Cargo strap winding apparatus

A winding apparatus for winding an elongated cargo strap into a coil, which is used with a strap winch that is mounted beneath a trailer, where the strap winch includes a U-shaped bracket having two spaced legs connected by an integral cross member and a drum suspended between the legs around which the cargo strap is wound and tensioned during normal use,

• the winding apparatus comprising:
• an elongated cantilever;
• and a removable crank,
• the cantilever having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cantilever being adapted for mounting to the strap winch, so that the second end of the cantilever extends laterally beyond the trailer when the cantilever is connected to the strap winch, the cantilever also includes a side, the side having two detents protruding therefrom, the first end of the cantilever also being adapted for receiving the crank in a storage position therein when not used to wind the cargo strap into the coil, the first end of the cantilever includes a first plate and a second plate, each of the first plate and the second plate having an opening therethrough, the crank extends through the openings in the first and second plates when in the storage position, the second end of the cantilever being adapted for receiving the crank in a winding position, so that the crank may be manually turned to wind the cargo strap into the coil around the crank,
• the crank includes an elongated shaft, a handle extending from the shaft, and an elongated strap bar extending from the shaft so that the strap bar is spaced over the shaft and extends axially parallel to the shaft, the strap bar overlying the side and restrictively seated between the two detents to secure the crank to the cantilever when in the storage position.