Cover for trailer winch???

[JD Seller]

I have two trailers that I have electric winches on. I am having troubles with corrosion caused by the winter road spray. I have tried a steel box over them but it is hard to remove and is in the way when using the winch. I tried a small tarp but that usually did not last long and was blown off/apart by the wind while towing.

So have you guys got any ideas?? These winches are too heavy to be removed/installed by myself. So taking it off and on is out as I can't do that by myself.

 

[Ivan in Mich]

On the trailer I use to have I had a 10000 lb Warn winch. After replacing the motor twice for the same thing as you had I had a plastic tool box that was in a ranger pickup my son had. I mounted the winch in it and where the cable came out I cut a slot so the cable could wind correct on the drum. I made a doo over this slot that I would flip up when I used the winch and that solved my problem

 

[moresmoke]

I had a tarp shop make me a cover for mine. Grommets around the bottom edge and hold it down with a couple bungees. After 20 years it is getting to where it should be replaced.

 

[TGIN]

I cut a piece of rear tractor tire tube and put tarp grommets in it , works real good. I have had the same one on it for several years. It hugs the winch real nice.

 

[jniolon]

you can find them online...google "winch covers". It helps to know the size of your winch l x w x h before you start looking

john

 

[John T]

A friend of mine in our RV park modified a small plastic trash can with all the right cutouts and seals that fits nice over his winch and is easy to remove, works and looks great. On my small winch on my pickup I cut out a piece of 4 inch PVC to cover the mechanism. Use your imagination and skills and I'm sure you can come up with something good.

John T

 

[ss55]

Build a smaller version of a snowmobile trailer salt shield?

 

[Steve@Advance]

What about a tool bag turned upside down? Put some grommets in, some way to bungee it down.

HF has some good size, good price.

 

[davyfireball]

Use a plastic tool box. You could cut the bottom out and put it over the winch and then drill a couple small holes in it for the bungie straps to hold it down.

 

[Butch(OH)]

On my P&J tilt deck I mounted an under bed truck box over the hitch just in front of the bed with the door facing the rear and put the winch inside of it. I added a piece of heavy channel iron between the frame rails and bolted the winch down to it through the bottom of the box. Winch stays clean and have room for battery, charger and stuff.

 

[Steve A W]

Some where I saw where a guy used an old metal cooler.
The lid closes tighter than a tool box.

Steve A W

 

[da.bees]

I pull a pouch with draw string over winch. Pouchs were sewn by the liitle woman from convertable top scraps.Little woman got the idea when she saw me useing a rigger's bag.

 

[huntingreen2day2]

I use an outboard motor cover I bought at Walmart.

 

[JD Seller]

Your fellow have came up with some great ideas!!!! I will get my winch dimensions and see what I can find. The box ideas are good but I am not sure if there is room between the gooseneck hitch up rights. The winch fills that area pretty well.

The pouch with a draw string or the tool bag ideas might work. I will see and post back with pictures of what I come up with.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I have had bad experiences with soft covers!! If you decide to go the soft cover route be sure you get a good fit and it seals tight or they will worsen the problem. We have 3/4 ton trucks with Miller gas engine welders on them and several years ago Miller came out with a soft cover to "protect" them from weather. What a mistake that was!! They didnt seal tight enough to keep the salt spray out but tight enough to kept things from ever drying out and Miller had to replace two welders that were destroyed by rot while under warranty, good thing we bought the covers from Miller and not homemade!!

My P&J is a tag trailer, if I was to mount a winch on my goose neck I would explore putting a box on top of the hitch and then by using two blocks take the cable down,and then back.

 

[rustyfarmall]

5 gallon plastic gas can. Cut the bottom off, set it over the winch, hold it on with a couple of tarp straps.