Electric Winch Advice

deererunr · Feb 5, 2008

For those days that I don't happen to have on my loader or backhoe, it would be nice to hook onto a tree and pull myself out of a mud bog with an electric winch. Even with 4 wheel drive on a JD3120, it's amazing how easy it is to get stuck with this thing. I have the idea to mount an electric winch to the front base plate. If anyone has done this, I would appreciate you sharing pictures, information regarding electrical connections or requirements, minimum winch size, etc...

mopacman · Feb 5, 2008

When stuck in mud it can take a winch two or three times the weight of your tractor to pull you out. I have been told that a winch on the front is to take you some place you should not go. A winch on the back is to pull you out of some place you should not of went. I think that is a good idea but I would make it so I could move it to either place.........Larry

albmn10 · Feb 5, 2008

Hello Deere, I mounted a 8000lb Warn winch to my brush guard, i have a pic under another current thread of my tractor in the Kioti room. That pic was taken before i finished the mounting. What i did was built a small frame and attached the winch to the top of my brushguard, bolted it down with all grade 8 hardware and then used two 5/16 chains, one on each side of the brush guard back to the loader frame. I found a nice coated ( orange ) chain at Home Depot that acutally came out pretty neat. Sorry i dont have a pic of the finished product but you get the idea. The shear strenth of the hardware is probably 2 times more then my winch is rated for. The thing you have to be careful of is clearence from the loader of the winch hook when not in use. I managed to fit mine in pretty well. Perhaps this weekend i can take a few pics... Matt

RollTideRam · Feb 5, 2008

You might want to look at the specs of the winch you want, and see what the amp draw is. Also look and see what kind of amps your alternator puts out. I have a quick mount winch on my Suzuki Samurai, that weighs a little over 3k. I use a bigger battery than what came in my tractor and have a 105 amp gm alternator. When pulling, I have to pull several feet then stop to let the battery recharge. Another winch you might look at is the MileMarker hydraulic winch. JC

john_bud · Feb 5, 2008

If you search, there is at least 1 thread doing exactly this.

jb

TimC · Feb 11, 2008

I'd make sure that your tractor's electric system is up to the task.

Cost wise, you might be better off getting a 2T or bigger come-a-long and some chain. I have one just in case, and have used it on my CK25 to pull the tractor back up onto the road bed it just slid off of. Mine's decently constructed and cost $50 at Lowes.

sandman2234 · Feb 11, 2008

I am also not a big fan of electric winches on a tractor. Way too hard on the electrical system, even for minor use. The best way is to go with a hydraulic winch, since you have plenty of that on your tractor.
David from jax

cubowner · Feb 11, 2008

I have a superwinch 2000 on my atv and use it all the time when plowing to raise and lower the plow. Works great i have also used it to pull my tractor out of trouble when getting stuck. I don't notice any electrical issues when using the winch. Also if you get a winck get one that is aited for a atv these types use less power . So the electrical demand will not be great.

TimC · Feb 11, 2008

cubowner said:
Also if you get a winck get one that is aited for a atv these types use less power . So the electrical demand will not be great.

The electrical demand is not that great because the pull is ~2500lbs for a LARGE ATV winch. Such a winch is not even close to suitable for a tractor the size of a 3120.

I do like the idea of a hydraulic winch, never really thought of that. It'd be easy to rig something up to use off of one of your remotes...

To answer the OP's question about sizing... Warn Winch claims that the minimum winch size for a truck should be 1.5x the weight of the vehicle. That's the minimum. Most applications its better to be in the 2x range.