Florida Man Doing Jeep Crap

[Mguy]

Thanks Mike! I’m first going to run out some line and pull it in with just my mild pressure on it, to see what the solenoids do. With a large-diameter snatch block on a 12K winch though (albeit I didn’t strip off that much line), I expected minimal strain. Perhaps the force of breaking 4-6” of oak with the top end of the spool was more of a strain than I imagined; that branch was completely wedged into the tree at multiple contact points.

FWIW, the winch was cool to the touch afterward. Maybe it’s a programmed function of the winch? Also, I have a 220 amp alternator with a 650 amp AGM. Perhaps insufficient? The rating for the first wrap for the Badland is 448 amps at a max pull. Thoughts?

A cool to the touch, after doing it's thing winch, is a good thing. A lot of devices are "fused" with temperature sensors, and that may be all there is. Does any of your Badland literature mention this? Hope it's not written in Angolo-Chinese.

Sorry, I can't say much about your amp numbers, other than they seem typical. I do think your winch was getting a strong workout, but maybe it has room for a lot of time capacity, even at high loads.

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[THAW]

I went ahead and ordered a new solenoid control box, with new remote and cable for wired operation. It’s only $115 and change, no shipping. I was told my battery and alternator are more than sufficient, and that I described the classic symptoms, for that particular winch, of solenoid failure. It’s a 4-7 day delivery. I will keep the old box and tinker with it, so maybe I can have a spare on-hand.

Good call.

Given that it was a double line pull, there really wasn't much load on the winch. If it had been a heavy pull, the Jeep would've likely slid forward since the driveway surface doesn't provide much traction.

 

[au176]

One may ask how Florida Man got his tow straps 45 feet up into a Live Oak tree. Well, after a few beers of thought, I taped some 550 cord (parachute cord) to my drone. The beer and the onboard stabilization smoothed-out the flight. I didn’t record that part, only the glorious act that happened afterwards. For your video enjoyment, recorded this evening.

NIce. Cheers!

 

[Wabujitsu]

Good call.

Given that it was a double line pull, there really wasn't much load on the winch. If it had been a heavy pull, the Jeep would've likely slid forward since the driveway surface doesn't provide much traction.

Exactly what I was thinking. Although….I pulled out about 50 feet of line a few hours ago. I winched it in; at the beginning, about 50 feet away with the wireless remote, the solenoids were clicking. As I got closer with the wireless controller, it stopped clicking, so I’m wondering if my wireless remote batteries are dying. I ordered more batteries, delivery in the morning.

If it’s a distance/wireless remote battery issue, I will know tomorrow. If that’s the solution, I will still keep the new control box as a spare, at that price.

I use my winch fairly often for crap like this - AND recoveries. I’m not going to risk being stuck without a working winch. My wife’s Jeep also has a winch, a Smittybilt that I added a remote receiver to, in the solenoid box. It’s a backup ONLY. When we go wheeling, we take my JLUR and leave her built Sahara behind. Also, I’m taking wheeling trips out west in my JLUR, so I need to be self-sufficient.

 

[Whiskey 13]

Always nice to have backups, I use the Jeep winch all the time, clearing branches and what ever else needs to be moved, but again always hard wired. If I need to move anything huge I go get my Power Wagon and use the winch on it. Much more powerful and attached to a lot more weight. I also use the wired winch control on that winch, just old habits. I hope the the new control box is your solution I have a collection of pulleys, straps, you name it, and I have moved or lifted some large items. For years I was the go to guy at the hunting camp.

 

[THAW]

Exactly what I was thinking.

With about 70% of the usable line out, the winch should still be rated to about 10,000 lbs.

Based on the angle of the line and brake-locked wheels on a paved surface, I'd estimate a 5,000 lb pull would've moved the Jeep. The 2:1 mechanical advantage means that pull would've been less than 2,500 lbs at the winch.

According to this link your winch remote range might be limited to around 50 ft.

 

[Wabujitsu]

With about 70% of the usable line out, the winch should still be rated to about 10,000 lbs.

Based on the angle of the line and brake-locked wheels on a paved surface, I'd estimate a 5,000 lb pull would've moved the Jeep. The 2:1 mechanical advantage means that pull would've been less than 2,500 lbs at the winch.

According to this link your winch remote range might be limited to around 50 ft.

Thanks Foster; I will find out tomorrow when I get new batteries and can test wireless and wired.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Always nice to have backups, I use the Jeep winch all the time, clearing branches and what ever else needs to be moved, but again always hard wired. If I need to move anything huge I go get my Power Wagon and use the winch on it. Much more powerful and attached to a lot more weight. I also use the wired winch control on that winch, just old habits. I hope the the new control box is your solution I have a collection of pulleys, straps, you name it, and I have moved or lifted some large items. For years I was the go to guy at the hunting camp.

Steve, we are definitely like-minded. When I evaluate a pull, if it’s doable with a tow strap or kinetic rope attached to an anchor point on my Jeep, I will throw it into 4Low and try that first. However, with a wedged widowmaker 45 feet above ground in a tree, I will ALWAYS go to the winch first - because safety is first, not just for my body, but also for my equipment.

I have anchored my Jeep, via tow straps, to either another vehicle or to a large, immovable object, before winching. I am ALWAYS in neutral with the e-brake pulled. I’m not going to risk life or equipment on a pull. I also have a minimum of two snatch blocks on my rig at all times.

 

[Whiskey 13]

Jeff,
As stated at the beginning, work smarter not harder. Safety is always first, long time since I was called a boy and I want to be able to go work or play again tomorrow. I will use every mechanical advantage I can to accomplish the task at hand.

Love spending time with my grandkids teaching the safe way to use there equipment, and lucky for me they like me doing that.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Nice job!
After our last derecho ( look it up) I had a huge limb break and hang down in one of my Hickory trees right behind my house.
I was able to drive my Polaris General up to it and hook the winch cable around the topmost branches- which were now almost ground level.
I had to back down the hill playing out the cable to give myself room - then used 4x4 and yanked it down. Super handy and a heck of a lot safer than trying to use a ladder and chainsaw...
Fortunately Hickory makes great wood for the smoker...

 

[Wabujitsu]

Nice job!
After our last derecho ( look it up) I had a huge limb break and hang down in one of my Hickory trees right behind my house.
I was able to drive my Polaris General up to it and hook the winch cable around the topmost branches- which were now almost ground level.
I had to back down the hill playing out the cable to give myself room - then used 4x4 and yanked it down. Super handy and a heck of a lot safer than trying to use a ladder and chainsaw...
Fortunately Hickory makes great wood for the smoker...

Frank, good stuff. I had a large low-hanger last night that I snatched out of the tree with my zero-turn. I’ve used that lawn tractor to move TONS of branches in the last few years, with all of the tropical storms and hurricanes we’ve had. The whole trees that came down I dragged some of them with my JLUR; a buddy on a tractor moved the others. Saved tons of money doing some of it myself.

I love the photo of your Fat Bob; awesome bike!!! And by the way, even Florida Man knows what a derecho is

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Old Dollar has lots of uses...

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Frank, good stuff. I had a large low-hanger last night that I snatched out of the tree with my zero-turn. I’ve used that lawn tractor to move TONS of branches in the last few years, with all of the tropical storms and hurricanes we’ve had. The whole trees that came down I dragged some of them with my JLUR; a buddy on a tractor moved the others. Saved tons of money doing some of it myself.

I love the photo of your Fat Bob; awesome bike!!! And by the way, even Florida Man knows what a derecho is

I don't have my Fatbob anymore, but Crossbones Frank just doesn't sound the same...

 

[Fatbob Frank]

FYI- I'm a former Florida man myself.. When I was a kid we lived in Groveland for a while then later I lived in Lady Lake...

 

[Wabujitsu]

FYI- I'm a former Florida man myself.. When I was a kid we lived in Groveland for a while then later I lived in Lady Lake...

Once a Florida Man, always a Florida Man, my friend.

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