Winch!!!

jeep9mm

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Charlotte, Wilmington
Okay...so I had been saving up for a winch and I had it all lined up and then phone bill came up and rent and other stuff and I could not afford a tmax from the good folks at CRS. Then I got a pretty good deal on a mile marker PE 8000...and Ive heard bad things, but mostly about being slow, and for what I will use it...slow doesnt bother me. I also read some good things and I believe and hope that for the 15 times a year I have to winch, it will hold up...so i ordered it and a tleast in the box the quality looks to be good, it looks very well built.

Anyway...lets talk about batteries. Remember I will only be using it about 15 times a year...to winch others and myself. It is a 2004 TJ with a 2 inch lift and 31s so not a lot of weight about 3600 tops. Am I straight with my stock battery for that kind of use or should I go with something stronger. If I should would an optima red top be okay or if your gonna winch you might as well go bluetop or yellow top? Oh and is it true that the latter two are exactly the same except blue has longer warranty bc it is intended for marine use?

And winching essentials...a good pair of gloves, a tree saver, a shackle? Do I really need a snatch block? Do I really need chains? Anything else? If you've seen any good prices on any of the previously mentioned accesories let me know..


thanks guys

Rod
 
The winch should say how many cold cranking amps the battery needs to be.
If not, read the manual. I think my hs9500i said a minimum of 800 cca.

Obviously, the more the better. But the winch or literature should give you a minimum.

Be careful about the blue and yellow tops, they may be deep cycle, I don't think you want that in your vehicle. I'm sure someone more schooled in that will help you out.

Get the gloves and tree saver minimum and, the D ring and snatch block when you can afford it. I'd skip the chains.
 
ditto on the chains. I have some, don't carry them anymore, have not used them in 15 years. A good strap rated at 20k or 30k and at least 20ft, 30 is better. A tree Saver thats about 6' long. And yes, a snatch block. You won't always be able to pull in a straight line.
I recomend 2 batteries. Loss of battery power is deadly to a winch. but with a good altenator, you can make it live as long as you give it some time to re-charge. I know many who only use one battery, but, I am always on the better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it school. I use Red-top Optima's, Cheaper than the others, with a 7 yr warranty.
 
One red top has served me well for the past few years... YMMV.
 
On top of what was already mentioned, have a couple of good straps. Being able to anchor your vehicle is very helpful on loose ground or if standing on your brakes isn't good enough.
 
I know many who only use one battery, but, I am always on the better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it school.
Click to expand...
That's something I learned the hard way over 30 years ago. When my company went to the field (in our M-60A1 tanks) I'd take along an entire duffle bag full of warm stuff, dry stuff, and anything else that would fit inside. A lot of guys were doing good if they thought to bring along a field jacket and pair of gloves.

Well, this is one guy that was never wet or cold, at least not for longer than it took to change. :D

That's also the main reason I haven't been to URE yet, I don't have all the stuff I'd need for sure, let alone what I just MIGHT need.
 
yea i already have tow straps...just need to get tree saver, a better pair of gloves, shackle, and i guess later a snatch block.

For how many lbs should the tree saver and shackle be rated? Also what lenght tree saver do yall recommend...someone said 6ft, is that a consensus?
 
Blue Top or Yellow Top is the preferred battery...and Deep Cycle IS exactly what you want...

the Optima (and my ProComp Blue Top) are combo starter/deep cycle, and will work just fine...

the warranty on Blue vs. Yellow is identical...they're the same battery...the only difference is the color, and the Blue tops have an additional set of posts which are very handy for some lights/audio/other hookups...you still want to hook the winch to the primary posts...

EDITED Optima will NOT warranty a Red Top battery that has had a winch hooked up to it...(edit was to add Red Top)...

Greg
 
jeep9mm said:
For how many lbs should the tree saver and shackle be rated? Also what lenght tree saver do yall recommend...someone said 6ft, is that a consensus?
Click to expand...

Snach block and D ring should be more than twice the power of said winch- minimum.

I use a 6' tree saver :shrug:
 
bigwaylon said:
Optima will NOT warranty a battery that has had a winch hooked up to it...

Greg
Click to expand...


:confused: :confused: :confused:
From their web site..

If your vehicle has a lot of accessories like running lights, high-performance stereo/AV system, winches, or hydraulics, your vehicle demands more from its battery. OPTIMA YellowTOP batteries provide the extra performance and deep cycling capability that your vehicle demands.
Click to expand...
And this too....
deep_cycle.RowPar.0002.ContentPar.0002.ColumnPar.0002.Image.9999.0.gif



Man, I'm gonna be pissed if I have a problem and they say "I can't help ya, your not suppose to hook a winch up to that battery"
 
Ive been to several auto parts stores and the yellwo top retails for around 160...but in ebay they are to be had at around 120. Are they the same as the ones in the stores? I notice that there are some numbers after them...what is the model of yellow top i want if i buy it online?
 
bigwaylon said:
Blue Top or Yellow Top is the preferred battery...and Deep Cycle IS exactly what you want...
Click to expand...

I'm gonna have to disagree on this.. Deep cycle batteries are made for low-moderate amperage draw across a long time period ending in full or nearly full discharge, like a trolling motor on a fishing boat.

Starter batteries, OTOH, and made for large, fast current draw not to full discharge, with a quick charge back cycle.

I'll let you decide what sounds more like a winch in an off-road app. (Hint: guess what winch motors are..)

But, any of the Optima's are good batteries. I've worked the piss out of mine with pulls hard enough to bend the plate the winch is attached to, let is discharge when I left things on, and it keeps coming back for more.

Latest example- The cruiser hasn't moved under its own power since December.. I used the winch to pull it on and off the trailer, and part of the way into the garage. It then endured multiple (combined probably ~2 minutes of cranking) attempted start cycles when i was trying to get the engine fired on propane.. all this over the course of 7 months. Oh, and it was running the cruiser during the recent videos as well. The alternator hasn't been hooked up at all, and the battery has gotten only 1 hour of charge on a 10 amp charger, and that's it.

yeah, my red top has been good to me.
 
but optima claims that the yellow top is a dual purpose starting and deep cycle battery...anyway good to know the red top has performed that well...i may go that way to save a few bucks.

However those yellow top prices on ebay look pretty good...so looking at this chart http://www.optimabatteries.com/publ...fo/automotive/deep_cycle/technical_specs.html

Is there a model of yellow top that I dont want...bc some are like 110 bucks on ebay and others are like 160
 
Rich said:
I'm gonna have to disagree on this.. Deep cycle batteries are made for low-moderate amperage draw across a long time period ending in full or nearly full discharge, like a trolling motor on a fishing boat.

Starter batteries, OTOH, and made for large, fast current draw not to full discharge, with a quick charge back cycle.

I'll let you decide what sounds more like a winch in an off-road app. (Hint: guess what winch motors are..)
Click to expand...


I was with you on this one Rich, but I just went to their site and I believe I was wrong. I have and do run the red tops. I feel very good about them. But Optima recommends the yellow for winching.

OTOH
I have a close friend that bought 2 Wal-Mart batteries (top of the line), and every couple of years when they start to loose top efficiency, he takes them back under the lifetime satisfaction guarantee. :lol: He never lies or is dishonest, and they always replace them with a smile...
 
"lifetime satisfaction guarantee"? As in, you bring yours back and we'll give you a new one free? Or are they "pro-rated" like Sears does on their Diehards?
 
Trebissky said:
"lifetime satisfaction guarantee"? As in, you bring yours back and we'll give you a new one free? Or are they "pro-rated" like Sears does on their Diehards?
Click to expand...

He is getting bran new for free, every couple years. They don't question him or check the batterys like an auto parts store will.
 
Aaron871 said:
:confused: :confused: :confused:
From their web site..


And this too....


Man, I'm gonna be pissed if I have a problem and they say "I can't help ya, your not suppose to hook a winch up to that battery"
Click to expand...



DANG IT...I hate when I hit Submit without completing my thought...I'll go back and edit that post...

they won't warranty a Red Top battery that has had a winch attached...


Rich...I see your argument, but I (and Optima) stand by my Yellow/Blue top recommendation...because their D34M and D34 batteries are combo deep cycle and SLI batteries...

the Yellow Top will recover much better, and many more times, from being worked hard by a winch...

Greg
 
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