Winches Whats a good location for an electric winch?

[dickfoster]

Since I have a mostly never used (used once) 9500 lb winch laying around, I thought I might install it on the tractor somewhere. It's a 1538TLB so there isn't a lot of space. It's pretty tight up front with the loader and the backhoe rules out the rear. Has anyone done this or have any great ideas? It seems like it could be a handy addition for dragging logs, stumps etc. or maybe even pull the tractor out of bind. The frame sure does look solid enough.

 

[George2615]

Someone else recently posted about installing a winch of a similar size on their tractor. I'm sure a mount can be made to support it but your tractor charging system will not have the power to run it. If you do decide to install this on your tractor you'll also need to find a spot to add a couple of fully charged deep cycle batteries to power the winch.

 

[teg]

On a truck... To sum up a couple of other posts, too much amps, not enough charging ability with your tractor, and wimpy batteries.

Best solution, build a 3 point hitch that can hold a couple deep cycle batteries (that you charge over night). Have yet to see anyone build one... also, the line speed on those winches are painfully slow. :2cents:

{Edit} Oops, too slow typing...

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

It's a bad idea. Surprising how many people lately are asking about running electric winches on their tractor (including me mounted on a skidding plate) Electric winches have a HUGE draw on the electrical system, well beyond what a tractor can supply. Even if you were to mount a couple extra batteries to go with it, the charging system is still not there.

My B3300 only has 12.5 amps from it's alternator. In my off-roading days, I was running a 180 amp with my 9500 Warn and still had to keep an eye on the charging gauge. I dismissed the idea as soon as I found out how small the alternator really is and that it's $350 if I fried it. Mine is fast and would have been a perfect fit for my logging winch but in the end, not worth it

Edit: Apparently I was even a couple minutes slower than teg......

 

[George2615]

Just an FYI to the OP. I have a 9000# winch on my tilt bed trailer. It runs on a separate trailer mounted battery for the short pulls I use it for such as winching a rolling vehicle onto the trailer. A rolling load doesn't draw the amps that dragging or skidding a load would. My truck alternator is 150 amp. I have a 10 gauge charge wire from the truck to the trailer which charges the trailer battery when towing. It is protected by a 30A auto reset breaker. My truck battery, alternator, and charge wire alone are not capable of running this winch without that extra battery on the trailer.
My tractor has an 85A alternator and a small battery. It may power a small 2K winch but not a 9K.

 

[dickfoster]

Someone else recently posted about installing a winch of a similar size on their tractor. I'm sure a mount can be made to support it but your tractor charging system will not have the power to run it. If you do decide to install this on your tractor you'll also need to find a spot to add a couple of fully charged deep cycle batteries to power the winch.

Well I never run the winch in my truck with just the alternator but the alternator does put out 90 amps, which is more than I expected. The stock battery looks to be a healthy size too, it's also larger than I expected. If the battery becomes a problem I'll replace it with a AGM battery or maybe two. I have a dual battery setup in my truck which I set up for rock crawling and I have a couple of spare AGM batteries should that become necessary.

I'm not worried so much about the electricals, as I am about where to mount the thing. I'd never attempt to use it like you would a real purpose built PTO logging winch. Just for an occasional pull when the need arises.

 

[dickfoster]

On a truck... To sum up a couple of other posts, too much amps, not enough charging ability with your tractor, and wimpy batteries.

Best solution, build a 3 point hitch that can hold a couple deep cycle batteries (that you charge over night). Have yet to see anyone build one... also, the line speed on those winches are painfully slow. :2cents:

{Edit} Oops, too slow typing...

I'm well aware of how much current a winch can pull or try to pull under load and that I can deal with. Been, there done that. I was just wondering about where to put the thing.

 

[George2615]

You can probably build a modified 2" receiver and mount it on or under your brush guard. Bolt the winch to a cradle mount that slides into the receiver with the loader raised and connect to the tractor battery. There is a big safety issue involved about getting under a raised loader to install the winch into the receiver. A thought crossed my mind about mounting the winch to the QA loader mount but a strong pull could tweak or bend the loader arms.

 

[dickfoster]

It's a bad idea. Surprising how many people lately are asking about running electric winches on their tractor (including me mounted on a skidding plate) Electric winches have a HUGE draw on the electrical system, well beyond what a tractor can supply. Even if you were to mount a couple extra batteries to go with it, the charging system is still not there.

My B3300 only has 12.5 amps from it's alternator. In my off-roading days, I was running a 180 amp with my 9500 Warn and still had to keep an eye on the charging gauge. I dismissed the idea as soon as I found out how small the alternator really is and that it's $350 if I fried it. Mine is fast and would have been a perfect fit for my logging winch but in the end, not worth it

Edit: Apparently I was even a couple minutes slower than teg......

Actually this alternator is pretty decent at 90 amps, much more than I expected. I've also had stock 60 amp alternators redone to put out 120 amps and it's not that expensive at about $100. You just have to know who does a good job of it and they just happen to be right down the road from me.

If push comes to shove I have a big high output Powermatic alternator laying around. Come to think of it, I could even add the spare underhood welder that I also have just laying around taking up space.

I guess rock crawling leads to collecting a lot of extra stuff and spending money your wife best not know about.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

90 amps? Wtf! I never would have guessed that. If I had 90 on mine, I'd use my HS9500i on my skidding plate and not be that worried. Hmmm, maybe I should look into adding a bigger alternator rather than trying to find a decent PTO winch or a cough, reasonably priced hydraulic one

 

[dickfoster]

Just an FYI to the OP. I have a 9000# winch on my tilt bed trailer. It runs on a separate trailer mounted battery for the short pulls I use it for such as winching a rolling vehicle onto the trailer. A rolling load doesn't draw the amps that dragging or skidding a load would. My truck alternator is 150 amp. I have a 10 gauge charge wire from the truck to the trailer which charges the trailer battery when towing. It is protected by a 30A auto reset breaker. My truck battery, alternator, and charge wire alone are not capable of running this winch without that extra battery on the trailer.
My tractor has an 85A alternator and a small battery. It may power a small 2K winch but not a 9K.

I know all about the electrical stuff. I'm a retired EE and have installed and used winches. I have just not put one on a tractor before.
Here's a pic of the truck showing the winch installed in the front bumper.


and here's a pic of the dual battery setup I made for it. Yes, I gold plated the solid copper buss bars so they would not turn green.

 

[George2615]

Great wiring job. I wasn't aware of your creds till this post so wiring isn't going to be a problem for you. It's just a matter of where and how to mount the winch. I still like the receiver type front mount if you can figure out how.

 

[dickfoster]

90 amps? Wtf! I never would have guessed that. If I had 90 on mine, I'd use my HS9500i on my skidding plate and not be that worried. Hmmm, maybe I should look into adding a bigger alternator rather than trying to find a decent PTO winch or a chough, reasonably priced hydraulic one

Well I guess that would depend on how much you intend to use it. No electric winch is ever going to do the work of a good PTO winch nor for anywhere near as long before your battery is all pooped out. Electric winches under load pull hundreds of amps or at least try too before your electrical supply is exhausted. For off road use all you usually ever need is an occasional tug to get you out of a jam. However I did use the winch in my truck to skid and deck some logs summer before last at the cost or needing to replace my ball joints. A PITA job to be sure so I won't be pulling that silly stunt again.

 

[brasco426]

I know all about the electrical stuff. I'm a retired EE and have installed and used winches. I have just not put one on a tractor before.
Here's a pic of the truck showing the winch installed in the front bumper.
View attachment 461764

and here's a pic of the dual battery setup I made for it. Yes, I gold plated the solid copper buss bars so they would not turn green.
View attachment 461765

Holy Cow Dick nice job! I'll just bug you if I have an idea lol.

 

[dickfoster]

Great wiring job. I wasn't aware of your creds till this post so wiring isn't going to be a problem for you. It's just a matter of where and how to mount the winch. I still like the receiver type front mount if you can figure out how.

Yeah that would be nice if I had the space for it. That way you could maybe move it to the rear if you needed it although not with a cat1 hitch. Of course the backhoe would have to be removed for that. I was hoping one of you geniuses had run across and solved this little problem before. Far be it from me to reinvent the wheel and I've seen a lot of folks do some interesting stuff on this board so far.

 

[Oldpath05]

I put a 9000 lb DC Northern Tool winch on my L3400 in (08). Used mostly to help pick up my 3 point PTO winch when I have a couple logs on it. I probably don't need it this big, but at $300.00, why not. Now that I hear that the winch draws to many amps, and my battery not big enough, my alternator is not big enough, probably wont work now.
This not in a good place for getting a tractor unstuck, for that purpose, I'd mount a winch up front behind the steel grill/bumper.

 

[Oldpath05]

I know all about the electrical stuff. I'm a retired EE and have installed and used winches. I have just not put one on a tractor before.
Here's a pic of the truck showing the winch installed in the front bumper.
View attachment 461764

and here's a pic of the dual battery setup I made for it. Yes, I gold plated the solid copper buss bars so they would not turn green.
View attachment 461765

Is that front end modified? lot of articulation going on there, nice pic.

 

[Oldpath05]

"I was hoping one of you geniuses had run across and solved this little problem before."

I'm no genius, yea I know, I was disappointed to when I found that out, but here's a pic. of my front heavy duty grill/bumper, for me that would be a good place to mount a winch. You should have something like that on your tractor.

 

[teg]

I put a 9000 lb DC Northern Tool winch on my L3400 in (08). Used mostly to help pick up my 3 point PTO winch when I have a couple logs on it....

Moving a couple of feet vs. "...for dragging logs, stumps etc..." is two different tasks.

Helping to lift the 3 point hitch... what a foot or two maybe? Have you run your hitch to the max cable???

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to hear that it can do it... Can you test it out skidding a log or stump???

PS. cool as heck roll cage :thumbsup:

 

[TSO]

"I was hoping one of you geniuses had run across and solved this little problem before."

I'm no genius, yea I know, I was disappointed to when I found that out, but here's a pic. of my front heavy duty grill/bumper, for me that would be a good place to mount a winch. You should have something like that on your tractor.

Your tractor looks like something out of Mad Max... I like it!