Winch challenge Jimny

Busta wrote: Does anyone use hydraulic winches in competition? I'm just wondering if instead of all these extra batteries and alternators, a hydraulic system wouldn't be much more work and may even save a bit of weight.

In the UK, almost all trucks have electric winches installed.
Here in Denmark hydraulic winches are much more common. Out of 14 trucks attending the latest challenge, I think 5 had hydraulic winches.

but they are more complicated to set up than an electric winch.
You'll need, winch, pump, clutch, oiltank, cooler, valveblock, hoses etc. And on top of that, you'll still need an electic winch, as the hydraulic winch won't do you no good when lying bottom on with engine stopped.

But it is a great winch to have on a heavy truck, as it pulls equally fast load or no load. On a Jimny, it makes little sense as it's far too complicated and heavy, and the little petrol engine will struggle pulling a big pump.

Like the looks of your jimny.
Ive got a few questions...

Has overvolting done much damage to your motors?
Have you just set the winch batteries up in parrallel so that when you turn that switch its 24v?
Im starting to enter few little challenges and just want to make sure ive covered all bases.

Thanks in advance for all info.

Dan

Dan_T wrote: Like the looks of your jimny.
Ive got a few questions...

Has overvolting done much damage to your motors?
Have you just set the winch batteries up in parrallel so that when you turn that switch its 24v?
Im starting to enter few little challenges and just want to make sure ive covered all bases.

Thanks in advance for all info.

Dan

Thanks

Overvolting the motors does not damage them, if you take take a few precautions.
Don't run the motors overvolted with no load for more than a few seconds. If you do, the motors will run way too fast, with damage to follow. If you want to run them overvolted, do it in pulses. Hope you get what I mean
Like if you need to spool out rope, either do it on 12 volt, or pulse it. Or even better, get a Delta-tek air free-spool

Also, when tightening up the rope before winching in, do it in pulses or on 12 volt.

And after each event, remove the end plate of the motors and clean them of dust from the brushes.

I use a Toyota LC 80 series 12-24 volt solenoid to overvolt the winch. The solenoid costs a fraction of a Goodwinch Turbo Controller and handles to motors just fine. These solenoids are becoming somewhat rare. But from time to time, they appear on face. Or try getting in touch with a Land Cruiser breaker.

So.. Time for a little update

Jimny performs excellent in the competitions we have attended over the last 18 months, since we started.
The Bilstein shocks along with the Delta-tek air-freespool for the winch are probably the 2 most important upgrades I've done to the Jimny.

The Bilsteins simply just handles the heavy front end superb in terrain. Far better than then RC N2.0 I had before. After they were installed we could go much faster offroad. With that said, I still ran with Rough Country N2.0 as rear shocks were they actually did an okay job. Probably due to the lesser weight.

But a few months ago I had to realize that I may need to get some sort of rear shock lower mount guard thing, even though I hate having that sort of "useless" stuff on my Jimny
Tore off both rear shock bottom ends in a single race. Hit a couple of treestumps and that was it for both shocks. So now it's time for Bilsteins in the rear as well

Also installed 22 spline HD front shafts and CV joints earlier this year. Have worked flawlessly so far. Hope they continue to do so when we install air locker in the front axle. Hopefully I can find funds for that this winter.

Also planning on removing the rearwheel metal fender flares and simply using universal flexi flares. I don't like the look of the extended Defender ones, too bulky

Will also have to do something about how things are placed in the back. Have installed some decent racing bucket seats. So batteries will go down right behind the seats. There's just enough room for that.

Will also be making some kind of rear firewall just behind the seats. But only half way up. Mainly to keep water out. Right now ground anchor is mounted on the back of the jimny, but I want to remove the taildoor for better access to the back. So anchor goes in the back. Should be room now with batteries gone.

Will see if I can't upload a few pics tomorrow

www.bigjimny.com/index.php/forum?view=topic&catid=8&id=57429
This is how the front end looks like. Great shocks
I can see that I completely forgot about answering what product code those bilstein shocks are. They are 24-185493

Just today I've received a package containing a few bits and pieces for the Jimny. Among that a couple of front spring 15mm spacers.
Most of you probably know me for being very much against spacers in general But the Trail Master front and rear springs don't differ very much in length so trying to level out the Jimny a bit. Also the Bilstein shocks would leave just around 15mm of free play on top of the springs at full full extended. So thought I may as will give these spacers a try

Some time in the future I'll probably put on hydraulic bump stops inside the front springs. I've seen it done on a German Rally Jimny. So shouldn't be all that hard to do

Looking forward to seeing some up to date photos!

Kirkynut