What are the hidden costs to adding a winch

I’m hoping the ones that have installed a winch and enlighten me on the hidden costs of installing one. TW let’s talk this thru

 

You might want to consider adding:

“to adding a winch”

to your thread title so people know what you’re asking.

 

Done

 

Hidden costs as in money costs or like the cons of adding a winch?

 

Hidden costs other then the cost of the winch... IE electrical upgrade

 

You'll probably want an upgraded alternator to go with a winch; they can draw over 300A on hard pulls.

 

When I added my ARB bumper.....it was a no brainer.....

winch ready.......Smittybilt 9500# steel rope.......$268

but then.....changed front coils......$200.......extra 195#

So I figure my total cost was bumper & foggers.....$1180

Winch......$268......Labor was $200 IIRC to my mechanic bud.....

Coils & labor.....$400......buy once/cry once......right ?

 

Thank you for this already have a winch ready bumper so I got that step done

 

Upgraded front springs for the weight, gusseted bumper support brackets, and I plan to upgrade to a dual battery system with an override to draw power from both at once for winching.

Cannot speak to the alternator comment. I have never heard of that.

 

Tree savers, snatch blocks, shackles? I have been researching this myself. Depending on the brands the extra recovery stuff can get expensive too unless you already have them.

 

I have some of the recovery stuff already

 

the big three is a must with a new alternator correct?

 

When your life depends on it, you don't want to skimp on recovery gear. Cost is higher, but it's proven and will get you and your rig home.

 

Lead acid storage batteries cannot be fully discharged without permanent damage (cell reversal) and voltage would drop as the battery is discharged. The battery would have to supply any surges but a bigger alternator will allow you to pull longer and recharge the battery faster.

 

Yes, you'll want upgraded cabling as well but that part isn't too expensive.

 

Right but it’s a “hidden cost” in my mind

 

Bare minimum, some recovery gear that might be used when winching as well as good technique. Gloves (if you got steel wire), D-rings and soft shackles, tree saver, snatch block, and extension line (in that order probably). Brands such as Smittybilt that make a good product without breaking the bank.

Otherwise Id say the biggest cost is a better battery. A step above that would be dual batteries that you can override and tie together when winching

I dont think a bigger alternator is really worth it. Most winches in the 9.5k lbs class that we would use on these trucks probably pull anywhere from the mid 300 to mid 400 amp range when under full rated load. No alternator will put out that much, the rest will have to come from the battery. The alternator will replenish as the truck runs after winching.

 

Not sure about the alternator. Most trucks, mine included have a tow package which includes a better alternator. A more powerful battery might not be a bad idea. My F150 is 6 years old on the factory battery. I just installed a winch and will replace the battery before winter and go with the biggest one that will fit under the hood. I know some guys run dual batteries but most people do just fine without doing anything special electrically.

I was able to use a hidden mount on my Ford which eliminated the need for heavy bumpers. I paid $200 for the mount, $300 for the Smittybilt 9500 lb winch. My winch and mount combined is only 120 lbs. If I'd gone with synthetic rope it would have been less than 100. I can't tell any difference and don't feel the need to upgrade the suspension. On a lighter Tacoma, especially with a heavy winch and bumper hanging out in front maybe so.

I plan to add a 2nd winch for the Tacoma in the future. I'll go with the same winch and synthetic rope to keep weight down and mount it in a receiver mount. It will only be stored in the bed and mounted when needed, probably only from the rear. I MIGHT add a 2nd receiver mount for the front, but doubt it.

I already have straps and shackles. If I go with the rear receiver hitch I'll have to run some longer cables to make it reach the battery.

 

upgrading the alternator is pointless, spend your money on a dual battery setup or just a bigger battery.

 

The "tow-package" alternator for the Tacoma gives you 130A which is not much more than what you get otherwise. There aren't too many alternators that put out more than 300A but it will still allow you to maintain a higher voltage for longer than a 70Ah battery would. The voltage of a lead acid battery drops significantly when heavily loaded and should not be brought below 50% of a full charge unless you want to risk cell damage. I guess that I'll just have to agree to disagree with those who state a higher output alternator is useless but a battery with a few more Ah of capacity is worth the money.