Winch Overkill? (Pictures Inside)

**WoodmanYoel** · 02-11-2014, 01:53 AM

So I finally got around to getting one of my christmas presents ready to go! I haven't had the chance to use it yet and I'm wondering how well the tongue of the dolly will hold up, but I'll soon find out. Do you guys think the winch is a little overkill? I did have the crappy 2ton worm gear manual boat winch that harbor freight sells mounted beforehand. Do yourself a favor and don't bother buying it because it crapped out after 2 cars and its not even worth scrap price. Pictured Below:

I purchased a Badland 9000lb winch from HF with a coupon in December - Total price: $247.00 after tax
3/8 plate from the local scrap yard & old truck receiver - Free
2ft of 2" 3/8 wall square tubing - $10
Box of Rods, Couple Disc's, Couple Cans of Paint - $45
Use of friends shop, stick welder, torches & plasma cutter for a day - $25.00 & Lunch

Grand Total: $327.00

Pictures Below:

2014-01-21_21-31-01_935 by woodmanyoel

2014-02-08_17-03-01_824 by woodmanyoel

2014-02-08_19-13-42_15 by woodmanyoel

I have my friends winch pictured on the dolly

2014-02-01_21-34-37_71 by woodmanyoel

I'm pretty excited to give it a go. I have been getting away with jacking vehicles up that dont run and backing the dolly under them. What a PITA.

I scored a couple lengths of #2 battery cable out of Buick skylarks that have the battery mounted under the rear seat. I gotta find the best way to splice them together to make one full run. I'm thinking I'll use a torch and some thick solder. Once I get the wire run to the rear of the truck I'll get a couple of these:

I'll run the system directly off from the truck to avoid placing large draws on the winch when the standalone battery gets low - which I'm told can damage the winch.

Which brings up another topic - I wanted to know what other people who run the BL winches are doing about the relay that is located on the positive wire? How do you insulate it and keep it from grounding out on the truck? I want to see how warm it gets under heavy use.. if its not to bad I think I might just plasti-dip the entire thing.

The next step is to get a trailer & get this mounted for trailer use also. The winch plate is 2" tubing so I can mount it to the back receiver or the front of the truck (after the 8" channel bumpers get fabricated.. that's a project for the near future). This allows the thing to be used on anything I put a receiver tube on. I'm hoping its more than an enough for what I'm planning on using it for (cars & getting unstuck if the need ever arises) but if I had to - can someone suggest where to get a decent snatch block that is fairly priced?

Thanks!
-WoodmanYoel

**lousypirate** · 02-11-2014, 07:42 AM

check the offroad forums for anything you need to know about badland winches.

Badland winches - Harbor Freight? Are they junk? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Badland winch - Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest

**Patriot76** · 02-11-2014, 09:42 AM

Let us know how it works. I got the same one for Christmas, but have not taken the time to mount it. Mine is still in the box so if yours does not work, I will send mine back.

**lousypirate** · 02-11-2014, 10:05 AM

FWIW: I was going to put a 12k badlands on my off road truck... that I am currently parting out.

**SuperDave** · 02-11-2014, 02:06 PM

looking for a set of Anderson connectors myself. Awesome article here: Heavy Duty Winch Install With 'Extras'... - JeepForum.com

**WoodmanYoel** · 02-11-2014, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Patriot76

Let us know how it works. I got the same one for Christmas, but have not taken the time to mount it. Mine is still in the box so if yours does not work, I will send mine back.

I've read mixed reviews - but what I think I'm going to do is buy another one with a warranty since I didn't get it the first time. Return it to another location with my old receipt and then work the hell out of this one for the next two years =)

**joef1812** · 02-11-2014, 05:46 PM

The badland winches are ok, just don't run thern too hard for too long. They have a real low duty cycle. Make sure they have time to cool off. Pulling a car onto a trailer you should be ok. If you are pulling logs out of the timer afternoon they won't hold up, but not much will unless you go hydraulic.

**cummins** · 02-11-2014, 07:50 PM

there is no such thing as winch over kill.....bigger the better

**RustnGrease** · 02-11-2014, 10:21 PM

I agree with Cummins, never can have enough winch. Just be sure what it's mounted to will handle the stress. It's bad enough if the cable itself would break, but if the winch rips off the mount it becomes a very large and heavy projectile. Also I've seen snatch blocks at tractor supply or try AWdirect, they sell alot of things for towing companies. Hope this helps!!!

**thortek** · 02-11-2014, 10:24 PM

Looks Great! Have fun!

**nuttingbutjunk** · 02-11-2014, 11:02 PM

Get you a solar charger

**skylinejack** · 02-12-2014, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by joef1812

If you are pulling logs out of the timer afternoon

What does that mean???

**joef1812** · 02-12-2014, 11:45 AM

all afternoon I should have put got typing to fast. I had a badlands winch mounted on my truck and I was dragging logs for firewood with it for several hours and I burnt the winch up. Got another one mounted on the trailer after the warn went out and haven't had any problems. If you make your winch removable from the trailer I would recommend sitting it somewhere dry when not in use

**Bear** · 02-12-2014, 02:39 PM

insufficient wiring could also lead to overheating. I'd prefer some overkill on that one too

**joef1812** · 02-12-2014, 03:29 PM

very true if you are making it removable heavy welding leads work well

**WoodmanYoel** · 02-13-2014, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by joef1812

very true if you are making it removable heavy welding leads work well

2ga wire?

**Bear** · 02-13-2014, 01:20 AM

I'd go along the line of battery/jumper cable type, with good solid connectors

**joef1812** · 02-13-2014, 08:32 AM

mine are thicker then that at least 2/0 but I had some pieces in the shop anyway

**WoodmanYoel** · 02-13-2014, 10:24 AM

I got a 20ft length of 0 gauge wire - but I was told that it was way over kill (was a power cable for a straight truck to the 4000lb lift gate). So I scrapped it and went with 2 gauge wire. Its standard battery cable size so its more then sufficient enough. A system is only as strong as its weakest point.

**Jvcr1** · 02-13-2014, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by cummins

there is no such thing as winch over kill.....bigger the better

I agree, they just don't have to work as hard this way.

Also one could just mount a battery on the front of the trailer in a battery box as well, ...just make sure it's charged before you go for a pick up.
You may also be able to set up a trickle charge from the trailer harness connector in the same fashion as the trailer brake battery.

Winch Overkill? (Pictures Inside)

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