A functional car trailer is now even more useful after a few modifications by Roger Johnson that make it easier to load a vehicle or tractor.
For starters, a short-box pickup toolbox “was just the right width to mount to the front of this car trailer,” says the Chandler, Minnesotan. A 5-ton winch (originally made for an ATV) is mounted inside the toolbox.
An added opening accommodates the fairlead cable. (With a set of vertical and horizontal rollers, the cable never rubs against metal.) Also inside the box is a 12-volt battery to power both the winch and a 12-volt LED light used for loading in the dark.
Chains, straps, binders, and other items stay clean and dry in the toolbox, too.
The ramps originally slid under the trailer for storage. In addition to extending the ramps’ length by 12 inches, Johnson also hinged them to lock in an upright position. He credits Daniel Van Meveren, his employee, and Jeff Hansen for their help with the work.
Covered: Items stay watertight in the toolbox, including a 12-volt battery that gets recharged by the towing pickup.
High-Clearance Winch: Mounted 14 inches above the trailer deck, a 5-ton fairlead winch with a 30-foot-long cable will pull a vehicle onto the beavertail instead of against it.
Adjust Side To Side: Expanded metal-covered ramps lock in place for transport with no wind resistance.
Roger Johnson
Semiretired: No longer growing row crops, Johnson does still manage a herd of Black Angus on his hilly pasture ground near Chandler, Minnesota.
Artist: Johnson creates decorative and functional metal art including portable worktables.
Conservation-Minded: “I’m turning my shop studio all green. After I add more panels, the shop will be entirely solar powered by the end of the summer,” he says.
Recent Project: Johnson has devised a way to apply asphalt sealer from a utility vehicle – with no manual brushing.
Email: [email protected]
