. If yourun the winch, you will run the battery down a bit and leaving a battery like that discharged for any length of time will ruin it prematurely.

[@RealManSkills]

That battery was just temporary for the video. I now use a larger battery that I keep charged up on a trickle charger. Thanks for watching.

[@CurtisDrew1]

You sure are asking a lot from that thin tube cross bar. One heavy pull and it's going to twist and bend it like a pretsel. (IE: needs more triangulation) I suggest you reinforce that cross tube or install an angled brace tube or large gusset down to the trailer floor. Course you may not be pulling anything up heavier than a lawn mower, but get it hung up one time on the trailer lip and that 2500 lb winch will bend it. I have a much bigger trailer {18' tandeum axle} and load cars on it with a Badlands 12K winch. My winch is mounted to a reciever hitch that is welded to the frame rails at the floor level. I've loaded rolled over wrecks with it, and drug them onto the trailer with 3 blown tires and never had any issues with the mounting because the winch is mounted at the strongest part of the trailers frame. It has saved my back many times. JSYK I have a tool box mounted on the trailer tounge with a full size car battery in battery box inside it to power the winch. And an Anderson plug to connect the power cords. My truck alternator charges the battery when the engine is running via a dual battery isolator mounted under the hood. Love the wireless remotes! Makes it a lot easier to use the winch without the cord. The advantage of having the winch not mounted in shear, is you can use it in your trucks reciever too!

[@RealManSkills]

I'd like to see your setup.

[@ArmySoldier1972]

@CurtisDrew1 yeah I would love to see your setuo

[@BuckHunterNb]

instead of a battery can you run wires with alligator clips to the truck battery under the hood and keep the truck running as not to drain the battery for say pinching a moose onto the trailer? Or will that distance of wire to the truck battery cause issues for the power to the winch??

[@RealManSkills]

I have a 20 foot long jumper cable set that I have been using. It can reach the front of my truck. Thanks for the input.

[@creativevisualmarketing330]

I’ve never welded anything but am an avid DIYr and definitely want to start welding. Two questions; What type (mig/tig etc) did you use here and would you recommend that for a brand newbie? Thanks!

[@RealManSkills]

I use a Hobart 140 MIG welder. I can plug it into a standard household outlet. I spent the extra money and got a tank of CO2 gas for shielding. It makes welding easier. What I like about Hobart is that it is made by Miller but less expensive. Thanks for watching.

[@tonyrodriguez5627]

I use a harbor freight Omni pro . Wait until they go on sale or use a coupon to save even more. I've been running mine for almost ten years now. You can mig, tig or stick on it and it runs on 110 or 220.

[@RealManSkills]

@@tonyrodriguez5627 I have a Hobart Handler 140. It uses 110 and I bought the CO2 gas. (The gas came from a different supplier) Works great! I got it from Tractor Supply during a grand opening sale. Thanks for watching.

[@countrywoodproducts]

I just got a TSC trailer and am looking at ideas for mounting a winch like you just did. I am wondering what kind of load the trailer frame can handle before it bends though.

[@RealManSkills]

I use my trailer for lawn tractors and such. I have dragged non-rolling tractors onto the trailer without any problems. The trailer is not large enough for a car or anything large like that, so no issue there. The square tube of the trailer is pretty strong. But I understand your concern.

[@countrywoodproducts]

@@RealManSkills I plan to roll oak logs up onto the trailer. 4 ft long logs. Should handle it. But want to be sure.

[@moneymoney12]

Thanks for the video and the quality of the explanation. I do have one question. why didn't you drill a hole into the stock bar that the winch is attached to? I asked this because if you had a hole centered with the hole on the receiver, you could put a hitch pin in and make the setup stiffer for pulling an item onto the trailer. Thanks

[@RealManSkills]

Since the bar is vertical and the cable will be pulling horizontal, there is no need to have that pin. The most that I pull onto the trailer is a garden tractor that won't start. Thanks for watching.

[@moneymoney12]

@@RealManSkills Thank you for the response. Kind regards

[@stevemyo8137]

Looks great I am about to do the same thing. How strong are the stainless bolts? Anything that you would have done differently?

[@RealManSkills]

I believe that they are not quite as strong as a grade 8 bolt, but more than a grade 5. I wanted to stay rust free. Thanks for watching.

[@jeffreyanderson539]

Can you tell me where you got the storage box for on the trailer? Thank You!

[@RealManSkills]

Harbor Freight - I have a video of the install.

[@Mr.SuperDuper-idk]

Welder sounds good 👍

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks!

[@charliesgarageusa4986]

Wow that little winch is loud lol

[@douglasbattjes3991]

Boy, hope the 2500 lb winch doesn't pull your cross bar backward, better put some supports on him or you will have a nice bow job , I would weld a brace towards the front and move the tool box somewhere or up, but loved the idea or the tube hitch, Thanks,

[@ManthatsCool100]

i was kinda thinking the same thing, most utility trailers i wouldnt think would need a winch considering the fact atvs golf cart lawn mowers and such can be pushed on, 2500 lbs is about the size for a 450, 500 honda

[@douglasbattjes3991]

@@ManthatsCool100 Have you pull anything yet with some weight? I installed winch for boats, on my boat trailer, after I read the instructions it say not to run the winch for more than 15 seconds, then let it cool for 15 minutes, at that rate will take about 2 hours to load a 28 foot boat. And it isn't a cheep winch.

[@utrutr6013]

Where can I buy Square tube stock and sheet metal for the welding?

[@RealManSkills]

Hardware stores, Farming supply stores, there are metal supply stores around as well.

[@markbrown1609]

good idea, did you use ase flux core on that weld?

[@RealManSkills]

I use argon/CO2 gas. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesacker7343]

Good job

[@RealManSkills]

Thank you!

[@jeffreyanderson539]

Why didn't you use a hitch pin to hold it in the receiver???

[@RealManSkills]

Winch pulls sideways. There is no need. Thanks for watching.

[@beardedprepper8606]

I know it's been months since you posted this video, and others may have already mentioned this and said it in a rude way or something and you may have removed such rude comments.. I would have. I am not a rude person, and I don't know what welding experience you have, but just to inform you incase you don't know and for your future projects.. You ground the paint off the trailer railing, but it looked as though you didn't grind the paint off the hitch receiver before welding it. And, for welding the tube to the winch mounting plate, you ground the paint off of the plate, but you didn't grind a clean surface on the tube. But, another important part is that you didn't grind the tube end to a bevel. Hopefully for your use the weld is holding up ok, but for a much stronger joint, a bevel should be put on such a joint. A beveled edge allows for deeper penatration and gives more weldable surface area. The receiver part already had a bevel on the rounded corners of that tube where you welded it to the trailer railing. Also, depending on what weight you're winching, you may need a brace support welded onto the trailer railing where the winch is, so that you don't bend the railing as you're winching a heavy load. Good job!

[@RealManSkills]

The hitch receiver and the tube were bare metal without any kind of paint. All the surfaces that I welded were bare metal. In regard to bending the railing, that 2 inch square tube won't bend by anything that I winch onto the trailer (most lawn tractors). It's all holding up very well. Thanks for your concern.

[@rudybetta]

Nice installation job, but what could you possibly need a winch for on a trailer that size ? I have a 8'x12' for my ATV's and can push them on easily and I'm 70

[@RealManSkills]

If you look at some of my other videos, you'll see that I work a lot with lawn and garden tractors. They aren't always running. Sometimes, the tires are flat or transaxles are locked up and they don't roll very easily. This has been a back saver. Thanks for watching.

[@kevinsievert5489]

Ever hear the saying “work smarter, not harder”?

[@rudybetta]

@@kevinsievert5489 The smart thing to do is just ask someone to help and save the cash

[@keithmartin3434]

Thank you from people who know nothing about winches like myself.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching!

[@AAUXI101]

looks to me it needs a little better bracing a heavy pull will bend the bar it is mounted

[@RealManSkills]

It's 2 inch square tubing. Plenty strong for what I do. Thanks for watching.

[@Amxracer]

Cool 😎!!

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks

[@notwrkn2mch]

Nice

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks

[@chadlambert3186]

Nice I should of did mine that way

[@RealManSkills]

I thought about it for a long time before I did it this way. Could have gone a thousand different ways. Thanks for watching.

[@craftman5632]

Looks good, and it serves the purpose you're using it for. .

[@RealManSkills]

Thank you!

[@valaki-ph1hd]

a treler oldalfala nem vastag megserulhet a fal mikor nehezebbet huz!!!

[@RaginEagle]

Kewl

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks

[@mikehudick7074]

Make a platform to keep stuff up about 2 " off the floor of that tongue box. Those cheap ungasketed tin boxes are gonna leak when you drive in the rain...guaranteed!!

[@dougbetty2008]

Stainless steel bolts are weak. Better choice would be galvanized grade 8.

[@user-hm7ck1nj5b]

I dont know how to weld.

[@RealManSkills]

Get a quote from a local welding shop.

[@SquareDancevideos1]

Great job. I need a winch to load my John Deere 100 series lawn tractor to bring it to my girlfriends house to help her mow her 7 acre lawn. 😎 instead of driving it into my trailer. Where’d you get your toolbox?

[@RealManSkills]

Harbor Freight - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnKxmXedqbegotE

[@jamesevins800]

Why not pull a tape and be spot on and use a level to make sure its straight? I mean, what the hell? You're already there..

[@RealManSkills]

I used a tape to find the center mark. As far as level goes, I would have to make sure both tires are inflated at the same PSI and then adjust for a driveway that may not be perfectly level. It's just a cable, not a house or piece of furniture. Thanks for watching.

[@MrStan7476]

You could add a spare tire.

[@RealManSkills]

You mean like this one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4iXYqGFodR5npY

[@aday1637]

Nice J-O-B. I'd put the hole through and put a pin in it. Maybe a small solar panel on the lid of the box to keep the battery topped off. And of course a couple of bikini clad dolls sitting on both sides.

[@RealManSkills]

Thanks for watching! I would have to get my wife to agree to those dolls!

[@tonykimber7573]

Don't use the harbor freight winch the new design is very weak can break under light pulling had it happen to me 2 times got my money back and went to tractor supply and bought there 12,000 lb winch no problem with it

[@middleway1885]

Boop

[@newguy2794]

Your beard is off center. Just wanted you to know.

[@RealManSkills]

You sound like my wife!

[@newguy2794]

@@RealManSkills thank you. I'll take that as a compliment. She must be a good woman because you're still with her. Have a great day my friend.

[@RealManSkills]

@@newguy2794 She is a wonderful woman to put up with me! Almost 19 years now. Merry Christmas!

[@newguy2794]

@@RealManSkills I totally believe that. I've been with mine 32 years. She puts up with a lot. Merry Christmas to you as well my brother.

[@joeborowy5794]

I was very nervous putting my brand new beach cruiser on this rack. kzbin.infoUgkxG6JIgwJhur8_Rg8UeQ3EmePzi_wSncL8 But after reading many reviews I decided to get this one and take a chance. When arrived it was very simple to adjust and put together. I also added spike tape over the metal hooks before securing and tightening the straps, and no scratches. I also purchased the top bar made by the same company so that my cruiser sits straight on the rack without having to turn upside down. Extra bungee cords are used to secure the front wheel from flapping and even piece of mind knowing your bike is secure. Definitely recommend...