I bought a new winch. The winch has a 6 hp motor, is rated @ 12,000 lbs and draws 320 amps max. I am trying to decide which route to take so I can move the winch receiver mount to the rear if the need arises:

A) Run huge a** cables from the main battery to the rear receiver?

B) Buy a new lead/gel battery and mount it in driver's side wheel well storage compartment? This would require a small 12VDC to 12VDC battery/float charger.

It seems the most common solution is A. Both solutions cost about the same. If any of my H2 brothers have gone through this same situation please feel free to chime in. Thanks.

 

I have a Hyd in front and an elec in rear so I don't swap... but....

I didn't buy the warn cables, I made my own. It works well. I ran them to the rear along the framerail.

That 320amps is max pull amperage with a single wrap of cable... I doubt you will see much of that at all.

I ran the 175amp connectors... which ironically is what warn sells.

 

The 175 amp info you posted is very helpful. Do you remember the gauge of the wire you used? I have a set of battery cables that are 4 gauge which are too small IMO. A local guy has some 2/0 stranded wire for a good price (cheaper than 2 gauge @ retail) so I am considering going that route.

The one big advantage I can think of with option A is once the wire is installed it pretty much lasts forever. Not so with a battery. But a secondary battery has its own advantages, too. I am leaning toward option A.

 

For that long of a run and that kind of amperage I would not personally run anything smaller than 1 OT and run the negative back to the battery. Do not ground a winch negative cable to the frame! I would also be thinking about getting dual batteries up front.

 

Understood. I did say, "cables" (plural). But I agree. Grounding that size of load to the frame would be asking for trouble.