Gauge of steel required for winch.

[ajlelectronics]

I have just ordered a 12V winch to pull cars up on my 4 post lift. The ground is a thin skim of Tarmac over soil, so I am thinking of how to brace the winch temporarily but securely. Being a compact lift, it is only about 2m wide and my idea is to attach the winch to a steel crossbeam which will brace against the rear legs, but not permanently fixed in place as I don't want to drill the posts. The fence behind will fall over in the next wind, so no strength there.

Assuming this is a realistic idea, what thickness steel beam will I need to buy, to pull a 1.5t load with the beam across the posts? Do I buy box or maybe a reclaimed RSJ?

edit... Just looking at the photo, the posts are too far forward to brace against, so I need to rethink it. Maybe it could mount at bed level, then it doesn't matter if pulled at the axle.

 

[Ton-up]

I’d just dig a hole, either 2ft square (or a deeper but not as big) and concrete it. Bolt the winch to that. It would be more than enough to pull a rolling car up.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I’d just dig a hole, either 2ft square (or a deeper but not as big) and concrete it. Bolt the winch to that. It would be more than enough to pull a rolling car up.

Good suggestion, thank you.

The issue I see with a ground mount is that the rope will need to go up at 30 degrees to the bed, along the bed and then 30 degrees back down to fix to the car. I would also prefer not to leave it outside when not in use.

 

[gaz1]

use a capstan and leave it outside

 

[Agrismith]

Good suggestion, thank you.

The issue I see with a ground mount is that the rope will need to go up at 30 degrees to the bed, along the bed and then 30 degrees back down to fix to the car. I would also prefer not to leave it outside when not in use.

Concrete a socket into the ground and mount the winch on a drop in post.

Alternatively mount the winch wherever you like. And use a redirect pully to get the pull where you want it.

 

[addjunkie]

Concrete block, but put threaded fittings into it, so its flush when you want the winch removed. If worried about rope line over lift, lift the winch up on a frame.

 

[Agroshield]

...pull a 1.5t load with the beam across the posts...

There is a bit of science behind winching. The weight of the object is just the start of the calculations.

See:

https://www.skidmore-winch.com/wp-content/uploads/Winching-Techniques-for-Vehicle-Recovery.pdf

The point of linking to the above is that the force you will need will be considerably less than the 1.5t headline figure. The biggest thing contributing to your winch pull will be the entry ramps.

I would mount the winch on the outside of the ramp, at the 'front', about 9" offset from the midpoint between the entry ramps. It could be on pins with R-clips for easy removal as all the force will be pulling it towards the inside of the ramp. Run the cable to the back of the ramp and around a redirect pulley. Put a nylon slider on the front bar of the ramp where the cable (x2) rides over it. Hook onto the front of the vehicle if you are pulling it backwards onto the ramp. Then you are minimising the pull angles at every stage.

 

[8ob]

Attach the winch to the middle of the rear cross member on the ramp, it won’t get in the way of anything. You can then pass the winch rope under the car pull the car up on the ramp.I have always made up winch mounts in 6mm plate, never had one bend or distort and we are not kind to this sort of kit.

Bob

 

[Pete.]

Concrete a socket into the ground and mount the winch on a drop in post.

Alternatively mount the winch wherever you like. And use a redirect pully to get the pull where you want it.

Snatch block....

 

[8ob]

Snatch block....

Not a bad idea for what the op is doing, snatch block doubles line pull but halves speed. Redirect is just that.

Bob

 

[ajlelectronics]

Some interesting suggestions there, thank you. I suppose some of the ideas depend on the length of winch rope (14m apparently). The one I have bought is below... Amazon link.

Stealth 3500lb 12v Wireless Recovery Budget Electric Winch - Powerful Wound Motor - Full Steel Gearing - Heavy Duty Solenoid, Mounting Plate, Wireless Remotes - User-Friendly - Synthetic Rope​

• AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC ATV & TRAILER WINCHES - Our new British designed range of Stealth Winches all offer a fantastic collection of features at an affordable price and are suitable for applications such as utility, ATV, boat trailers and ATV recovery. As a budget winch they really push the limits on what's given in terms of quality and value and all include a 12 Month Return To Base Warranty.
• PACKED WITH EXCELLENT FEATURES - The standard features included with all the Stealth Winches include two Wireless Remote Controls, Full Steel Gearing, Heavy Duty Sealed Solenoid, Freespooling Clutch Gearbox, Copper Wound Motor, which all ensure a great specification is provided in one of the best budget ranges of Winches on the market.
• DUAL WIRELESS AND WIRED CONTROLS - Our Stealth Winches include both a 3.7m Wired Hand Control and 2 Wireless Controls giving greater flexibility for recovery of vehicles. Also included are the Mounting Bolts with a 79.5mm pattern, and Mounting Plates required for standard installation.
• POWERFUL 1.3HP 12V MAGNET MOTOR - This Winch has a powerful 1.31hp 12v Series Reversible Permanent Magnet Motor which will allow you to power both in and out. The Gearbox features a Free Spooling Clutch which allows the cable to be unwound manually.
• 3,500LB LINE CAPACITY WITH SYNTHETIC ROPE -This particular Stealth Winch includes a Synthetic Rope and Hook and 3,500lb pulling power. It includes 3.1.m /min pull with no load and 1.4m/min with a full load. Also included are a Hand Saver, Instruction Manual, and Heavy Duty Battery Cables.

12v - Synthetic Rope​

Since launch, the Stealth range of winches have grown from strength to strength. From its beginnings as the very best budget winch available for 3.5t recovery and 4x4 use, the range has now been extended to include smaller winches which are perfect for a number of applications including utility, ATV, boat trailers, ATV Recovery and more.

• Line Capacity: 3,500lb (1,588kg)
• Rope: 14m x 5mm Synthetic Rope with Hook and Handsaver Strap
• Motor: Reversible 1.3hp 12v - Powers In and Out
• Wired Hand Control: Included
• Wireless Control: Includes Two Wireless Controls
• Fairlead: Fairlead Included
• Mounting Bolts: Included for Standard installations

---

Product Specifications​

Colour	Synthetic Rope
Ean	5060423984733
Model Number	ST35STA12
Number of Items	1
Part Number	ST35STA12
Size	3500lb
Voltage	12.00 volts

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I have just ordered a 12V winch to pull cars up on my 4 post lift. The ground is a thin skim of Tarmac over soil, so I am thinking of how to brace the winch temporarily but securely. Being a compact lift, it is only about 2m wide and my idea is to attach the winch to a steel crossbeam which will brace against the rear legs, but not permanently fixed in place as I don't want to drill the posts. The fence behind will fall over in the next wind, so no strength there.

Assuming this is a realistic idea, what thickness steel beam will I need to buy, to pull a 1.5t load with the beam across the posts? Do I buy box or maybe a reclaimed RSJ?

edit... Just looking at the photo, the posts are too far forward to brace against, so I need to rethink it. Maybe it could mount at bed level, then it doesn't matter if pulled at the axle.

View attachment 393241

Love the car

 

[ajlelectronics]

Love the car

It is a Scimitar SE4a and is one of my customer's cars that I have resprayed and extensively restored for him. In for exhaust manifold blow and a coolant leak resolution.

 

[sako243]

Assuming this is a realistic idea, what thickness steel beam will I need to buy, to pull a 1.5t load with the beam across the posts? Do I buy box or maybe a reclaimed RSJ?

You can just plug in the numbers to online calculators for beam deflection but I'd imagine a piece of 50x50x3mm box would be more than sufficient enough. I lifted a 3/4 tonne load vertically with a chain hoist into some pallet racking which I suspect is way more loading than you're going to see.

 

[Pete.]

A snatch block snatches a bight of rope for whatever the application.

 

[carbonarc]

ajlelectronics is it possible to mount the winch on a weldment that hooks over the none ramp end of the platform and can be easily removed? If the vehicle weighs around 1.5 tonnes it looks like a horizontal pull of 0.8 tonnes will move it up the ramp. It may be you should consider 6mm thick mild steel plate and bear in mind that any full penetration welds will have a stength [in the old money] of just short of 1 imperial ton per inch of weld. Good luck.

 

[Agroshield]

...is it possible to mount the winch on a weldment that hooks over the none ramp end of the platform and can be easily removed

The design challenge with hooking it over the end is that as the hook gets closer to the body of the winch (i.e. as the rope gets shorter), the direction of pull changes from downwards through horizontal to upwards. Thus the weldment would need some security against uplift.

If you can arrange the winch so the direction of pull is always the same, it makes designing the quick release facility much easier.

Also, looking at his original picture, the car overhangs the ramp at both ends, so having the winch on the inside of the ramp makes removal difficult when the ramp is occupied by a vehicle.

---

In case the snatch block idea is pursued, a quick release version is possible, with one fixed cheek to carry the pulley and a movable/foldable cheek to make installing and removing the rope easier. With some thought, the movable cheek would not need to take any force, just act as a rope guide - the structural part of it would be like an RC30 back wheel.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Here is a CCTV image of the rear end of the lift...