Winches and power drain

[ovrszd]

Yes there are cheap winches that dont free spool, But I dont recall or heard of a ATV winch that dont free spool.

Friend of mine has a cheap Chinese winch that doesn't. Can't remember labeled name.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yes there are cheap winches that dont free spool, But I dont recall or heard of a ATV winch that dont free spool.

Thing is, many of those cheapo winches make their way to ATV's by the owner trying to save $...

SR

 

[John_Mc]

I have a 3500# winch on my ATV (a cheapo Harbor Freight Badlands winch). Per the owner's manual, it draw 20 amps when running with no load, 81 Amps @ 1000# load, 232 amps @ 3500# load. So it's no surprise that a bit of winching will easily drain a typical ATV battery in short order.

 

[ovrszd]

I have a 3500# winch on my ATV (a cheapo Harbor Freight Badlands winch). Per the owner's manual, it draw 20 amps with no load, 81 Amps @ 1000# load, 232 amps @ 3500# load. So it's no surprise that a bit of winching will easily drain a typical ATV battery in short order.

Good stuff right there!!!

That's why I suggested searching the winch and the ATV's electrical abilities. Real quick you realize that you can't winch very long regardless of winch brand or ATV brand. They are not equipped with a charging system that will support that.

The cheaper the winch the higher the amp draw under load. That's one of the reasons there's a price difference.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

They are not equipped with a charging system that will support that.

The cheaper the winch the higher the amp draw under load. That's one of the reasons there's a price difference.

And also a lower duty cycle on cheap winches!

SR

 

[ovrszd]

And also a lower duty cycle on cheap winches!

SR

Yep. It's very complex if you expect to use it to capacity.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have a HF 12K Badland winch and a Warn 12K winch, they are night and day different!!!

SR

 

[ovrszd]

I have a HF 12K Badland winch and a Warn 12K winch, they are night and day different!!!

SR

Yep. I paid $1,300 for the Warn winch on my off road buggy. It rocks!!!! High cable speed. Minimal amp draw.

Also have a slightly cheaper, $1,100 Warn winch on my driver Jeep. It also rocks. Slightly slower cable speed. Minimal amp draw.

 

[Oldpath05]

I have a HF 12K Badland winch and a Warn 12K winch, they are night and day different!!!

SR

Wow really I would've thought the Warn winch would be better then HF.

 

[Oldpath05]

Thing is, many of those cheapo winches make their way to ATV's by the owner trying to save $...

SR

I have this 12,000 lb cheapo winch on my tractor for ten years from Northerntool so far it's worked great and would you believe it only draws 5 amps of non stop continuous use..........
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200672562_200672562