tsconver

Well the ARB will be here Tuesday, got a nice Milemarker SE 9500 sitting on the bench to go in it.

Anything I need to worry about or have on hand to make it easier except for the obvious hand tools, impact wrench and locktight?

TIA

BlueXJ

A good friend b/c that thing is heavy IIRC. And you may need to start soaking the bolts with PB Blaster now so that they come loose easily. Start figuring how to route the winch wires to clear everything and not chafe on anything either. Get the military battery clamps so you can hook up the winch.

Kyle

PB Blaster and an extra set of hands. The ARB is the heaviest of all of the aftermarket bumpers so be aware.

You also may have to throw a spacer in the front to level it out afterwards.

tsconver

I am figuring it weighs about 100lbs, at least that is what the literature suggests and teh winch is about 90 lbs, so it is less than what I weigh and when I put my weight on the front the sag is not to much. That being said, it is almost too level now so I hope that it drops the front maybe a 1/2" and brings the old rake back.

tsconver

any pics of what you mean by military battery clamps?

BlueXJ

Yeah these............

tsconver

ok, that is what I thought you meant, defintiely need those as I have my amp and aux lights just slipped under the regular clamp bolt

i hate reprogramming my radio, wonder if I could run jumpers while I took the factory cables off and soldered new ends on them? LOL

BlueXJ

Radio shack has a thing that plugs into the cigarette lighter with a 9volt battery so you don't lose your radio presets. At least they used to have them but couldn't find it on their website right now. Might have the wrong name for it.

tsconver

Wondering if I can attached teh winch to the side post of the optima and leave the regular battery connections on the top post??? They make nice little adapters to attach to the side posts that I thought I would use.

BlueXJ

No all battery manufacturers recommend that the top posts be used because the heat generated by a long hard pull will melt the internal part of the side posts. You can re-route the OEM cables to use the side posts but put the winch on your top posts.

tsconver

will have to think about that one, what do people do that only have side posts? I would also think optima would design the posts to meet the same amp draw as the top posts? this will require some research

BlueXJ

You research it. I did because I was going to replace my battery (not an Optima) with a side post to minimize the height and ran across the recommendations by a member here and on NAXJA 5-90 who also confirmed what I had read. He is in the electrical cable business and that was his photo of the military battery clamps.

drakan1908

A friend of mine used these on his pickup http://www.napaonline.com/NOLPPSE/(S...2999999+109999 His winch hooks to his battery with these and he uses the top post for everything else.....Doesn't seem to have any problems

BlueXJ

tsconv before running out and buying those that Drakan pointed out do the research. You can always call the Optima people on the phone if you need an answer fast. May have to wait on Monday morning but you will have to wait if you want those NAPA parts anyway.

drakan1908

My buddy's battery is an Advance battery. Don't know if this would make any difference or not. If it melted he wouldn't be out of as much money like he would be if it was an Optima.