gcam
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- alberta, canada
I've been told by guys in my local club, and have seen on here, that I need a high amperage alternator (160, or preferably 180 Amps) and an Optima yellow top gel-cell battery for my new 8000lb winch. But, a couple of things come to mind.
1. A 6000lb Ramsey winch was offered for the XJ from the factory, and an 8000lb winch was offered as a factory option for the TJ, yet these vehicles only came with a 90 AMp or 120 Amp alternator. Would the factroy risk cooking the alternator or the winch motor on a vehicle with factory warranty?
2. My service manager at the garage where I work is a long time, hard core off-roader. (1980 Chev stepside, on a military 5/4 ton frame, running 40"tires, D60 and 14 bolt, 500+HP big block, and a rock buggy on 2.5 ton rockwells, coilovers and running 53" military tires). He told me to pick up the highest amperage factory alternator I could find, and the highest CCA battery with the best warranty I could get. This, with good connections would adequately handle the winch. He said I didn't need a deep cycle battery as I am only an occasional off-roader, and won't be draining it again, and again, and again.
Shopping locally, I can get a 180 Amp alternator and Optima battery for $525 Canadian. They won't take my alternator as a core.
A rebuilt Grand Cherokee 136 Amp alternator (5 year warranty) and 800 CCA lead acid battery is $337, and they will take my alternator as a core, so about $310. The battery has a 5 year replacement warranty, and a 7 year pro-rated warranty. If I go the junkyard route for the alternator, I can be set up for about $200.
It's important to me to shop locally. I've comparison shopped over the net and once shipping and exchange rates are accounted for, the differences in price aren't enough to sway me. I like that if something breaks, I can walk back into the place where I bought it and get a replacement right away.
ideas, insights, opposite opinions?????????????
Thanks,
Geoff
1. A 6000lb Ramsey winch was offered for the XJ from the factory, and an 8000lb winch was offered as a factory option for the TJ, yet these vehicles only came with a 90 AMp or 120 Amp alternator. Would the factroy risk cooking the alternator or the winch motor on a vehicle with factory warranty?
2. My service manager at the garage where I work is a long time, hard core off-roader. (1980 Chev stepside, on a military 5/4 ton frame, running 40"tires, D60 and 14 bolt, 500+HP big block, and a rock buggy on 2.5 ton rockwells, coilovers and running 53" military tires). He told me to pick up the highest amperage factory alternator I could find, and the highest CCA battery with the best warranty I could get. This, with good connections would adequately handle the winch. He said I didn't need a deep cycle battery as I am only an occasional off-roader, and won't be draining it again, and again, and again.
Shopping locally, I can get a 180 Amp alternator and Optima battery for $525 Canadian. They won't take my alternator as a core.
A rebuilt Grand Cherokee 136 Amp alternator (5 year warranty) and 800 CCA lead acid battery is $337, and they will take my alternator as a core, so about $310. The battery has a 5 year replacement warranty, and a 7 year pro-rated warranty. If I go the junkyard route for the alternator, I can be set up for about $200.
It's important to me to shop locally. I've comparison shopped over the net and once shipping and exchange rates are accounted for, the differences in price aren't enough to sway me. I like that if something breaks, I can walk back into the place where I bought it and get a replacement right away.
ideas, insights, opposite opinions?????????????
Thanks,
Geoff