winch recommendations?

[Hoodoo Man]

I ended up pulling the trigger on the Superwinch epi9. Recommended here and by lou so figure you cant go wrong there... will be mounted before the next trip. What are your thougths on batteries for the heep? I talked to the folks at SW and they said i can probaly run what Ive got but my currnet battery althought it starts looks to be pretty old...

[Kurt]

My recommendation is to buy the largest, highest amp-hr rated battery you can stuff into your present battery tray.
I did that using a AZ gold battery with both top and side posts.
Engine tied to the top posts and the winch leads to the side posts.
Has worked awesome for me. I've never run out of juice for winching over the years with the setup.

[ZAEDOCK]

My recommendation is to buy the largest, highest amp-hr rated battery you can stuff into your present battery tray.

That's better for welding too.

[Frank]

I was told to mount the winch to the LARGER top post as it will discharge faster allowing the winch more current than the side terminals. Check it out. I also put a key opp. disconnect on the ground side of the winch leads to kill or isolate it. Ive used the Red Top for 5 yrs. now with no issues. Also had a one wire delco alt. built and its 106 amps. appears to be a good match. FjR68

[nostaw]

At one point Lou was carrying Exide batteries and I've been running one. Had no issues. Lots of people like Optima...

Don't get a marine / deep cycle -- stick to a starting battery (regardless of brand).

[Hoodoo Man]

Don't get a marine / deep cycle -- stick to a starting battery (regardless of brand).

doh! I was eyeballing a deep cycle battery with dual terminals I have in my cellar. I had used to use at my camp with an inverter to keep costs down...

[DOUG]

I was told to mount the winch to the LARGER top post as it will discharge faster allowing the winch more current than the side terminals.

It actually says that in the Optima owners booklet-instruction manual. We're running a red top in the Rubi without side terminals.

Ive used the Red Top for 5 yrs. now with no issues. Also had a one wire delco alt. built and its 106 amps. appears to be a good match. FjR68

When I had my truck I ran dual redtops and both went bad within 18 months. The one that's in the Rubi is only 2 months old...so far, so good.

Don't get a marine / deep cycle -- stick to a starting battery (regardless of brand).

doh! I was eyeballing a deep cycle battery with dual terminals I have in my cellar. I had used to use at my camp with an inverter to keep costs down...

Is it an Optima yellow top? I would not hesitate to run it if it is.

[ChrisD]

When using your winch, you keep your engine running? Right?

Does the winch specs mention using a different battery other then your stock?

[Kurt]

When using your winch, you keep your engine running? Right?

Yes - whenever possible

[DOUG]

Does the winch specs mention using a different battery other then your stock?

Not that I recall.

[Hoodoo Man]

When using your winch, you keep your engine running? Right?

Does the winch specs mention using a different battery other then your stock?

Funny thing is when I talked to Superwinch Tech support they said the currnet battery is most likely fine. Didnt ask what it was or anything. I guess it depends how much and how hard you run your winch. Ive heard optima batteries have had quality issues since they moved production to Mexico.

the deep cycle marine battery I have is a walmart brand, bought it to run an inverter a few years ago and found better options that didnt weigh so much to haul in and out of the camp each trip. the thing is a beast and might not even fit in the heep...

[nostaw]

WalMart batteries (and other discount store batteries) are not the same quality you're going to get at the higher end retail places. If you compare part numbers you'll find they're different, and the WalMart batteries are cheaper cause they have less lead in them.

Running your engine helps (I always run mine), but at the end of the day the battery will supply 75%-95% (or more) of the current to the winch... A winch can draw several hundred amps, and the alternator can't put out more than double digits (50A-70A, depending).

JW

[wesley4x4]

would this help out http://www.quadratec.com/products/55112_58.htm along with an optima battery?

[DOUG]

That's a lot of $$ for an alternator!!

[Kurt]

Save your money.
Just have a reasonably fresh battery, clean and tight wire connections, run your engine while winching and you're good.
Maybe invest in a $40 hand throttle kit. Useful for bumping your engine speed while winching, driving in a sticky spot, etc.