Winch add to my Toolcat

[Mudninja]

I have gotten my Toolcat stuck so many times in the 4 months that I’ve had it that I decided to go ahead and add a winch to it so I hopefully don’t have to find help every time to free myself.
I added a receiver up front right above the tie down point. The winch can’t stay there obviously while in use so I added a holder off to the drivers side. Still need to finish the wiring but when it is complete I’ll be able to put it in front or in rear receiver to help me get out.

 

[Mudninja]

Added switch in the dash and port for tethered remote below seat. It is long enough to reach front or rear.

 

[groundcover]

And with the cab there's room for a wench too !

 

[aelsnow]

That's a nice modification.

I carry a winch on my rear receiver hitch, mounted on a RoughCountry cradle.

I don't have it permanently wired, but it's quick to power up. I added an Anderson power connector off my battery that hangs out the side vents behind the driver door, so I can quickly connect a power cable from the battery to the winch w/out having to lift the bed (which is full of sand buckets!).

 

[Mudninja]

That's a nice modification.

I carry a winch on my rear receiver hitch, mounted on a RoughCountry cradle.

I don't have it permanently wired, but it's quick to power up. I added an Anderson power connector off my battery that hangs out the side vents behind the driver door, so I can quickly connect a power cable from the battery to the winch w/out having to lift the bed (which is full of sand buckets!).

That’s a good thing to have in emergencies. Nice work.

 

[mmancuso13]

Very nice - love the mount!

 

[3FFarms]

That's a nice modification.

I carry a winch on my rear receiver hitch, mounted on a RoughCountry cradle.

I don't have it permanently wired, but it's quick to power up. I added an Anderson power connector off my battery that hangs out the side vents behind the driver door, so I can quickly connect a power cable from the battery to the winch w/out having to lift the bed (which is full of sand buckets!).

Can you post some photos of your setup? I like both your setup comments and the OP's as I just picked up a used Toolcat and have already gotten stuck in my soft soil around one of my barns. Had to get creative with bottle jacks and 4x4 posts to get here out. A Winch would help in future situations.

 

[3FFarms]

I have gotten my Toolcat stuck so many times in the 4 months that I’ve had it that I decided to go ahead and add a winch to it so I hopefully don’t have to find help every time to free myself.
I added a receiver up front right above the tie down point. The winch can’t stay there obviously while in use so I added a holder off to the drivers side. Still need to finish the wiring but when it is complete I’ll be able to put it in front or in rear receiver to help me get out.

Great idea! Already got mine stuck in mud on day 2 of ownership. How far away did you weld the holder from the boom arm? Any issues you ran into with welding a mount there before I look to go this route?

 

[ruffdog]

These traction boards helped me get my TC unstuck.

https://www.amazon.com/BIGTUR-Off-R...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[aelsnow]

Can you post some photos of your setup? I like both your setup comments and the OP's as I just picked up a used Toolcat and have already gotten stuck in my soft soil around one of my barns. Had to get creative with bottle jacks and 4x4 posts to get here out. A Winch would help in future situations.

Sure, here are pictures of my winch + external power setup. The wiring is not as permanent as @Mudninja's installation, and he has the advantage of mounting the winch on the front or rear (!), but this solution requires minimal modifications. If I used the winch a lot, I'd do a more permanent wiring solution, but this is fine for my needs for now.

• I used 2 AWG wire and a 175A Anderson connector to create an external plug from the battery, passing it through one of the vent holes on the side of the Toolcat. I added a cut-resistant protective sleeve (the grey sleeve on the wires in the first picture below) to the 2 AWG wire where it passes through the side vent to ensure the body panel won't cut the wire insulation. I use an Anderson weather-proof cap to protect the connection from snow/mud/grime.
  
  
• I mounted a Warn 12K winch on a RoughCountry cradle, and mounted it on the rear receiver hitch.
  
  
• I cut the winch's 2 AWG wires and installed a 175A Anderson connector at the winch.
  
  
• I made a 12' 2 AWG "jumper cable" with 175A Anderson connectors on both ends to connect the winch when I need it. 12' gives enough length to drape/coil into the bed when I'm using it without worrying about securing the cable to the body. I called Warn tech support to confirm which gauge wire to use (wire calculators online indicated I needed 4/0 wire!). Warn techs confirmed 2 AWG is sufficient because the winches only pull max amperage for a split second on startup. I store the 12' cable coiled behind the driver's seat.
  
  
• The winch has a wireless and wired remote, and I can use either from the driver's seat (passing the wired remote lead through the rear side window).