Winch power question

[dave666693]

Do you need dual batteries to run a winch or a high voltage alternator? Anything special???

[Burt4x4]

Well in theory you don't "need" dual batts but it sure is nice knowing if you kill your batt you have a spare. Higher amp alt is always good too. I run a 140amp with dual batts and Hellroaring iso/combiner = www.hellroaring.com

[Slick17]

Sounds good Burt. Thanks for the info.

[wildwilly4x4]

on my rock crawler jeep with a 4.3 engine, I run the 105 amp alternator and a yellow top optima batt. I do alot of winching and have never needed dual batts in it. On the other hand, back when I was a kid and ran an elcheapo winch on my blazer, I needed dual batteries because it would run them down so fast that it would drop the voltage to my injection system and kill the engine. I would say that if you go with an American made winch, a good battery and healthy charging system you will be fine with just one battery. If you do go to dual batteries it will just be that much better. The engine cranks over a lil faster, and two batteries always seem to last longer than one battery as far as life span of the battery. I have had several vehicles with factory dual batteries and its not uncommon at all to have the dual batteries last 6 years +, unlike the 3-5 year life of just a single battery.

Heres a pic of the winch setup on my rock crawler.

[dave666693]

Thanks guys. I will definately go with a higher amp alternator. I have a PTO switch and attachment on my transfer case. This is on a 1971 GMC. Is it worth trying to piece together a PTO winch and driveline, or just make it easy and go with electric?

[Mike C]

Possible thread hijack... Great looking M38. I have found that a good deep cycle battery will allow for quite a bit of winching while the engine is running. If you have to winch out with a dead motor, dual batteries could be a lifesaver. Here is a pic of my A1, needless to say I can't twist it up like yours:

[wildwilly4x4]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Possible thread hijack... Great looking M38. I have found that a good deep cycle battery will allow for quite a bit of winching while the engine is running. If you have to winch out with a dead motor, dual batteries could be a lifesaver. Here is a pic of my A1, needless to say I can't twist it up like yours:

X2 on the dead motor, but for most I think a really good deep cycle battery is more than plent AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A GOOD WINCH! Enough cant be said about name brand winches vs. cheap ones.

Thats a sweet looking A1 you have there too. I think my next project will be either making my MB or GPW into a crawler since they both need alot of work. BUT, I gotta finish my '72 Chevy diesel first!

[dave666693]

Originally Posted by wildwilly4x4

X2 on the dead motor, but for most I think a really good deep cycle battery is more than plent AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A GOOD WINCH! Enough cant be said about name brand winches vs. cheap ones.

Thats a sweet looking A1 you have there too. I think my next project will be either making my MB or GPW into a crawler since they both need alot of work. BUT, I gotta finish my '72 Chevy diesel first!

You mean run a deep cycle as your only battery or as a 2nd one?

[Mike C]

As your only one. I have been pleased with my yellow top Optima, although rumors abound that new ones are not as good as some of the older ones. I use mine not only to power my jeep, but my ski boat battery and also for my jonboat's trolling motor. It also serves as a tractor battery and the mobile jump start battery as well.

Continuation of thread hijack...
What year is your GPW and MB wildwilly4x4? I have a '44 MB that is restified and a "project" '43 GPW. Will post pic later of my two running jeeps together.

[fun in dirt]

If you have a PTO winch then it doesn't matter about the batteries. However, if your in a situation where your motor won't run then your winch is useless. Just depends which will work better for most of your situations. We've had both pto & electric and bpth worked great. The one thing I like about my current electric on is I've wired where it can be used on the front or back of the blazer and our car hauling trailer, where the pto was permanent

[wildwilly4x4]

my MB is a '44, and not sure on my GPW, i think its a '42 or '43