I did some searching and checked the tech links...didn't find what I need.

I'm thinking about adding a Warn winch to the truck and could use some real-world feedback.

Q1-I'm looking at the Warn Gen II Trans4Mer mount for the winch. Does anyone have any experience with this system? My local shops don't have any in stock so I can check them out.

Q2-Everything I've read says get a winch that can pull about twice the weight of your truck. Since my truck weighs just shy of 8Klbs, that means the Warn 16.5ti is the leading contender. But, another accessory on my to-add list is an air compressor system. The Warn PowerPlant HD would be sweet, but it has a max pull of 12Klbs.

Q3 - Who has a Warn PowerPlant and how well has it held up? I used the air compressor in my old truck fairly regularly adjusting my tire pressures on my truck and trailer so I need something that will last. Looks like it has a 50% duty cycle...

I've winched rigs out a few times, but using other guy's gear. This is pretty new to me, so give me the simple stuff too. My truck will never be a deep-woods or heavy offroader, but I do travel on forest service road and in deep snow.

I'm researching batteries and my trucks electrical system as we speak. I know I have the HD alternator, which is nice.

Thanks for your help.

 

A 12k winch will be PLENTY strong for your truck. The 2X rating guide is overkill. Throw a pulley block in with your winch accessories for those really hard pulls and it will double your pulling power.

 

1- look at the rated pull of the winch mount. Make sure its at minimum 12k if you get a 12k winch. A 100,000lb pull winch is useless on a 6000lb rated receiver hitch. All that being said...the warn brush guards and winch bumpers Ive seen have been pretty decent quality.

2- I wouldnt buy anything smaller than 12k for a superduty and that air compressor option would really come in handy.

3- never used or seen one in action. Ive looked at them several times though.


Im not big on wearing gloves for any reason but you really need to wear them when pulling winch cable. The little burs and broken strands will really cut your hands up good. I like mechanix gloves. As cartmanea said, a ****** block will double your line pull ability but make sure your winch mount can handle double the load. The rated pull of the winch and its bumper is for a 100% straight on pull. Once you start side loading the thing its not as strong. Keep that in mind.

Most people like Optima batteries but Im more of a fan of Odyssey products. Odyssey Batteries


on a personal note I hate it when wenches use their ****** block.

 

Its hard to beat the Motorcraft diesel batteries, they last a long time. The lower cranking amp batteries (650 and 750) will last longer because they use less porous lead than higher CCA batteries (850 and 875). I went with Interstate batteries, but would probably just get Motorcrafts next time.