Where to mount an auxillary battery.

Another idea would be to rig a hand throttle so when you use the winch you keep the engine running fast enough to keep the battery charged.

I second that motion!

Just remember not to put the winch on the side terminals of a battery. Folks have melted a lot of Optima's doing that.

-jenn

The alternator cannot begin to keep up with the demand of a serious electric winch. Dual batteries is far more viable plus it works even with engine is dead.

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

I use a hand throttle to keep my rpm up so the alternator is putting out good and have never had issues. Even on a three weekend long cleanup of an off road area where I was responsible for winching all the wrecks up onto the trail so the bigger rigs could drag them out.

I use an old fashioned manual choke cable as my hand throttle, you can get them cheap.

I believe you also can get dual battery trays for a TJ can't you?

Mike

Yes You can get duel batter trays for the TJ and the YJ. Here are a few links to give you a idea what you can do.

YJ

TJ

Some people have an addiction to drink... Some people have an addiction to drugs.... I just have an addiction to Jeeps and their accessories....

Here are a few pictures of my rig

I don't want to sound like a grammar Nazi, but "allot" is not used correctly in your post. You should use "a lot" in this case. :)

Chris

Another idea would be to rig a hand throttle so when you use the winch you keep the engine running fast enough to keep the battery charged.

Very nice!

Just remember not to put the winch on the side terminals of a battery. Folks have melted a lot of Optima's doing that.

-jenn

Boy oh boy, it's a good thing you told me that. I had planned on connecting it to the side terminals. Thanks Jenn!

Kate

I don't want to sound like a grammar Nazi, but "allot" is not used correctly in your post. You should use "a lot" in this case. :)

Chris

No problem, I'm never too old to learn. ;¬) Kate

Kate - Kilby's setup is the one I have in the MudBall.

RE hand throttle too....

-jenn

I use a hand throttle to keep my rpm up so the alternator is putting out good and have never had issues. Even on a three weekend long cleanup of an off road area where I was responsible for winching all the wrecks up onto the trail so the bigger rigs could drag them out.

I use an old fashioned manual choke cable as my hand throttle, you can get them cheap.

I believe you also can get dual battery trays for a TJ can't you?

Mike

I like the choke idea too. It could integrate right into the dash without looking like an add on.

I'm planning additional lights too. I thought that the dual battery thing might ba a good idea. It wouldn't cost THAT much and would be good backup.

Kate

NW Wrangler also makes a dual battery tray for whatever their batteries are. Dont have the link handy, but NW Wrangler is a Portland OR company. I have their isolator kit on my dual battery set up.

For a trick setup, you might want to cut off the normal battery connections on the battery wires and put on some big honkin round hole connectors, then get some marine-style battery terminals, that the cables attach to with a wing nut. It makes it easy to disconnect your battery without tools, and attaching the winch power leads are a snap.

Real Jeeps come stock with a hand throttle to operate their Power Take Off winch:

RE hand throttle too....

-jenn

Thanks Jenn... It looks like a good unit to me.

Kate

Good idea Matt... I'll throw it at the hubster.

Kate