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2012 Winch Install

14K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  AZduck 
#1 ·
Looking under my hood today, and I see that the 2012 has a battery 'compartment' with no clear way in for winch power cables. I've seen photos of quite a few 2012 Wranglers with winches - how is everybody doing the power? Pictures and details, please. TIA
 
#6 ·
With dual battery posts?

I was going to switch the battery from my YJ that I also 'stole' the winch off, but the battery posts are reversed. The JK harness doesn't have any slack to be reversing posts, so I'll just have to get a new battery. The Duralast battery in my YJ is good, so maybe one of those. Or I might go with the Optima in a blue or yellow. I want good sustained power as I'm staying with a single battery for now, and want all the juice I can get for my winch. How are you liking your yellow top so far?

I have my new bumper now. I've finished relocating the vacuum pump (the bumper came with a nice kit from Off Road Fabrication) and got started with the winch plate. I only have a few hours each afternoon, and the monsoons have 'washed out' the last couple days. Here's a pic of the relocated pump, up between the PCM and ABS units.
 

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#9 ·
Here's my '12 battery connections. Both wires route up against passenger fender, positive wire is shielded by an additianal protective plastic wire loom. Make sure your wires are not rubbing against anything, and that there are no pinch points.
 

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#12 ·
Both leads didn't seem to want to go thru the same slots, so the return cable came along the passenger fender while the hot lead found its way thru on the other side of the fuse box. Here they are ready to hook up. I'll add a chunk of wire loom around that hot lead too.
 

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#15 ·
NEVER hook a winch to the side terminals of your battery. Most side posts are connected by simple straps that are NOT capable of handling the load of a winch. VERY FEW batteries are designed to handle it on the sides.
 
#16 ·
that never occurred to me. sounds plausible tho. anybody else have experience or knowledge of that? the winch on the YJ was hooked to the side posts, and the well-used cable says it was used several times by the previous owner.

I've also seen some batteries with a secondary set of terminals on top of the battery - are they also hooked up with light straps? Seems like the extra post would be on a bus with the primary post, but that would be the costly approach...

I think I'll just go with a high-amperage battery. Anybody have a preference for the 12 and 13 JKs? I liked the Duralast in my YJ just fine. It was rated about 25% higher than the battery I replaced.
 
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