Winching off a deep cycle battery?

No worries here mate , my winch is connected to the Optima D/C, not only that when i use my winch I always have the engine running as well

Brendan,
I use a "normal" battery for my winching, I used a deep cycle with no real problem but I was advised with the whole charging thing that running two batteries with similar characteristics was better than running two dissimilar batteries. This will more than likely stir up a hornets nest but this is what i was advised to do and it works for me. I don't my secondary circuit enough to utilise the advantages of having a deep cycle battery installed.

Never underestimate the capabilities of a Range Rover and the limitations of lets say other vehicles. All have their faults as do Range Rovers but off road capability isn't one of them. Ho Ho Ho.

Brendan, NEVER winch without the engine running!!!!!! A deep cycle battery is not suited to winching though it may still run the winch. It's profile is more suited to low drain appliances such as fridges. I'd use the cranking battery with engine running as you will need lots of power to get a sluggish vehicle like yours out of the bogs you will certainly get into as you learn (I assume from your question that you are very new to off roading)
Good luck!!

Yes, I agree. Which off the starting battery with the engine running and leave the deep cycle doing what it should and that's keeping the beer cold for celebrating getting out of the mess you got yourself into.

Brendan Have successfully winched off deep cycle batteries on 3 cars with no real problems. Compared to starting batteries they don't appear to be any slower or pull less. (Sorry no scientific tests ;-) On the first 2 cars the DC batt lasted a touch over 3 years & on the current one is 4 years old & going strong. I feel it's more to do with the quality of the battery & how rough the roads have been than the type. Only downside I have seen is the need to top up the water occationally. (more so than a start batt)
In theory a starting battery is supposably better for the fast power supply used by the winch but a deep cycle battery should last longer if you reguarly discharged it below 20 %. Many on this & other sites will tell you it shouldn't be done but in reality it works fine. A slightly longer life may be achieved with other types of batteries but there are so many variables it's difficult to compare.
The deep cycle should have no problem pulling the Rover out (Or your cruiser for that matter:-))
Cheers Craig...............
Twin 115 Trojan deep cycle batts.

Do you have an isolating switch such as Pirhana running your battery system? I have and was told by the Pirhana people to never winch from the second battery (I do!) as it will fry the isolator switch. Apparently the Pirhana switch is rated at 150amps and the winch can draw upto 300 amps. However they were non commital when I asked if running the engine would make any difference.

The winch manufacturers I'm aware of ALL state use the Cranking battery with the engine running.

Deep cycle batteries are NOT designed for winching, which requires heaps of power instantly, they are designed for continious supply of low power over an extended time period - as when powering a fridge or lights, definately not a winch!!!
Can you use a DC battery to run a winch, yes :-((
You can drive in the right hand lane of the freeway also - does not make it correct!!!

AGM DC's charge quicker than a wet cell Cranker battery - when used for the same purpose, eg, powering a fridge.

I would NOT sell you a Deep Cycle battery to run a winch.........

What type of Deep Cycle battery are you considering ?

A Wet Cell Deep Cycle is definitely not good at providing the high currrent needed for starting or winching.

AGM (totally sealed) Deep cycle batteries are good at both Deep Cycle and Starting/Winching. My 80 amphour (10 inch) Remco AGM is rated by the manufacturer to supply 550 amps for 5 seconds and 300 amps continuously.

Mike