Winch handle removal on newer Shoreland'r

[MrMoose]

So, I took a quick look at my winch handle on my 2015 Shoreland'r trailer. I was wondering how easy it would be to remove it.
Has anyone removed their winch handle? It kind of looks like it's held on via a spring-lock mechanism of some sort. I didn't see any nuts or bolts.
How do you remove the handle?

 

[tdonoughue]

Plasma torch...

 

[MrMoose]

@tdonoughue, you serious? I am wondering if it is easy or hard to steal.

 

[tdonoughue]

Me? Serious? Hardly ever...

With the plasma torch, easy to steal.

But really, I have no idea. Never tried to remove it...

 

[MrMoose]

Me? Serious? Hardly ever...

With the plasma torch, easy to steal.

But really, I have no idea. Never tried to remove it...

Gee, well then, . Thanks for the laugh

 

[swatski]

I removed mine once, in my 190. Not on purpose though.

Taking a very sharp right turn, essentially jackknifing the trailer, the damn thing got squashed between the trailer tongue and the truck bumper...
And no, I could not figure out how to put it back on - I ended up getting a new jack...

But - glad you brought this up, I had the same question on my mind after someone mentioned theft and trailer parking.

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[MrMoose]

Yup that's what this is about. Take it off to prevent theft, or maybe it's too difficult to get off, and as such it is kind of theft resistant.

 

[Ronnie]

@Benny Sibbitt replaced the stock winch with a Fulton F2. Maybe he has some thoughts on removing just the handle.

By the way, I have locks on all my compartments, and had the threads on my winch and boat buddy mounting bolts welded to prevent theft but I'm never even considered removing just the winch h

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

I couldn't tell you, I just took the whole thing off

 

[BBottoms]

Yes, it comes off easily so that you can move it from the high speed to the low speed crank as needed. Pull the spring lock away from the main part of the handle and simply slide it off. Would be very easy to steal if someone knew what they were looking for. Pretty sure someone has posted before about theirs being stolen.

 

[swatski]

@MrMoose Here is my new "Miami mod" for trailer parking:


Chains wrapped around the folded tongue. Good luck picking that apart. It can be done, but a real bitch with out some serious tools.

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[BobJohnson]

Sounds like you have a winch like mine. The chap's come on a coyote trailer that uses dutton lainson winches and they have a spring loaded handle. Yes, I remove mine as my boat is wet slipped and the trailer is stored in the marina yard. Squeeze the spring end and the handle slides off. This is mine- https://www.dutton-lainson.com/206305.pdf