Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

[intothewild]

The winch post on my trailer broke over the weekend (luckily not all the way - still able to trailer the boat and get it home). I've been searching the internet and can't find a post that fits my trailer and the winch sleeve. I have a 16ft bass boat with 90hp so nothing too heavy
The post is 1.5" x 1.5" with a height of 14"
The trailer tongue is 2.5" x 2.5"
The part that the winch attaches to that goes over the post (sleeve?) has a 2" x 2" opening

I'm hoping to replace just the post but am having trouble finding a 1.5" square post.
Any suggestions?
I'm in the Chicagoland area - if anyone knows of anything local that'd be great.
Thanks

 

[90stingray]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

Try your local steel yard for any tubing needed. Take a cordless sawzall and cut your own... as they generally charge per cut. Upload us some pics of the damage...

 

[Jetwash]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

The trailer mfg should have something. If not then you need to upgrade. 1.5 inches isnt very big. If you cant get the correct part, look up retailers of metal shorts. They usually carry all sort of styles and sizes.

 

[intothewild]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

Here are some pics - looks like it broke sometime in the past and was welded once. Made by Dixie Craft Trailers - couldn't find much about them online.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

1.5" square tubing is fairly common, try Lowes and Home Depot as well. You may also want to try a plumbing supply house, some pipe racks (hangers) are fabricated from 1.5 and 2" square tubing.

As mentioned above, you may want to go with something bigger (2x2). Weld a mounting plate to the bottom and use shims welded in place to make up the difference.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

It would be way more cost effective to just buy a replacement "universal" winch stand.

 

[intothewild]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

I started looking into the universal stands - problem is everything seems to be for either a 2" or 3" tongue and I've got the darned 2.5" tongue.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Broken Winch Post - almost stranded. How to replace?

I started looking into the universal stands - problem is everything seems to be for either a 2" or 3" tongue and I've got the darned 2.5" tongue.

Can use one for use with a 3" wide tongue.
Drill new holes in the base plate for the 3.0" wide u-bolts at a slight angle to the 2.5" tongue.