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Old 04-01-2012, 09:48 AM   #1
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Portable winch wiring

Anyone use a portable winch (i.e. one that mounts in your receiver)? I'm sort of wondering how best to wire it up. It comes with a separate solenoid that I could either mount in a vehicle or on the winch plate itself, which seems the best solution. Ideas?

Rob

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Old 04-01-2012, 02:18 PM   #2
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Re: Portable winch wiring

Do you have a front mounted winch?
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Old 04-01-2012, 03:39 PM   #3
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Re: Portable winch wiring

No; that's the point: it's portable. If you're not familiar they mount onto a plate on a 2" tube which mounts into any standard 2" receiver. Of course the receiver has to be able to handle the pull. But the benefit is that it can be used on more than one vehicle or on either end.

Rob
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Old 04-01-2012, 04:56 PM   #4
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Re: Portable winch wiring

Very familiar with them, which brand?

I would make sure it can be used in both front and back ideally, also find a nice place to "mount it" when not in use.
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Old 04-01-2012, 05:49 PM   #5
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Re: Portable winch wiring

It's a Terra 45, Superwinch.
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Old 04-01-2012, 05:52 PM   #6
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Re: Portable winch wiring

I always thought they would be inconvenient in terms of space, attached or not. Also lugging a winch around to the receiver is not my idea of possible. Depending on what you're stuck in, you may not be able to get the winch attached. I mean if you're getting stuck in ways that you can only winch backwards, you're already out of scope of a portable winch anyway, methinks.

For farm truck, great. SMB, not so much.
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Old 04-01-2012, 06:38 PM   #7
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Re: Portable winch wiring

Not really for SMB use; only weighs about 45 lbs with mount.
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Old 04-01-2012, 06:55 PM   #8
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Re: Portable winch wiring

The installation instructions tell you to mount the solenoid as close to the battery as possible. That would put it up front. I would put the rocker switch up by the solenoid and battery. Unless you want it on the dash somewhere. You will need to mount the remote control plug on the reciever plate next to the winch. Unless you get a second plug from Superwinch and mount one permanently on the front and rear of the van.

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg ... /14469.pdf

You are going to have a long cable run between the battery and the winch when its on the rear of your van. The instructions say to use 6 gauge wire. I would be a little suspect of that considering the length of the run to the rear. You will also have a long run for the remote control plug when the winch is on the rear of your van. I would increase the size of the wire to compensate for the length of the run to the rear.

It looks like you are going to need to find 2 different types of quick disconnect connectors. One for the positive and negative to the solenoid and another probably smaller gauge quick disconnect for the remote contorl wiring. Unless you go with the second remote plug wiring.

Keep us updated with the progress of the wiring job. It looks like an interesting one. I'm curious to see what kind of quick disconnect connectors you end up with.
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Old 04-01-2012, 11:06 PM   #9
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Re: Portable winch wiring

I would just skip the whole interrupt thing since you can just unplug the +/- to disable it. I'd put the solenoid and, therefore the plug for the controller, on the plate with the winch despite what they say about the battery. Get thicker wire to run to the front and back and then superwinch quick connects in the front and rear. +/- connector in one, everything else on the plate.
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Old 04-02-2012, 05:25 AM   #10
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Re: Portable winch wiring

I can tell you (from experience) that you can call the Superwinch tech support about these questions and get valuable feedback. Where will you mount the winch when not in use?
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