Have you measured the lengths? The long black cable is the ground and goes straight to the negative on the battery while the red is supposed to be hooked up to the Disconnect switch then to the positive battery post. Will let others chime in on gauge wire to use. Some of the info on the 1/0 is due to the length of the wire being run from the winch to the disconnect/battery since it may be installed on something other than the front bumper of a Jeep.

 

Wire size depends on length of wire and how many amps carried. Read this short article and see the chart. I always go 1 size larger to make sure it will always carry the load and not overheat.
Automotive Wire Amperage Capacity Chart - Jasco Automotive Ltd

 

So it's telling me
The Badlands ZXR 9500 lb winch can draw a maximum of 380 amps at 9500 pounds of line pull.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Max Amp Draw: 380 amps
  
  
• Line Pull: 9500 pounds
  
  
• Typical Draw: A 9,000-pound winch will draw 60-70 amps with no load, 250 amps under a 4,000-pound pull, and nearly 480 amps at 9,000 pounds.

 

RUN THE BIGGEST CABLE YOU CAN.

Use a hydraulic crimping tool and the correct HD eyelets of the correct internal diameter for your bolted connections. This is not a trivial exercise. Plan ahead and procure the correct parts.

Also solder and double heat shrink all your end connections.

 

RUN THE BIGGEST CABLE YOU CAN.

Use a hydraulic crimping tool and the correct HD eyelets of the correct internal diameter for your bolted connections. This is not a trivial exercise. Plan ahead and procure the correct parts.

Also solder and double heat shrink all your end connections.

So you recommend 4/0 cable?

 

So prob looking at lime 12" from battery to switch, then switch to winch I'll say like 7' same as neg wire just so I got room to route cables. Can't see it being any longer then 7' and I'm sure that might even be over kill.

 

Why would you not run 2/0 wire? For seven feet? What is the incremental cost? Dollars to a donut?

Just run what we all know will work and stop guessing.

My 2 cents.

Best wishes,
AE

 

Why would you not run 2/0 wire? For seven feet? What is the incremental cost? Dollars to a donut?

Just run what we all know will work and stop guessing.

My 2 cents.

Best wishes,
AE

2/0 it is!

 

If you are mounting the winch on the front of your Jeep it will have plenty of length of wiring. I had a Badland 9500 steel cable winch on my Jeep breifly before switching to a Badland Apex 12k synthetic.

If your winch is brand new, I recommend you swap out the steel cable to for synthetic cable. It's so much easier to work with.

I still have a 9500 Badlands in my garage that I'm contemplating putting on a cradle and using on the back of my F150. Rough Country sells a short and long set of battery cables.

7ft

Winch Power Cable | Quick Disconnect | 7 Ft

Winch Power Cable | Quick Disconnect | 7 Ft

www.roughcountry.com

24ft

Winch Power Cable | Quick Disconnect | 24 Ft

Effortlessly power your winch with quick-snap disconnect cables featuring durable 2 gauge copper wiring for maximum power and reliability.

www.roughcountry.com

 

If you are mounting the winch on the front of your Jeep it will have plenty of length of wiring. I had a Badland 9500 steel cable winch on my Jeep breifly before switching to a Badland Apex 12k synthetic.

If your winch is brand new, I recommend you swap out the steel cable to for synthetic cable. It's so much easier to work with.

I've been considering it

 

the winch comes with cables for the battery. I have always used what it came with.

 

They aren't long enough the ones they supplied.

 

Merely a suggestion, and probably cheaper ways of doing it, but I used Warn’s disconnect kit and wired it to my switch panel. Works perfectly and has no power until I tell it to.

Amazon.com: WARN 62132 Power Interrupt Kit with Battery Lead, Hardware, Solenoid, Switch and Wiring : Automotive

Buy WARN 62132 Power Interrupt Kit with Battery Lead, Hardware, Solenoid, Switch and Wiring: Battery Chargers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

Merely a suggestion, and probably cheaper ways of doing it, but I used Warn’s disconnect kit and wired it to my switch panel. Works perfectly and has no power until I tell it to.

Amazon.com: WARN 62132 Power Interrupt Kit with Battery Lead, Hardware, Solenoid, Switch and Wiring : Automotive

Buy WARN 62132 Power Interrupt Kit with Battery Lead, Hardware, Solenoid, Switch and Wiring: Battery Chargers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I've considered that, i just saw that the cable from Rough Country is ordered won't hold up on amp but now ordered 2 10' 2/0 that i know will work. Such a pain in the butt lol

 

Just saw the RC.
Customers report amp ratings ranging from 350 amps to lower values. The product description does not specify an amp rating. Badland 9500 state at max amp it's pushing 380.

 

Comments on using a hydraulic crimper are a good idea. An auto part store may have one you can use . Cover the red(+) cable with a good quality wire loom covering
Route it carefully. Be sure it is away from pulleys, belts, hot engine parts. Watch for sharp metal edges it may rub against
Jeep installs up and to the right of the battery. Thats close to engine
One suggestion is to run it up then through the inside of the fender well and on the outside of the battery
There are a couple of youtube videos on this

 

Are you sure it's too short ? seems too short is not the same
Manufacturers will use a standard length as most installs are not exactly vehicle specific though yes there are some vehicle specific winch wires i just don't think Jeep Wrangler needs a custom length. My very first JK winch was a Badland 9500 and i don't remember having to buy anything extra for it, but this was back in 2016 or so i can't tell for sure. My smitty 9500 winch was plug and play and i know that's not JK specific.