Best Winch Battery: Top 5

To get the best out of your winch, you need a reliable battery to power the winch. This is because the battery provides the energy used by the winch to pull, hoist, haul and lift heavy objects. Thus, the better the winch battery, the better the performance and capability you get from your truck winch.

As you might have noticed, choosing the best battery for winching is not as easy as it sounds. There are many technical factors and considerations you need to make before selecting a winch battery and many off-road truck owners and winch users do not fully understand these technical factors. This poses a problem when choosing the winch battery and this is where this guide helps.

This guide will explain each of these technical factors in everyday terms, drawing out tips to help you choose the best and most reliable batteries for your winch. The guide will also review the five most reliable batteries for winches. By the end of this guide, you should know the factors to look out for in a winch battery and an idea of the perfect truck winch battery that works for you. 

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Why Do We Need A Winch Battery?

Winches come in two forms; electric and hydraulic winches. While these winches have various differences, one of the significant differences is the power source for the winches. The electric winch uses a battery, while the hydraulic winch uses the truck’s power steering pump as its power source. 

Thus, as a definition, the winch battery is the component of an electric winch that supplies the power required to operate the winch.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Reliable Winch Battery

As with other automotive and electrical appliances, there are many options available in the market regarding winch batteries. You must look for specific features and factors to choose the most reliable and compatible battery for your winch. Some of these factors include; 

Cold Cranking Amps

Shortened as CCA, the cold cranking amps refer to the amount of current a battery produces in cold temperatures. This factor is significant for winch batteries because winches are used in harsh and cold weather conditions. Consequently, it is essential to ensure that extreme weather conditions and freezing temperatures will not affect the ability of the winch to function correctly, which is why you need to consider the cold cranking amps. 

As a rule, the higher the cold cranking amps, the better and more reliable the winch battery is. 

Amperage Rating

Amperage is the measure of a battery’s capacity. It is the amount of electric power or current that the battery can produce, regardless of the weather condition and temperature. As a feature in a winch, the amperage is as vital as the CCA. So it also follows that the higher the amperage of a battery, the better its ability to handle your winching needs. 

Compatibility

Regarding the battery’s compatibility, there are two options to choose from. You can either go with the deep cycle battery or the cranking battery. The deep cycle battery keeps the winch working for long periods, while the cranking battery provides short bursts of power for the winch. 

The cranking battery is ideal when you only need one to start the winch and get it to work. In this case, the battery is not required to power the winch for its usage. Once the cranking battery starts the winch, the winch is then connected to a truck’s battery or another power source.

On the other hand, the deep cycle battery provides power for the truck winch for an extended period. Thus, the deep cycle battery is ideal for winches with standalone batteries. 

Type of battery

Batteries come in different forms and have different compositions. The structure and composition of the battery primarily affect its capability, durability, and maintenance. This is why the type of winch battery you choose is quite important. 

For a winch battery, you can choose between lead-acid and lithium batteries. While the lead-acid battery is the most common and also cheapest type of battery, it is heavier and requires more maintenance. On the other hand, the lithium battery is lighter and requires less maintenance. 

However, it is expensive and requires a professional installer before usage. It would be best if you didn’t use a lithium battery for your battery-powered winch unless you get a professional to install it. This is because lithium batteries used for winching require additional protective devices that protect both the winch and the battery. 

Our Top Picks for The Best Battery For Winching

There are several options when it comes to winch batteries. As a result, we have scrutinized these options and selected the best five. Check them out below; 

1. XS Power D6500 XS Series 3900 AGM

Verdict: 🏆 Overall Best Battery for Winch

XS Power is a popular name in the automotive industry for manufacturing batteries for vehicles and other equipment. One of the brand’s products, the D6500 XS Series 3900 AGM, ranks top as one of the best and most reliable winch batteries in the market today. The battery comes with 1070 CCA and 3900 amps. This shows how powerful and valuable this battery is, especially regarding heavy lifting and off-road truck winching. 

It uses an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) arrangement, which means that its lead-acid batteries are arranged in a spill-proof and self-contained manner. This makes it easier to use the battery in harsh and rough conditions. It is also rated 12 volts, the standard for all automotive batteries. 

Finally, the XS Power D6500 XS Series 3900 AGM has a reserve capacity of 150 minutes. This means that the battery can consistently deliver 25 amps of electricity for 150 minutes before the voltage drops from 12V to 10.5V.

• Pros:
  • It provides consistently high performance
  • It is spill-proof and adequately sealed
  • It is durable and offers strong resistance to vibration
  • It works perfectly in all weather conditions and can be mounted anywhere on the truck
• Cons:
  • It is a bit pricey

2. Odyssey PC680 Battery

Verdict: 🏆 Best Lightweight Winch Battery

Odyssey is another reputable name in the automotive industry. Its battery, the Odyssey PC680, currently ranks as our most reliable battery in this review. The battery is rated 12 volts, weighs 13.45 lbs, and measures 7.15 by 3 by 6.65 in dimension. This means that for a lead-acid battery, the Odyssey PC680 is light. 

It also uses an AGM arrangement that keeps the battery components intact and ensures that the battery delivers power to the truck winch battery. However, regarding the battery’s capacity, the Odyssey PC680 only provides 18 amps and 170 CCA. This means that the winch is best suited for lightweight usage. 

However, what this battery lacks in capacity, it makes up for in reliability. The battery has a 70% longer life cycle than other batteries of similar types. The battery also takes 4 to 6 hours to charge fully and has a service year of 3 to 10 years. Finally, you get a full replacement warranty for two years after the purchase of the winch battery.

• Pros:
  • It is lightweight
  • It charges fast
  • It uses AGM battery technology and an unspillable design
  • It can be mounted in many ways. 
• Cons:
  • It is not compatible with all types of vehicles and trucks.

3. XS Power D3400 XS Series 3300 Amp AMG Battery

Verdict: 🏆 Best Value for Money 

This battery is another product from the XS Series line of batteries manufactured by XS Power. While this battery comes with lesser amperage (3300) than the previously previewed (3900), it remains a rugged battery suited for an off-road truck winch. 

The battery weighs about 48 lbs and can be mounted in any part of the truck. It is also important to mention that it uses an AGM arrangement method, making its constituents non-spillable. 

Finally, there is also the vibration resistance, ultra-low internal resistance, and valve regulation features in the battery, all of which combine to give you a high-performance and low-maintenance battery.

• Pros:
  • It is spill-proof and vibration resistant.
  • It has a high output and is suited for use in rough terrains
  • It has a low internal resistance feature, as well as a valve regulation feature
  • It has multiple mounting positions
• Cons:
  • It is a bit pricey

4. Optima Batteries OPT 8014-045

Verdict: 🏆 Best for Pickup Truck Winches

One of the first things you will notice about this battery is its yellow top. This signals that this battery belongs to the Yellow Top line from the Optima brand. Optima manufactures its batteries under two categories, red top and yellow top. The red top batteries are ideal for starting efficiency in vehicles and equipment, while the yellow top batteries are best suited for elongated use. 

Thus, it follows that the Optima Batteries OPT 8014-045 is ideal as a deep-cycle battery, meaning that you can use it for a truck winch in need of a standalone battery. It is rated 12 volts and comes with 750 CCA. It also has a reserve capacity of 120 minutes. 

Finally, it is mountable in any position, recharges very fast, and features a non-spill design. It is also three times more durable than other winch batteries.

• Pros:
  • It charges fast
  • It has a rugged design and durable build
  • It uses AGM battery technology and a non-spill design
  • Its battery output is powerful
• Cons:
  • It does not come with a handle at the top

5. Odyssey 31M Trolling Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery

Verdict: 🏆 Best Battery for Trailer Winch

The Odyssey 31M Trolling Thunder Marine Dual Purpose Battery is your best bet if you want the benefits of both cranking and deep cycle batteries. The battery powers off-road truck winches with a capacity of over 13000 lbs. 

The battery comes with an 1150 CCA and a 12 volts rating. Despite its high performance and capacity, it is also very reliable, being a product from Odyssey. In addition, it has a 4-year manufacturer warranty and a service life of up to 10 years. 

The battery takes 4 and 6 hours to charge fully, and its cycle life is 70% more than other deep-cycle batteries.

• Pros:
  • It is perfect for trailer recovery and car mounting
  • It has an extended lifespan and durability
  • It works perfectly well in all weather conditions
• Cons:
  • It is costly.

Conclusion

The battery is an essential component of a battery-powered winch. Consequently, you must choose the ideal and most compatible battery to get the best output from the winch. While selecting the perfect winch battery, you should consider features such as cold cranking amps, the amperage of the battery as well as its compatibility with your winch.

Check out our reviews of the Best Electric Truck Winch to pair with the winch battery.

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