Bedsides= tree magnets! Seriously considering a rear winch!

[RAM4ROKS]

Went wheeling this weekend, had a LOT of fun!!! Didn't get any pics though, there was a person taking pics but they were up at the front of our group and never got as far back in the pack as I was. There was a LOT of slick mud that caused me to have to get the back end of my truck winched sideways to get my bedsides off trees 3-4 different times. That was fine because I purposely put myself in a spot in our lineup of rigs where there was a Jeep with a winch behind me. BUT, got to thinking- without the luxury of a winch equipped friend behind me, I would have been screwed!!! Yeah, I probably could have gotten out BUT, my bedsides would be toast and my taillights would be hanging out broken! So that has me contemplating a rear winch, anybody else running one? Anybody have any pics of their rear winch mounting and bumper??? I'd like to do a high clearance setup that still retains a hitch, that's going to make packaging VERY tight, anybody got any ideas? Thanks!!!

[Trouble Maker]

I'm thinking about getting a receiver mount one for the few times I might need one. May beef up the stock receiver so it will take more of a side load at the same time.

[Cactus Red]

A More Power Puller is an option I've considered. Used with an extension and pulley, it will do the job for the few times I've needed one.

http://www.baileysonline.com/shop.axd/P ... Mgod5lcA3g

[dogcar3]

Here is my setup:



Here is the winch:
http://www.runvacanada.com/usa/95xs.htm

It is a short drum (only thing that would fit while keeping the stock hitch) winch and a VERY tight fit. I bought a generic wireless remote and installed it as well. The winch can drag my truck on dirt with all wheels locked. I am very happy with it so far especially the price. If I do any planned/major winching I use the big guy up front. Sorry I do not have any underneath pictures. But my stock spare leaves about a half inch of room between the winch case and rubber. I did have to bend the free spool handle in a little tighter in order for me to be able to use it.

I also carry an 8,000lb come-along as a backup. The bumper is a Dodge Off Road weld it yourself kit.

[MSCH2112]

i had a 9.5 warn hitched to my 05' pw. Worked great, but electrical cable is expensive that distance from battery. i stored it in the bed ATTACHED because something that big sliding around could kill a guy.

mike

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Here is my setup:



Here is the winch:
http://www.runvacanada.com/usa/95xs.htm

It is a short drum (only thing that would fit while keeping the stock hitch) winch and a VERY tight fit. I bought a generic wireless remote and installed it as well. The winch can drag my truck on dirt with all wheels locked. I am very happy with it so far especially the price. If I do any planned/major winching I use the big guy up front. Sorry I do not have any underneath pictures. But my stock spare leaves about a half inch of room between the winch case and rubber. I did have to bend the free spool handle in a little tighter in order for me to be able to use it.

I also carry an 8,000lb come-along as a backup. The bumper is a Dodge Off Road weld it yourself kit.

That's freaking slick. Yet another thing to add to the mod list I'm not sure I'll need but want.

[fbenross]

A More Power Puller is an option I've considered. Used with an extension and pulley, it will do the job for the few times I've needed one.

http://www.baileysonline.com/shop.axd/P ... Mgod5lcA3g

I might have to get one, a real money saver. People spend money around here like they have a printer ! "Not that there's anything wrong with that" ...quoting Seinfeld.

[verdesardog]

I have contemplated something like this but have not had the opportunity to justify the cost yet.....

http://www.lewiswinch.com/

[MOPARManiac]

A More Power Puller is an option I've considered. Used with an extension and pulley, it will do the job for the few times I've needed one.

http://www.baileysonline.com/shop.axd/P ... Mgod5lcA3g

That is awesome, so much better than a come along. I will be saving up for one of those.

[cruz]

I usually travel alone and I've been contemplating putting this together for about $600. Some times you just can't keep going forward.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... S%2fB97281
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... =S%2fB2811
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... S%2fB35210

[Cactus Red]

We have an XRC8 Comp on the Jeep, and it's a strong winch. That would make a good setup for you. I would however, suggest you buy welding cable and make your own cables. To me, 1, 0, or 1/0 would be the minimum gauge wire I'd run. The wire above looks like 4 or 6 to me!

Power Pole connectors are available to handle the connection at a much higher rating too. http://www.andersonpower.com/products/p ... -hp-b.html

[leo72987]

I usually travel alone and I've been contemplating putting this together for about $600. Some times you just can't keep going forward.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... S%2fB97281
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... =S%2fB2811
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-Winc ... S%2fB35210

You know that's a pretty cool idea and it would fit perfectly in a tool box. I may consider this combo down the road as well for my rear receiver.

[MOPARManiac]

That is a good idea. That winch cord is actually pretty reasonably priced. Another idea is to go to Lowes, etc. and buy some 6 gauge 2 wire SO cord. It has the heavy rubber insulation on the outside. I have 50 feet in 4-3 I use for extension cord for my welder. 6 gauge would be fine for running a winch like that.

[MOPARManiac]

I have been thinking about the receiver mounted rear winch. With the voltage drop running the long cord to the rear of the vehicle, I think that a deep cycle battery at the rear of the vehicle would be the way to go. It could charge when not in use and then the winch could be hooked up directly to that battery. That would help with the voltage drop and the winch would be more efficient. I am just not for sure where the the battery would go. Maybe a side mount tool box between the tailgate and wheel well would work, or a box to the left of the spare tire if there is room?

[MSCH2112]

when i had the warn 9.5 hooked up in the rear of my 05' pw i didn't experience any significant voltage drop in the winch the few times i used it. i noticed it was easier to pull backwards than forward with the front winch. probably cause i was tracing my route back out of the mud/snow. since i'm not going to install it on the 12' pw i've been meaning to put it on craigs list.

mike

[Cactus Red]

Voltage isn't the primary problem, it's the amperage draw. At full load, it would really like 400 Amps, and small gauge wire won't carry that.

[RAM4ROKS]

Thanks for the responses y'all!!! Some VERY good ideas to think about!!!! MSCH2112- I really like that mounting for the portable winch when it is not in use, good thinking!!! dogcar3- That is an awesome looking rear bumper and great thinking on running a short drum compact winch, sweet setup!!!

I think I am going to have to with an in the bumper mounted one as it has literally been a 90 degree pull that I have had to have each time. I am at a loads as to how things are going to fit though as I want to move my hitch upward and forward quite a bit. I guess it will be a matter of getting the winch and the hitch (likely gonna modify a generic 15K capacity RV hitch) and just test fitting them until they sit right.

^Or, what do y'all think or running a rear winch and D-ring mounts but making the hitch removable? I could just take it off before I wheel and have the winch and D-rings as my recovery points, thoughts??? In the year and three months I have owned the truck, I've yet to use the hitch as anything other than a recovery point so, if I had other recovery points, I would not have to bolt it back on often, LOL!

Thanks!!!

[dogcar3]

If I did not have the winch taking up the part of the bumper that holds a ball, I would remove the factory hitch. I do not pull anything over a couple thousand pounds and the bumper would be able to handle that. But since I do have the winch, I still need a spot to hook a trailer too.

[MOPARManiac]

Voltage isn't the primary problem, it's the amperage draw. At full load, it would really like 400 Amps, and small gauge wire won't carry that.

If the voltage at the winch motor goes down (which it would with a long run even with very large gauge wire), then the current draw will go up. This makes the motor less efficient and can cause overheating, loss of torque, etc. The best thing for a rear mounted winch would be for a rear mounted battery. For no more than I would use a setup like that it is impractical and cost prohibitive IMO.

[twistedpw]

Just woundering if any one has thought of using your highlift jack. It's a free rear winch cause you have it anyway. When I got mine I went for the 60" xtreme so I had more length for pulling not for lifting, I just keep about 80' of various straps for pulling and a spare 90' of 7/16 cable. ( three 10'x4" tree straps, one 30' x 6" strap and a 20' x4" strap) and two snatch blocks and more clevis's than needed to fit it all together

[RAM4ROKS]

Just woundering if any one has thought of using your highlift jack. It's a free rear winch cause you have it anyway. When I got mine I went for the 60" xtreme so I had more length for pulling not for lifting, I just keep about 80' of various straps for pulling and a spare 90' of 7/16 cable. ( three 10'x4" tree straps, one 30' x 6" strap and a 20' x4" strap) and two snatch blocks and more clevis's than needed to fit it all together

I don't have one! DOH!!! I should get one! (but, right now, there's no way to use it to lift my truck, I could only use it for other purposes)

But, IDK how well it would work since I need to be able to possibly drive the truck while the rearend is pulled sideways. (in fact, at one point, I had my winch pulling my truck forward as my buddy's winch pulled the rearend sideways!) The easiest situation in which to pull the truck sideways is in slick mud but, sometimes, I have needed to winch it whilst still having traction so- I've noticed to get the truck to go sideways whilst winched (on a traction giving surface) is to shift into 2wd and power brake it so the back tires spin and the rearend can easily be pulled sideways. (yeah, I sometimes get myself into a real pickle!)

[RAM4ROKS]

On a separate note, I have been looking at adding an auxiliary fuel tank. I'm thinking like a Wrangler tank or a custom made tank. (so as to allow the fitment of the rear winch) So, I have a few question categories:
1)How tall is the stock fuel tank? (from top of the pump assembly tubes and wires to the bottom of the tank?)
^I ask that because I am thinking that I could figure out a way to run a stock fuel pump. For several reasons: redundancy, ease of wiring, and ease of use (I'm assuming the stock pump is in tank and that using one would allow a way of running the stock gauge as well)- I am thinking that I could splice into the stock tank wiring and add a switch, that way I can just switch from the stock tank to the auxiliary tank. I would also tie the lines into the stock fuel lines as well. (with cutoffs to keep the fuel from going from the auxiliary tank into the stock tank rather than up to the engine)
2) do YJ or TJ wranglers (or something else with a similarly sized stock tank) happen to run the same pump and sender unit as our trucks?
^would be nice to find a tank that could be plug and play with a stock pump and sender unit!
3) for emissions compliance, I would want to route the vent for the auxiliary tank to the existing evaporative emissions system (charcoal canister)- will the stock setup be able to handle another 20 gallons worth of fuel capacity? Or would there be a way to splice in a second charcoal canister? (but how would the PCM be able to utilize a second one???) Or, is there another stock application charcoal canister for a larger fuel system (like one from a gas powered medium duty truck) that could be used instead of the stock one to add capacity?
4) Anybody else running an auxiliary tank? How are you doing so? How have you tied them into the stock system?

Just a heads up-
I have looked at the Titan spare tanks- they are listed as being for diesel ONLY. (and they hang down 2", and won't allow for winch mounting)
I have looked at the Aerotanks tanks- they can be used with gasoline (I think) but, have same issues for me as the Titan tanks would.

[MOPARManiac]

Just woundering if any one has thought of using your highlift jack. It's a free rear winch cause you have it anyway. When I got mine I went for the 60" xtreme so I had more length for pulling not for lifting, I just keep about 80' of various straps for pulling and a spare 90' of 7/16 cable. ( three 10'x4" tree straps, one 30' x 6" strap and a 20' x4" strap) and two snatch blocks and more clevis's than needed to fit it all together

Yes, Hi-Lift has the Off-Road kit: http://www.hi-lift.com/accessories/off-road-kit.html

It would work in a pinch.

I really like the hand winch that Cactus Red posted w/ the synthetic line, but if you already have a Hi-Lift then the ORK kit would be more economical.

[twistedpw]

As much as I am like every one else and want a rear winch my highlift is mine for now even though you may not be able to skid the truck sideways you can use it to keep it from going any farther. One of the nice things I have found with my side impact bumpers (ie. rock rails) is using them for side winching. I slid off the road this winter and couldn't winch myself out with out caving in the pass side of truck. I ended up using all my rigging and using highlift attached to rock rail to keep the ass end of the truck from continuing down the ditch into more trees as the winch pulled forward. Wish my wife would have taken a pic instead of freaking out about the truck being where it was, lesson learned " unassumed road. use at oun risk " roads may mean "no road under snow" , guess it washed out last year

[RAM4ROKS]

Oh wow! That sounds like an interesting situation to find oneself in!!! My wife would be freaking out!!!!
"no road under snow"- LOL!!!