Winch Question

[RJ]

I want to buy a Warn M8000 winch for my TJ. I've got the 4 cylinder engine so I think my alternator is not the best. With a regular battery and the stock alternator will I be okay or should I get an Optima and some sort of a stronger alternator?

What are y'all running with yours?

 

[/dev/null]

I have a M8000 on an Optima Red top- good match. Not sure if the 4 cylinder alternator is a lesser model than the 4.0L model. In either case, you'll be fine.

 

[Used-TJ]

I've been running the stock battery with a winch for the last 4 years, haven't had any problems yet. Some of the pulls have been hard enough to stall the motor.

 

[Josh]

I've never stalled the motor like Dave but I've used my M8000 with the stock battery for a 5-6 months now w/o problems. Probably 10 pulls or so.

When the stocker dies, that's the time to upgrade.

 

[bandittyj]

Ryan, I ve got the 9000 and I still run the stock alt. I do however run a red top Optima. If I remember correctly everything seemed to work pretty good pulling you out a few times \/

 

[RJ]

If I remember correctly everything seemed to work pretty good pulling you out a few times \/

Just remember who got pulled up the hill by 2 "people" :lol:

 

[Rubi04TJ]

The alternater on a four cylinder is 90 amp, If you want to proctect that alternater everytime you will need to install some type of throttle control or stay on the gas the entire time you are winching. This will allow the alternator to replenish as much of the drain it is losing.

The six cylinder is a 130 amp alternator and it is STILL highly recommended to do the same although you see above people have been doing it without any problems yet.

If i were you and had the money now, i would by the optima and then not worry about it again.

 

[Marty]

I've been running my 9.5ti with a regular battery since I got it. I use mine a great deal and have never had any issues other than knocking down an occasional tree now and then..

imp:

 

[jon]

ummm I thought the Blue top was a cross between the red and the yellow.
red is a starting battery, and yellow a deep cycle battery. starting batteries don't like to be fully dsicharged while deep cycle ones do..

also I know YJs never came with a 130A alternator, 90A for everything.
I believe its the same for TJs as well, although I have seen some with a 75A. I know a favorite swap to get a 130A alternator for a 4.0L equiped vehicle with the nippondenso style alternator is a V8 dodge dakota

 

[/dev/null]

To be honest, I got the red by chance because it was on sale at AutoZone, it's still better than a stock battery. Does the job, I have to deal with cold starts in the dead of winter more than winching.

 

[jon]

I just looked up the specs at optima.

yellow is a dual use starting and deepcycle as you said.

blue is marine, it comes in BOTH starting and dual use - starting/deep cycle. It seems like the blue top just means it has the extra posts.