Winch knowlegde

[Skooter_Built]

Hi everyone, today i finally bought a winch, brand new Warn 9.5si MOSFET. This will be the first winch ive ever owned/operated and im looking for some info on how to use it safely. What about batterys, should i upgrade to an optima or something similar or go with a dual battery setup? Any info that others can give would help me out a lot.

[brimy311]

never hook up a winch to the side posts on a battery. They are not rated for the output the winch pulls.

Can't go wrong with an optima.

[Tonka]

Originally Posted by Skooter_Built

Hi everyone, today i finally bought a winch, brand new Warn 9.5si MOSFET. This will be the first winch ive ever owned/operated and im looking for some info on how to use it safely. What about batterys, should i upgrade to an optima or something similar or go with a dual battery setup? Any info that others can give would help me out a lot.

go optima

red top is fine, so is yellow

yellow is a bit better, but I had no issues with my red top and used my winch alot

I ran a 200 amp mean green alternator, and had no issues with a single red top.

[Nrth]

Heres a good write up at pirate, has a lot of good info.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ery/index.html

[wildpig]

call WARN direct and they will send you a "tips and tricks" book, I think it's free if they still send them.

[Roadhouse]

Originally Posted by brimy311

never hook up a winch to the side posts on a battery. They are not rated for the output the winch pulls.

Can't go wrong with an optima.

I've heard this before, but have seen it done many times. Any people using that way for years with no problems....so I'm still confused by it.

[nixxerRsixxer]

Originally Posted by Roadhouse

I've heard this before, but have seen it done many times. Any people using that way for years with no problems....so I'm still confused by it.

nothing to be confused about.. the internal wiring of the optima does not support side posts to be used for winching.. its on optimas website.. the people using it for years.. are just not well informed..

[Sonicjay]

The side posts cascade down from the top posts. I have a Yellow top, and added side posts to it which all the stuff on the Jeep runs off, and the winch by itself is on the top posts.

Skooter, a few of us went to a Warn rebuilding seminar a few months ago, and I have the contact for the guy from Warn. We were planning on setting up a winching techniques seminar for later in the summer, but it hasn't happened yet.

Anyhow, read this:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ery/index.html

[Skooter_Built]

ok that was a good source of knowledge, but now i have a new question. Beside the winch, d-rings, and a good tow strap, what other winching accessories/tools should i get. Would it make since to go out an buy an accessory kit like Warn sells, or piece one together my self?

[blizazer]

From what I was seeing, putting it together yourself works out better since you get what you want.

Ive got some links at home to add later, but for now:
Gloves
D-rings (2+)
Choker Chain
Tree saver Strap
Blanket/Rug/Similar to put over winch cable during operation
Snatch / Pulley block
A convenient bag to store all that in


And be mindful of the ratings on everything you buy. If it doesnt have a rating, pass on it for another product that does. Shop for recovery grade equipment rather than hoisting / overhead lifting rated equipment.

[blizazer]

Here's some links as promised:

http://offroadrecovery.zoovy.com/cat...theweekestlink
http://www.recoverygear.com/hardware.html
http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/minutemods/chain/

In case anyone else is looking for hydraulic winch links:
http://winchesplus.com/winchmate.htm
http://7slotgrille.com/projects/03rubicon/mm/index.html
http://www.off-road.com/dodge/tech/mmkrec.html

[Roadhouse]

Originally Posted by nyxis

nothing to be confused about.. the internal wiring of the optima does not support side posts to be used for winching.. its on optimas website.. the people using it for years.. are just not well informed..

but see this helps with my confusion. I know people who have had thier winch hooked up to the side post for at least 5 years, using thier winches alot....I mean alot. And still running the same batteries, nothing bad has happened...

[Sonicjay]

Originally Posted by blizazer

From what I was seeing, putting it together yourself works out better since you get what you want.

Ive got some links at home to add later, but for now:
Gloves
D-rings (2+)
Choker Chain
Tree saver Strap
Blanket/Rug/Similar to put over winch cable during operation
Snatch / Pulley block
A convenient bag to store all that in
.

Most of that comes in the Warn kit that I got. You can never have too many snatch blocks (along with tree savers and shackles to anchor them). each snatch block doubles the winching power (or cuts the winch's effort in half, however you look at it).

[blizazer]

Originally Posted by Roadhouse

but see this helps with my confusion. I know people who have had thier winch hooked up to the side post for at least 5 years, using thier winches alot....I mean alot. And still running the same batteries, nothing bad has happened...

Its not worth risking. Considering that you can walk into any car audio shop and have a dozen high current heavy gauge wire distribution blocks to choose from.

From the information that I'm seeing, the Optima side posts aren't rated for drawing the full battery current over any lengthy time duration, only for short duration high power events, such as cold cranking. What you're likely to see is heat buildup due to IR losses along the conductive path from the top post to the side post. This will lead to one of two things. First, you could possibly melt through insulation internal to the battery and short a pair or string of cells together. This would usualy result in fire. The second likely option would be hydrogen buildup and ignition from the heat. You dont want that either.

So as mentioned above. Its not worth risking. Maybe you can get away with it once, maybe 5 years. But if you blow a hole in your fiberglass hood and fender over $20 in cables you didnt buy, you're going to feel pretty dumb. Or worse if youre standing next to it with the hood up while winching....

[KILLER"B"468]

Originally Posted by Roadhouse

but see this helps with my confusion. I know people who have had thier winch hooked up to the side post for at least 5 years, using thier winches alot....I mean alot. And still running the same batteries, nothing bad has happened...

lets put it this way Mike. It does work... But the metal the comes down from the top post is 1/8" plate and heats up under HARSH loads. More often then not leading to it melting away. I also know and warned people of this. They too are lucky to have gotten away with it. Call it luck if you will, or just haven't put a strong enough load on it for a long period of time to have this issue.

[C.K.]

Originally Posted by Sonicjay

You can never have too many snatch blocks (along with tree savers and shackles to anchor them). each snatch block doubles the winching power (or cuts the winch's effort in half, however you look at it).

That is one of the best things I have added to my recovery kit over the years.

[Roadhouse]

For the record guys, I have always had my Warn winch hooked to the top post on my Optima, because I was told to. I just never totally understood why, and have seen people use the side post. Thats the only reason I was asking. Thanks for the info tho'

Another question...are snatch blocks still safe to use with synth cable? The wont snag or tear at it will they? Sorry if that is a stupid ?

[blizazer]

Originally Posted by Roadhouse

Another question...are snatch blocks still safe to use with synth cable? The wont snag or tear at it will they? Sorry if that is a stupid ?

Thats a real good question.

Another item that some people recommend is a spare winch cable, after all, the winch is useless with a broken one.

Ive been thinking about getting a synthetic cable eventually for the winch, and then keeping the steel cable as a spare on hand.

[Skooter_Built]

so just to clairify, mount the winch power cables to the top of the winch, right?

[JohnnyJ]

When switching from metal to synth, make sure you do not have burrs on your fairlead or snatch block. The burrs can snag/cut the line.

I checked out my snatch block for burrs, and since it was clean, have continued using it with synth line with no issues.

I swapped over to an aluminum hawse fairlead from my roller, partially because the rollers were chewed up from the metal line and partially because of hearing about synth rope pinching in roller fairleads.

One thing I've seen with synth line is that it tends to wrap on itself easier than metal winch lines, so be very careful when powering out with it. It's not uncommon for it to quickly change directions when you get to a pinch poinr, and I'd hate to see someone's hand get caught in their winch like the dude in the TV show from a few years ago that they showed on Discovery/TLC in the 4x4 competition.