How to Install Hand Crank Brake Winch in 2001 GMC Sonoma to Pull Go-Cart Up Ramps

Updated 07/28/2015 | Published 07/27/2015

Question:

I own a 2001 GMC Sonoma extended cab pick-up. I also picked up a set of Reese aluminum ramps to load my go kart which is around 300 lbs. Considering a crank type winch to load the kart since its pretty bulky. Which option would you suggest I go with and how would it fasten to the truck bed? Im hoping to pull to kart up the ramps and into the truck bed. The kart fits, I brought it home like that. Thank you

asked by: Ray

Expert Reply:

The best type of winch for your application is a brake winch like # F143100 from Fulton or one of the others shown on the linked page. These automatically brake when you stop cranking; this will prevent a runaway cart. A rolling 300-lb load like your cart will be fairly easy for a winch to pull up your ramps so one rated for 1500-lbs will be fine.

In order for any winch to deliver its rated performance it must be mounted to a suitable surface and have its bottom plate fully supported by the underlying surface. It cannot be mounted directly to the corrugated bed of your pickup. This means that you will need to make a suitable winch mounting surface that can be properly secured to the truck and to which you can mount the winch while leaving enough space for the handle to crank. This may require some local fabrication.

expert reply by: Adam R