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Message: <blockquote data-quote="StLPro2A" data-source="post: 4210662" data-attributes="member: 48052">Yesterday, completed assembling a Harbor Freight 2500lb winch mounted onto a $15 Harbor Freight trailer coupler for 3" channel/2" ball with control box mounted within the 3" channel area of the coupler underneath winch.  Makes for an easy anchor onto any 2" ball....everyone has one on their vehicles....for those pesky little pulls. (Have the big boy 12,000lb APEX winch with synthetic rope on 2" square receiver mount that slips into the receiver hitch front or rear bumpers for bigger tugs.)  Really easy to assemble....only had to drill/tap into the flat on coupler 5/16" Grade 8 four bolt pattern for mounting winch/fairlead plate/coupler and two 8-32 screws for control box.  Very compact, convenient tool, coupler lock handle clears winch drum.  Swiveling on hitch ball self aligns 180 degrees to direction of pull horizontally, with plenty of vertical alignment.  Easily attach cable end hook on bumper safety chain hole with second pulley hook mid-cable to double winch pulling power.  Ran Power leads to winch and battery exiting coupler through original 1/2" coupler mounting holes, protected by rubber grommets. Deep cycle battery in plastic marine battery box for lugability and use with 2500# or 12000# winches. To anchor winch to tree, pole, etc, remove the original 2" ball  trailer hitch from receiver on vehicle.  Loop chain around anchor point tree/pole/fence post/et el and connect to winch with chain loped into the square end of trailer hitch, reinserting 5/8" hitch pin back into hitch through chain loop or links.  Attach winch onto the 2" ball as though mounted to vehicle.  Maximum flexibility.Next project will be receiver hitch mount for the Harbor Freight 1000lb pickup crane (41" tall version) for those peaky huff'n'grunt lifts.  Will incorporate a HF 1500# trailer wheel to assist vehicle suspension with stabilizing the load.  Pondering mods for the above winch to QD onto the crane for maximum flexibility, power lift....weld a 2" ball to post/pivot end of lifting arm?????  In addition to mounting to 2" receiver hitch, also intend to provide for "strapping/QD" to trailer railings and pickup bed stake pockets for maximum flexibility without permanent mounting to keep out of weather, nix the weight/theft potential  when crane not needed.  Old engineers can't stop seeing potential, opportunities.  It's in the DNA.</blockquote>

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