Can I wire winch controller to aux switches?

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

Have a Smittybilt XRC Gen 3. The winch controller that plugs into the winch to operate it is stuck and won't pull out of the winch control box/solenoid thingy. This is the second time this has happened and last time Smittybilt sent me a new controller and solenoid box. Now, even if Smittybilt sends yet another replacement, I am terrified to plug the controller into the winch in case it gets stuck yet again. Should have read Amazon reviews before buying this winch last year because there are several reviewers having the same issue. SO, can I just cut the cord on the controller and wire the controller wires to my aux switches? The winch itself is still wired directly to the battery - I would just be wiring the winch controls to the aux switches and ditching the endlessly defective winch controller. The controller itself can't draw too many amps, I assume? Anyone done this? Is there a major problem with doing this? Your advice is most appreciated!

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Have a Smittybilt XRC Gen 3. The winch controller that plugs into the winch to operate it is stuck and won't pull out of the winch control box/solenoid thingy. This is the second time this has happened and last time Smittybilt sent me a new controller and solenoid box. Now, even if Smittybilt sends yet another replacement, I am terrified to plug the controller into the winch in case it gets stuck yet again. Should have read Amazon reviews before buying this winch last year because there are several reviewers having the same issue. SO, can I just cut the cord on the controller and wire the controller wires to my aux switches? The winch itself is still wired directly to the battery - I would just be wiring the winch controls to the aux switches and ditching the endlessly defective winch controller. The controller itself can't draw too many amps, I assume? Anyone done this? Is there a major problem with doing this? Your advice is most appreciated!

You'd be stuck controlling the winch while sitting in the seat. Not a good idea at all!
How will you control the wind-up of the winch rope? How will you ensure it's going in smoothly and straight, how will you know when to stop it rolling in?
Too many risks and very limiting.
Myself, I like the wireless remote of my Badland Apex winch. I can watch every aspect of the winch working - from a safe distance, and when rolling the rope back into the winch or tensioning it after use, I can tweak the rope in by watching, holding the ribbon on the hook and drawing it in slowly and stopping it at just the right moment. You can't do that sitting in the cab.
How about getting a decent winch. It would be safer.

Seriously, do you want to have to sit in the Jeep and operate the winch blindly?

You have the winch wired directly to the battery without a cutoff switch or solenoid to kill power to the winch up front?

 

[sharpsicle]

The points @ShadowsPapa raises are important. Winching isn't something to do from the comfort of the driver's seat. You want better visibility and better control than you're going to get from inside the cabin. I feel like it's just asking for trouble.

As for the real reason you're asking, replacing the defective controller, I would try and wire up a different controller first. If it's as simple of an interface as it sounds where you could use aux switches, you should be able to do that and still use it as intended.

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

You'd be stuck controlling the winch while sitting in the seat. Not a good idea at all!
How will you control the wind-up of the winch rope? How will you ensure it's going in smoothly and straight, how will you know when to stop it rolling in?
Too many risks and very limiting.
Myself, I like the wireless remote of my Badland Apex winch. I can watch every aspect of the winch working - from a safe distance, and when rolling the rope back into the winch or tensioning it after use, I can tweak the rope in by watching, holding the ribbon on the hook and drawing it in slowly and stopping it at just the right moment. You can't do that sitting in the cab.
How about getting a decent winch. It would be safer.

Seriously, do you want to have to sit in the Jeep and operate the winch blindly?

You have the winch wired directly to the battery without a cutoff switch or solenoid to kill power to the winch up front?

I was hoping you'd reply!! Thank you!

As far as knowing the wind-up of the winch rope and ensuring it's going in smoothly and straight, and when to stop: I would need my passenger to be outside the Jeep when winching and providing me feedback. I know this is not ideal, but it beats having a winch controller with a 10-foot cord dragging along the ground as I drive for the next few years because it won't detach.

I have the winch installed exactly per the instructions that came with the winch. The winch control box has a solenoid in it (Smittybilt also sent me a new solenoid right after I installed the winch last year when nothing worked after installation. Then the winch worked). Yes, this is the THIRD problem I've had in the year that I've owned this product. First the allegedly "bad solenoid" now the second irremovable controller (Warn winch owners: insert "buy once, cry once" comment here).

So, yes, I would need a "spotter" when winching. And the winch is installed per manufacturer's directions (with YouTube help, too).

So the question remains: can I cut off the stuck winch remote control and wire the remote's wiring to the aux switches?

 

[sharpsicle]

I know this is not ideal, but it beats having a winch controller with a 10-foot cord dragging along the ground as I drive for the next few years because it won't detach.

Honest question, but if the issue is the controller connector seizing in the winch, why don't you make your own disconnect point? You'd leave a small pigtail of the original cable attached to the winch, and then put on your own plug a few inches down the line. You could then disconnect it regardless of if the original connector is seized. That would be way easier, wouldn't it?

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

The points @ShadowsPapa raises are important. Winching isn't something to do from the comfort of the driver's seat. You want better visibility and better control than you're going to get from inside the cabin. I feel like it's just asking for trouble.

As for the real reason you're asking, replacing the defective controller, I would try and wire up a different controller first. If it's as simple of an interface as it sounds where you could use aux switches, you should be able to do that and still use it as intended.

Hmmm...I guess I could buy a new controller, cut off the wires going into the stuck controller, and wire on the new one. I guess I'd have to find a way to plug and unplug a new controller to the winch control box since the current controller plug is not seemingly permanently attached to the winch control box.

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

I was hoping you'd reply!! Thank you!

As far as knowing the wind-up of the winch rope and ensuring it's going in smoothly and straight, and when to stop: I would need my passenger to be outside the Jeep when winching and providing me feedback. I know this is not ideal, but it beats having a winch controller with a 10-foot cord dragging along the ground as I drive for the next few years because it won't detach.

I have the winch installed exactly per the instructions that came with the winch. The winch control box has a solenoid in it (Smittybilt also sent me a new solenoid right after I installed the winch last year when nothing worked after installation. Then the winch worked). Yes, this is the THIRD problem I've had in the year that I've owned this product. First the allegedly "bad solenoid" now the second irremovable controller (Warn winch owners: insert "buy once, cry once" comment here).

So, yes, I would need a "spotter" when winching. And the winch is installed per manufacturer's directions (with YouTube help, too).

So the question remains: can I cut off the stuck winch remote control and wire the remote's wiring to the aux switches?

Attached is the manufacturer's wiring instructs and warning not to install any other way.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Honest question, but if the issue is the controller connector seizing in the winch, why don't you make your own disconnect point? You'd leave a small pigtail of the original cable attached to the winch, and then put on your own plug a few inches down the line. You could then disconnect it regardless of if the original connector is seized. That would be way easier, wouldn't it?

Great idea. Darn, wish I had thought of that simple solution.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Attached is the manufacturer's wiring instructs and warning not to install any other way.

They are fools and not thinking of the safety considerations.
Can't think of too many who have done winches who would install without a cutoff switch or a solenoid disconnect.
You do NOT want battery power up at that front bumper. Someone runs a light and WHAM, you've got fire up front.

They are likely just covering their own butts - all of the good winch makers even include or sell switches or solenoid kits for making sure you don't have live power at that winch all the time.

Some winches come with a switch like this one - other places sell them. They are specifically for winches, for heavy loads. They obviously won't cause a problem if a winch manufacturer includes them in the box.

I did this on my 2020 ->

And on my 2022, I used a solenoid - sold by WARN. Warn is a winch maker. If they believe you should use a disconnect, they'd not sell them for use with their own winches. Warn is a good, trusted brand ->

As far as "can you" - yeah, but the rest of the response - should you? no.

And wiring directly to the battery - bad, really bad.

I certainly hope it's not directly to the negative battery terminal, but is at least on top of the IBS.......

And always run the idle up - either JSCAN, Tazer or someone with a foot on the gas.

That's another good reason for a disconnect under the hood - you are forced to open the hood to turn the switch - the open hood is a safety shield between winch work and anyone in the cab.

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

They are fools and not thinking of the safety considerations.
Can't think of too many who have done winches who would install without a cutoff switch or a solenoid disconnect.
You do NOT want battery power up at that front bumper. Someone runs a light and WHAM, you've got fire up front.

They are likely just covering their own butts - all of the good winch makers even include or sell switches or solenoid kits for making sure you don't have live power at that winch all the time.

Some winches come with a switch like this one - other places sell them. They are specifically for winches, for heavy loads. They obviously won't cause a problem if a winch manufacturer includes them in the box.

I did this on my 2020 ->

And on my 2022, I used a solenoid - sold by WARN. Warn is a winch maker. If they believe you should use a disconnect, they'd not sell them for use with their own winches. Warn is a good, trusted brand ->

As far as "can you" - yeah, but the rest of the response - should you? no.

And wiring directly to the battery - bad, really bad.

I certainly hope it's not directly to the negative battery terminal, but is at least on top of the IBS.......

And always run the idle up - either JSCAN, Tazer or someone with a foot on the gas.

That's another good reason for a disconnect under the hood - you are forced to open the hood to turn the switch - the open hood is a safety shield between winch work and anyone in the cab.

Well, I guess I will install an isolater. Not sure why Smittybilt would warn me not to install any other way than using their instructions, but it doesn't seem like it could hurt. In the mean time, making my own pigtail like Sharpsickle suggested should work to deal with the stuck-in controller.

 

[Jaxmax]

I looked at the instructions you have a pretty nice remote control, light and pull indicator lights and all, why is the metal connector stuck, do you put any grease on it? Are you closing the cover up when not in use, is the release lever not working. Corrosion, and dirt can cause problems did you try disconnecting the battery connection and trying to spray WD-40 or some penetrating oil in the socket, socket should have grease on the metal parts as the pins are in plastic, I would try that first, before cutting into the wiring, a lot of winch instructions tell you to tie directly to battery, but that is a different problem. I would fix what you have, there are pretty many posts here with Smittybuilt winches that they sounded happy with them….Jack

 

[Blade1668]

Just a few questions;
How many wires is in that controller?
Can post a picture of problem areas?
More than a few of us have had a lap or two around winches. Some of us might even have a winch addiction, and had same problems in past.
A "trick" I've used many times to add power or other stuff is trailer wiring pigtails, there is 4,5,6,7 wire ones flat and round. Or even SAE plug with 2.
if you don't want to add a solenoid you can just use a Anderson connectors and have one coming off battery under hood with second one right next to battery to connect. Just placed in area like in ShadowsPapa picture.
If anyone wants to throw shots of "just buy a Warn" take a long walk off short pier. Sadly I've seen many of them fail, with the exception of 8274 classic. But in some areas even that one.

 

[cranbiz]

The simple answer is yes you can. You need to make the switches momentary contact. There have been many excellent points brought up in this thread. I wouldn't have the in cab switches be the only way to control the winch. For many reasons, that is not a good idea.

When I had a winch hard wired in my JK, I installed an additional plug on the solenoid box for the switches. This way, I still had the wired remote for outside work or the internal switches for when winching the Jeep out of trouble.

My new Apex winch is not hardwired in as it has the wireless remote ability. I find that works very well.

 

[Stan H]

You'd be stuck controlling the winch while sitting in the seat. Not a good idea at all!
How will you control the wind-up of the winch rope? How will you ensure it's going in smoothly and straight, how will you know when to stop it rolling in?
Too many risks and very limiting.
Myself, I like the wireless remote of my Badland Apex winch. I can watch every aspect of the winch working - from a safe distance, and when rolling the rope back into the winch or tensioning it after use, I can tweak the rope in by watching, holding the ribbon on the hook and drawing it in slowly and stopping it at just the right moment. You can't do that sitting in the cab.
How about getting a decent winch. It would be safer.

Seriously, do you want to have to sit in the Jeep and operate the winch blindly?

You have the winch wired directly to the battery without a cutoff switch or solenoid to kill power to the winch up front?

Shadowspapa is right that could be extremely dangerous . If what you winching comes down on the jeep or the jeep rolls over while winching you would be in a bad situation. Not being able to see what's going on and how the vehicle is tracking could prove to be fatal.
The only way this would even remotely work is with a camera on the winch to roll it back up. Or have a spotter with you at all times I mean all times it could possibly be utilized. Just My Humble Opinion. I think I would approach Smitty built again get a replacement winch controller. Safety as always.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The simple answer is yes you can. You need to make the switches momentary contact. There have been many excellent points brought up in this thread. I wouldn't have the in cab switches be the only way to control the winch. For many reasons, that is not a good idea.

When I had a winch hard wired in my JK, I installed an additional plug on the solenoid box for the switches. This way, I still had the wired remote for outside work or the internal switches for when winching the Jeep out of trouble.

My new Apex winch is not hardwired in as it has the wireless remote ability. I find that works very well.

I love the fact that it works wirelessly so you can stand a safe distance or walk with the controller to spot-check what's going on, and so on.
If the controller batteries fail - plug the controller in. Still a pretty long cord to keep you safely not next to the rope/cable.
There are places you don't want to be when putting that rope/cable under a load.
There are times running it from in the cab is fine - and times it's just not wise. I've had cable pile up on a spool because I couldn't see it happening - jammed up the winch, had to unwind and rewind because it couldn't pull any more cable in. That was years ago, but I remember it as a reason to watch that cable/rope going in as well as what else is going on.
Frankly, with some winch operations, you need your eyes in 5 different directions.

I like the thinking of cutting the jammed up cord a ways from the winch and installing a disconnect so you could still unplug the controller when needed. There's only so many wires and there's a whole lot of connectors that can be bought - some of them weather-proof or at least weather-resistant.

Sometimes you just need to use that winch and you are the only one who can be there to watch things as someone else watches the other end......

He steered the car while I walked around my truck, watching the rope, the snatch block/pulley, made sure the rope spooled back into the winch evenly, just generally kept track of things while he steered the car. I could give him directions, left, right, straight, whatever. Couldn't easily do any of that from inside the cab.
Man I love that wireless controller.

Sponsored