Winch Battery

I've researched this quite a bit. Im not an overlander nor do I intend to get into it. I recreationally wheel. Just getting around to installing a winch bumper, warn vr10 and 30 inch baja designs onx6.

Its been recommended to go with X2 deep cycle battery, but will be rare that night driving or winching is needed. Is there other recommendations that anyone has on batteries that can power said accessories? Or just go with X2 battery?

 

Your regular starting battery is fine for winching. No need to buy another. That said those X2 AGMs are not actually true deep cycle so they'd work fine, too. A true deep cycle wouldn't like being asked to source a ton of current for winching.

 

North Star its not cheap. However, if you’re really want to prepare for the blackswan go for quality.

 

You might want to move up one step on CCA's with a new battery the next time you need one. But nothing special is needed.

 

I ran the oem battery winched several times and have some lights never had a issue just kept the truck running when pulling.
It finally died to heat I’ve got a agm now you can get a duarlast platinum 24f from auto zone for like 200 good little battery and sweet warranty.

 

Is no one recommending Optima anymore? I know they moved plants out of country, but are they truly garbage now?

 

Last time I had an Optima, it was a Red top, and it took a dump on my in the middle of nowhere, I couldn't even jump start it. Turns out one of the internal cells or whatever they're called shorted out. I decided to never buy an optima again. I buy whatever has the best replacement/warranty and I have zero complaints.

 

Seems like the 60 month warranty x2 or Northstar stuff is the way to go? But Autozone is available everywhere... thoughts?

 

X2 is a great battery but I wouldn't swap out your stock battery until it craps out on you. LED's are not a large draw, I have seen people leave one rock lights, bed lights, and ditch lights on for hours at a time and the truck starts right up the next morning. As far as wrenching goes I have always made sure that the engine is running while I'm wenching.

 

Stock battery is fine. I always run the engine and shut down all non essential electrical loads (lights, heater blower, etc) while winching and I've never had any battery issues. FYI the LEDs draw very little.... 6-8A, maybe, for a full bar. That's like two cell phone chargers. You definitely don't need a upgraded battery for that, even if you ran it constantly..

 

The light bar I am installing runs close to triple that? Baja Designs Onx6+ 30"

Specifications:
Lumens: (High) 31,910 (Low) 25,450 Utilizing 18 Cree LEDs
Wattage/Amps: (High) 281W / 21.7A (Low) 225W / 17.1A

 

Hmm, that's more draw than I would have thought, but I stand by my statement. 20A is still nothing in the overall scheme.

 

Everyone with a toyota is born an overlander. Sorry bud

 

Only thing I will add to the above, is if you do go for an AGM (Northstar or X2 Power are good common choices) you'll want to consider a voltage booster. The stock charging voltage from a Tacoma isnt high enough to keep AGMs fully topped off. This unit seems to be the most common choice on this forum, and Ive been running it for several months now without issue. I do keep the stock 7.5A Alt-S fuse in the glove box just in case.. Before that I would have to top my batteries off about once a month with my battery tender set to the AGM mode.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alternator...Toyota-FJ-Cruiser-Tacoma-4runner/222611866643

As a side note, Northstar and X2 Power are made in the same factory. And last time I looked the X2 carried a better warranty.

 

Costco sells Interstate batteries at great prices.