Looking for input on an idea for a front receiver hitch for a winch.

[Mr._Bill]

I don't like spending money that I don't need to, but I believe in doing it right. Getting jumper cables that are appropriately sized isn't going to be much cheaper, and then you are relying on the battery clamps to hold while winching with the hood up.

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[Mac]

Get a set of these connectors https://www.amazon.com/OrionMotorTe...ocphy=9001930&hvtargid=pla-572380103697&psc=1
Attach one end to the battery with 1’ cables and the other to the cables that connect to the winch, if you plan on using the winch in the rear receiver just get long enough cables to reach, when you use it in the front receiver just have some velcro straps to secure the extra length.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I don't like spending money that I don't need to, but I believe in doing it right. Getting jumper cables that are appropriately sized isn't going to be much cheaper, and then you are relying on the battery clamps to hold while winching with the hood up.

QUALITY jumper cables - last made in 1962.

And the clamps on the ends - not a lot of contact area for high amperage.

I've wondered about the welder connectors like my Forney stick welder had. Those were slightly tapered and once inserted, you really had to twist and pull to remove them. Simple to plug in, won't fall out, handle a lot of amperage. The cable is also quite flexible.

 

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

Or.

Quadratec has rear bumpers with built in winch plates.

if any winch manufacturer provides cables that would reach the rear bumper (and therefore the rear hitch), then I imagine I would conect the battery cables to the battery cables in the intended fashion each time I would use it and I would disconnect them afterwards

But battery cable length isn’t a dimension they seem to provide.

 

[Mac]

Check the amperage of the specific winch being used and then calculate the correct cable size but this gives you an idea of what is available InstallGear 1/0 Gauge 25ft Black and 25ft Red Power/Ground Wire True Spec and Soft Touch Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXRVKLB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_BK60K8CQXE9SE9S6ANNQ
Just crimp on the lugs for the ends.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Warn sells a kit for cabling a winch to the rear hitch receiver.

WARN 32966 24' Quick Connect Power Cable https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00029XFG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_A8XFTM79X1KWZDK14MMK

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah, I think this is one thing I was looking at a while back - and I think you posted it originally.

 

[FrankFrqnkFrank]

Sorry I’m so cheap

would it be feasible to run a receiver mounted winch from a standalone (maybe deep cycle) 12-volt battery??

 

[Mr._Bill]

Sorry I’m so cheap

would it be feasible to run a receiver mounted winch from a standalone (maybe deep cycle) 12-volt battery??

It's possible. Without a connection to the trucks electrical system, run time will be limited. Charging will have to be done manually, and you'll have to deal with a loose battery.

 

[dcmdon]

Sorry I’m so cheap

would it be feasible to run a receiver mounted winch from a standalone (maybe deep cycle) 12-volt battery??

Its actually not even going to stress the battery a little. The energy in any 12v automotive battery is many multiples of what it would take to make even multiple pulls.

For example, a 12,000 lb capacity HF winch says its a 6 hp motor. That means that at 12,000 lbs it may be using at most 6 hp. Far more realistic number for continuous draw is 3 hp. But lets run with worst case scenario.

6 hp is 4400 watts.
4400 watts at 12v is 366 amps

I was able to find a $89 battery with 800 cold cranking amps (CCA). CCA is defined as the amount of draw a battery can sustain for 30 seconds at 0 deg F without significant voltage drop.

So right off the bat, a $89 battery can provide TWICE the necessary amps for 30 sec as the winch could draw in a worst case scenario at ZERO DEG F!!

So power is not an issue.

Now lets talk energy. Or the total amount of work it can do.

This battery has a 60 amp-hour rating. That means that it can put out 60 amps (or 720 watts) for 1 hour. You wouldn't want to do this often because it would impact the life of the battery.

But lets pretend that you run your winch for 6 minutes at an average load of 3 hp or 183 amps.

6/60 = 0.1 hours

183 amps x 0.1 = 18.3 amp-hours.

So using your winch with a $89 battery for 6 minutes at an average load of 6000 lbs will draw 18.3 amp-hours of energy. 18.3/60 = .305%.

Or in other words in the above scenario you will use 30.5% of the capacity in that $89 battery.

Keep in mind that we are making a lot of worst case assumptions.

0 deg F battery temp
6 minutes of pulling
6000 lb of time averaged pulling force.
At a 30 ft/min average line speed,., we are talking about 180 ft of winching at 6000 lbs load.

 

[Mac]

Why? What is the advantage to using a separate battery?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Its actually not even going to stress the battery a little. The energy in any 12v automotive battery is many multiples of what it would take to make even multiple pulls.

For example, a 12,000 lb capacity HF winch says its a 6 hp motor. That means that at 12,000 lbs it may be using at most 6 hp. Far more realistic number for continuous draw is 3 hp. But lets run with worst case scenario.

6 hp is 4400 watts.
4400 watts at 12v is 366 amps

I was able to find a $89 battery with 800 cold cranking amps (CCA). CCA is defined as the amount of draw a battery can sustain for 30 seconds at 0 deg F without significant voltage drop.

So right off the bat, a $89 battery can provide TWICE the necessary amps for 30 sec as the winch could draw in a worst case scenario at ZERO DEG F!!

So power is not an issue.

Now lets talk energy. Or the total amount of work it can do.

This battery has a 60 amp-hour rating. That means that it can put out 60 amps (or 720 watts) for 1 hour. You wouldn't want to do this often because it would impact the life of the battery.

But lets pretend that you run your winch for 6 minutes at an average load of 3 hp or 183 amps.

6/60 = 0.1 hours

183 amps x 0.1 = 18.3 amp-hours.

So using your winch with a $89 battery for 6 minutes at an average load of 6000 lbs will draw 18.3 amp-hours of energy. 18.3/60 = .305%.

Or in other words in the above scenario you will use 30.5% of the capacity in that $89 battery.

Keep in mind that we are making a lot of worst case assumptions.

0 deg F battery temp
6 minutes of pulling
6000 lb of time averaged pulling force.
At a 30 ft/min average line speed,., we are talking about 180 ft of winching at 6000 lbs load.

However, battery output is not linear.
Once you start to drop the voltage, you will have issues with the winch via low voltage.
You will have some natural voltage drop through connections and the cable itself (ideally, not a lot- but still.....)
Consider a battery at about 12.4 volts is only sitting at 70% charge.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why? What is the advantage to using a separate battery?

You can have it close to the winch if you have a receiver winch mount. No need to run 15+ feet of cable

 

[Mac]

You can have it close to the winch if you have a receiver winch mount. No need to run 15+ feet of cable

IMO disadvantages and inconvenience of having a separate loose battery far outweigh the one time install of a couple cables.

 

[rharr]

or you can buy enough cable and connectors to wire up a plug for a rear hitch for the cost of a marine battery.

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