I have a Warn on the front, but sometimes it's necessary to go backwards and a lot of the people I wheel with don't have winches...I'm the gueane pig for the bottomless pits.

So, I got a HF 8000lb winch and plate for $309. 3/8" cable too. I'll weld a 2" ball hitch upside down under the plate for the receiver.

My question, since I'd like for anyone to be able to use it, is if I use heavy duty jumper cables spliced into the short leads from the winch, will the clip melt the lead lugs on the main battery cables? The winch draws 100amps at 2000lbs, 285amps at 8000lbs.

Any other thoughts and suggestions welcome. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />Thanks

Also, what gage cables would be a safe minimum?

EASY fix! First measure what you need and then go down to the welding store and purchase welding cables in the needed length.. You will want 200amp wire. While there you could pickup some plugin fittings for welding. These carry lots of amps and are convenient to use... Jumper cables are too small and will melt at the first using in most cases.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Jim, I knew someone would have a better idea than the jumpers. And there's two welding supply houses w/in blocks of my house. Please explain the plugin fittings...Is this a male/ female connector type thing? Connect one side to the battery lugs and plug the winch in when needed? If it was to work on several vehicles I could buy a few sets of the plugs. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

DBL, you're a great guy! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> Not everyone adds a second winch just to help those four wheelers in the group who are too cheap to buy their own winch! What some guys do for rear winching is to install a pulley system under the rig to allow the front winch line to be run under the Jeep to the rear. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Yes the welding supply should have a good assortment of m/f plugs. It is common to run the cables inside a WATER HOSE closely attached to the frame from front to rear. This should protect them from various rubbing and such on the trail.
Once setup the winch could be used front or back with a short pigtail to plug into the existing plugs on either end. Thataway only one winch would be needed and it would go to either end of the Jeep as needed.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />It's not all altruistic....I want them to be able to haul my <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> back out of some of those holes! Don't think I'd really want to mess with a pully system under there once down in it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Thanks BJ, I'll check out what they've got. It's not getting any permanent wiring; it'll be used by whoever needs it. I'll need to mount a set of plugs in my Jeep and the GF's. The rest of them can pay for their own. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I'll have to get a measurment on the full size PU's to see how much cable it'll need.

BJ, I looked at those plug in fittings. They'd work fine for one or two vehicles, but I'd like for anyone to be able to use it. Would a couple of good welding type ground clamps work to connect to the battery terminals? Or will that winch draw so much that it cooks 'em?

Not around my vehicle they wouldn't!
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I'm being dense here, but was that a big time, definite, DON'T DO THAT! ??