winch, with or without dual batteries? (1 Viewer)

[concretejungle]

This month is shaping up to be pretty lucrative for me, finally. So i'm getting geared up to spend a little money on the rig that i have been waiting for. So i am deffinately getting a bull bar. THe question comes with the winch. I know i want dual batteries at some point, for peace of mind, for winching and for other accesories.

Would you fellers suggest i get a winch and go with one battery until some point i buck-up and get two (just don't know how long that will be). Or, do i get the dual battery set-up first, and then hold out to get the winch?

 

[alaskacruiser]

concrete- the winch will cost you >> than the dual battery setup, so if you have the $$$ now, I'd recommend that you go for the winch and you can do the dual batts later.

 

[Romer]

I don't have dual batteries. I am assuming I will be running the winch with the engine running. Maybe later I will get the dual battery setup, but you can run it without.

 

[LandyLover]

If you have the $ now, get the winch. Here's why: 1) Dual batts wont pull you up your favorite trail or get you out of the gumbo, 2) You'll wish you bought the winch right after you look at doing the (minimal) work involved in hooking up dual batts - same with winch but gratifcation, I think, is more pronouced. 3) Your ARB will look empty w/o winch, you'll notice this and be sad.

Cheers

 

[Bryan E.]

Alex, I would get the winch first. What winch are you looking at? Warn 12000?

I have found some links on mud in the past that the huge new blue top Optima will fit in the original battery location, and is extremely robust in power output. It might be cheaper to run one of those than doing a dual battery set up. I think this is at least a worthy item to think about doing before running duals, however you might still want to run a totally separate battery so when you run it all the way down you could stll switch and run with the other battery.

I just pulled a double shift at work, so hope I'm making some sense here.

 

[JohnnyC]

yes get the winch...then the dual batts, If you do alot of hard trails with guys who are locked up and you are open like me you will need those dual batts later.

 

[concretejungle]

Right now it's a toss between the 8274 and the 12,000.

I know the winch will work with only one battery, i just don't want to be toasting batteries and alternators. I don't plan on being stuck that often, but in the case i am (cause i do wheel my junk) i want to be able to extract and keep kicking-it. I do wheel a lot of trails that are pretty far out in the "middle of nowhere" and usually only have one or two trucks with me, none have winchs.

 

[nakman]

the (minimal) work involved in hooking up dual batts - same with winch but gratifcation, I think, is more pronouced.

Agreed, way more satisfaction in getting the dual batts hooked up- very enjoyable mod all the way around..

CJ, if it's winch or batties gotta go winch for sure. But why not put that $$ towards a rear bumper? That mod should come before a winch, IMO. you don't go out alone, right?

 

[concretejungle]

I don't go out alone, but i do go with friends who don't have winches. Also, some of the trails are really hairy, so if one get's stuck, it's impossible to get around them and some times it's really tough to get situationed to snach or pull someone out without going off the side of the mountain.

Thanks all for the tips and pointers. I am surely getting the bull bar, and if the house i showed today closes next month also, then i'll be getting the winch too.

 

[OGBeno]

Hey CJ:

Running M8K on one battery currently. Have the dual battery set up sitting on shelves in garage.

Seems like insurance to me, but insurance I'll install nonetheless.


-o-

ps: seems like the real estate business is going well??

 

[Mickldo]

I agree about the winch before the dual batts but without the dual batts whats going to keep the beers in the fridge cold?

 

[concretejungle]

ps: seems like the real estate business is going well??

So far so good. Thanks.

 

[e9999]

CJ,
IIRC (but check) the 8274 will not fit in the Deluxe winch bar, it needs the Commercial one, I think.

 

[jonb96150]

I've done a lot of winching on a single battery. I never felt the need for dual batteries.

 

[JohnnyC]

I am running a pierce 12500 lb winch and the slow winches you need two batts, a 8274...all you need is one...its a quick winch.

 

[concretejungle]

CJ,
IIRC (but check) the 8274 will not fit in the Deluxe winch bar, it needs the Commercial one, I think.

I'm sure where there's a will, there's a way

 

[Junk]

I wouldn't go dual batts just for a winch. No need to. Plus, if your truck isn't running and you need to winch you won't be pulling too far before you wank out your winch batt.

Now for accessories like fridge, inverter etc, then yes.

 

[jonb96150]

I am running a pierce 12500 lb winch and the slow winches you need two batts, a 8274...all you need is one...its a quick winch.

On my old jeep I had an old 8k Ramsey worm drive. A very slow winch, which I used a lot, even on a run to Panamint City, near Death Valley. You have to winch up 5 waterfalls. I couldn't run it non-stop, and I had to keep the rpm's up for the alternator but I made it and that is an extreme example of winching.

With a very good battery and charging system I don't think there is a need for dual batteries. A lot of winches will burn out before you drain the battery if you decide you have to use the winch continuously. If you use a snatch block/pulley block you cut the amp draw in half and that snatch block weighs a lot less than a battery.

Dual batteries do lend to peace of mind in the middle of BFE, but I have ran my arb fridge for over two days off of my yellow top optima without starting the engine with no problems. And my fridge has to work for a living!

 

[JohnnyC]

I used to go wheeling alot with hardcore wheelers and being open as i am i would be forced to winch alot. no big deal just what you have to do. But with long run times and the huge drain on a very old electrical system dual batts are a must for me. The winch i have has a motor that includes all high temperature components with the addition of ball bearings fore and aft that virtually eliminate the possibility of motor wear problems, even in applications with very large loads and long run times.