Fulton f2 add me to the crowd

[WjColdWater]

Finally replaced the stock 1400 lb rated trailer winch. This F2 winch is the two speed model rated for 3200 lbs. The rating is more than I need, but this will make shallow ramps manageable. I also never power load preferring to winch the last foot.


Fultons adjustable bolt pattern lined up nicely on my 06/519. The install was easy with no trailer modifications needed. I cut the safety strap off the old winch strap to repurpose on the new set up. After stripping the old strap out of the original winch this is what I discovered.

The bolt securing the strap to the drum had sheared off on one side. Timing for replacement was probably overdue I’m glad that I made the move to the Fulton. I would like to thank the members that posted on the F2 on previous threads. And a shout out to John Clark for his recommendation on the F2.
Wayne

[smp005]

That is nice!!!

[dean c]

Very nice

[apenland01]

I did the same to my old Ranger Trail and it is amazing! I never power load either and can winch it all the way up with that lower gear if needed and save my shoulders.

[LikeToFish]

Nice! You will love it compared to the original winch. I replaced mine on my 2007 619 Fisherman a number of years ago. I finally went with Fulton's yellow heavy duty strap as I've snapped 2 of those original straps cranking that 619 on the trailer.

[godsdozer]

Love the low gear on my Z22

[XingEyeballs]

Just did the same, at least three months before I can try it but very simple upgrade/replacement. I’d like to go to a heavier strap but also used the factory strap to save the safety strap.
Only concern, would there be a situation you could pull too hard on the bow eye loading on a shallow ramp?

[apenland01]

I've loaded in storms and left the bunks out of the water a bit so I could stick the boat and keep it in place and really had to crank hard to get the boat on the trailer. The bow eye held up, but I guess it could take it's toll over time.

[jc2bg]

I’ve done some very heavy-duty cranking on mine in the two years I’ve had the F2 without any hint of damage/wear to the bow eye. My thinking is that the winch pull is slow and gradual enough—no sudden jerks or impact—that it doesn’t over-stress that hardware. I don’t recommend keeping the original Ranger strap with the heavier-duty winch, however. Safety straps are easily purchased or constructed [mine is chain link with a snap on each end], and the 1400 pound Ranger strap is prone to failure the harder the winch pulls. In 3 years I broke 4 new Ranger straps. One time the fabric of the strap itself broke; in the other cases the stitching came loose. No issue at all with the Fulton strap, even though the low gear on the F2 pulls with much more force than the original. I also learned by hard experience that the Ranger “safety” strap is prone to exactly the same kind of failure as the main strap: when the thread deteriorates through combined exposure to water and sunlight, you could probably break that strap with your hands.

Note: I know plenty of guys with 15-year-old Rangers who still use their original factory winch strap. Maybe the problems I had with weak straps 2015-2017 were caused by an isolated bad run in manufacturing.... Traveling hundreds of miles on potholed roads is no joke with a busted winch strap, though.

[krindgen]

It's nice. My nuts and back have been thanking me ever since.

[bloodman]

Now all you need is the Stoltz roller. Awesome combo.

[bbbill]

Got the Stoltz Roller and F2 on my 520C. Must haves w/ GatorBaks!

[dean c]

Just ordered one... and already have the stoltz.

[paulrodbender]

Regarding the bow eye. Last spring I noticed my eye looked a little loose so I removed the bow panel and noticed they had used small steel washers and steel nuts on the back side and they were actually digging into the reinforcement so I replaced them with big heavy duty SS washers and SS lock nuts. A lot older Ranger though.

[vmax]

How do you put the cranking handle on the other side?

[WjColdWater]

How do you put the cranking handle on the other side?

I think the 2 speed winch is not reversible. The single speed models are reversible. Maybe wrong on that though.

[WjColdWater]

Now all you need is the Stoltz roller. Awesome combo.

Thats next. Thanks!

[ranger521znem]

what is the strap it came with rated for

[Barbless]

Just don’t expect a Fulton on a new Ranger trailer they quit using them.

[apenland01]

what is the strap it came with rated for

3200 pounds per the website. It's handled my heavy ass old Ranger with no problem.