bud ashpole wrote:
Have recently purchased a Evergreen 32G Toy Hauler. I am considering adding a winch so I can pull up my Honda Goldwing Trike backwards and then drive it off. I am 70 plus and not sure I like to drive in application. Any suggestions about how to go about this
I installed a winch in our toy hauler so I could take our jetski and trailer with us--especially when we visit the Fla Keys. The jetski and trailer, with a full-tank of gas, weighs almost 1200 lbs.
The two major concerns are supplying sufficient power and a secure mount for the winch.
As previously mentioned, getting power to your winch could be an issue. It all depends on the layout of your toy hauler. I looked up the floor plan for your rig. I believe it's a bumper pull with a garage, correct? I'll assume the batteries are in the very front of the unit. You would need some very large gauge, long (20 to 25 ft.), and expensive cable runs to get sufficient current to a winch that far back in the garage area. You may want to consider simply taking a fully charged battery and temporarily (or semi-permanently) connecting it in close proximity to the winch everytime you need to use it. Not cosmetically flattering, but a functional solution.
Ideally, you'd want to mount the winch to a frame member(*) in the very front of the garage. However, if space or cosmetics present a problem then a suitably-rated winch block gives you some flexibility. If you're able to SECURELY mount or attach a winch block to a frame member (not a cross-member) somewhere in the very front of your garage, then this potentially opens up the option of mounting your winch in many more locations in the garage. Just as long as your trike doesn't hit the winch or the cable on the way up, you're good.
Just some quick thoughts . . . Good luck!!
(*) I wouldn't consider using any OEM tie-downs (to temporarily anchor the winch) unless you can verify they're securely anchored to the toy hauler's frame (not a cross-member) in some way. FWIW, very few OEM tie-downs are. If one of those tie-downs broke loose while your trike is being winched up the ramp it could seriously injure or kill someone.