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Premium competition winch with 6.8-hp, series-wound motor is great for rock crawling or off-road racing. It has an ultra-fast line speed, a narrow drum for tight installations, an extended duty cycle, and a thermal limiter to prevent overheating.
Features:
Specs:
The Alpha Series competition winch is the winch the Bulldog Winch professional race teams use. It's perfect for buggies, sand rails, Jeeps, and other rock crawling and off-road racing vehicles. It has an ultra-fast line speed that's ideal for racing environments that require quick recoveries. The free-spool clutch lets you or your rider quickly dispatch to a recovery point for hookup so you don't have to wait for the winch to unwind the rope. The narrow drum reduces the footprint of the winch on your vehicle yet carries an ample 75' of synthetic cable. The motor has a finned heat sink to help it stay cool, and it connects to a thermal limiting switch that will automatically shut it down to prevent overheating.
The Alpha features a 6.8-horsepower, 12-volt DC motor with 8,288 lbs of line pull and a top line speed of 55 feet per minute (with no load). This heavy-duty, series-wound motor is more powerful and more dependable than a permanent magnet motor, and it generates more torque and dispenses heat more efficiently when operating at high speeds. A built-in vent lets vapor escape to prevent moisture buildup, and a finned heat sink allows the heat to quickly dissipate to keep the motor cool. It is constructed of durable, corrosion-resistant materials including the hard plastic housing, galvanized motor tube, copper battery terminals, and zinc-plated steel hardware.
There is a thermal limiting switch inside the power unit that prevents the unit from overheating. The green LED light on the top of the power unit indicates that the winch is functioning. This light will shut off and power to the motor will be cut when the temperature exceeds 158 degrees. The light comes back on and the thermal limiter automatically reconnects the power once the motor has cooled down enough to resume operation.
The contactor - or solenoid - transmits power from the vehicle's battery to the winch motor. The 500-amp contactor - located inside the power unit - is sealed to meet IP67 specifications for water and weather resistance. The copper terminals and zinc-plated hardware are corrosion resistant. The battery leads have heat- and abrasion-resistant sheathing and are labeled with flags for easy installation.
The on/off switch on the back of the power unit lets you shut off the power when you aren't using the winch. There is also a rubber-sealed plug on top of the power unit that houses the attachment port for the remote control. For convenience - or to free up space in a tight fit - you can also mount the power unit remotely with a special wiring kit (BDW20132 - sold separately).
The free-spool clutch enables you to pull out the rope by hand. This saves battery power, prevents the brake from wearing down prematurely, reduces wear on the motor, and is much faster than waiting for the drum to unroll the rope. To release the clutch for free-spooling simply rotate the handle to the position indicated by the stick figure icon on the label. To reengage the clutch, rotate the handle back to the position indicated by the vehicle icon on the label.
The clutch is driven by a 3-stage planetary gear train. This provides more speed than traditional worm gear drives or 1- or 2-stage planetary gear trains. It includes a ring gear that slides over the planetary gear set to lock it in or out of gear.
The gearbox can be rotated in 30-degree increments to 12 different positions to ensure that you can easily access the clutch handle no matter where the winch is mounted. This is great for custom and in-bumper applications, on vehicles with small engines where space is extremely limited, or when mounting the winch foot-forward with the clutch handle facing the radiator.
The steel gearbox is sealed to keep out moisture and it has a black powder coat finish for rust resistance. The chrome-plated clutch handle is stylish and weather resistant.
The mechanical brake controls the line speed and prevents unintentional payout (or creep). It activates when the winch is in gear and the rope is winding out. As the drum rotates outward, the brake expands to put pressure on the inside wall of the drum. It contracts when the drum rotates inward, releasing brake pressure. At maximum pressure the brake holds 100 percent of the load.
The friction created when the brake pads press against the drum generates heat. The steel tube drum is designed to disperse this heat across its entire surface. This prevents potentially damaging heat buildup near the motor.
And since the brake is located inside the drum, the winch has a smaller profile and will fit in locations where space is limited such as between a vehicle's bumper and radiator.
The hand-held remote has a 12' lead and an in/out rocker switch so you can operate your winch at a safe distance. The rocker switch is sealed and water resistant so it won't get damaged in wet conditions. Simply plug the durable plastic remote into the power unit when you need to use it, and disconnect it to store it away when you aren't using it.
There is a wireless remote kit (BDW21056 - sold separately) that lets you operate the winch from up to 100' away. You can also operate the winch from the comfort of your vehicle with a dash-mounted in-cab control (BDW20064 - sold separately).
The synthetic rope is made of HMPE fiber that is lightweight yet stronger than steel. This synthetic rope is safer to use than a steel rope because it generates less kinetic energy - and therefore less kickback - if a break occurs. It won't stretch - or creep - over time like steel rope can. And it's also less likely to fray and create sharp strands so it's easier to handle and easier to spool.
The rope winds around a narrow, all-steel drum. This drum shortens the overall length of the winch so it's easier to mount in tight spaces. The mounting flanges are strong enough to resist bending or breaking if the rope wrap becomes uneven and excess stress is put on the drum.
A 6' woven polyester protective sleeve at the hook end of the rope provides extra protection for your hands.
The removable yellow hook is made of premium-grade chrome molybdenum (chromoly) that is heavy duty and rust resistant. It has a spring-loaded safety latch for quick fastening and removal. The hook attaches to the steel thimble on the end of the synthetic rope.
The CNC machine billet aluminum hawse fairlead is designed to be used with synthetic rope. The 1" thick fairlead has a black anodized finish that resists corrosion, and it installs with zinc-plated hardware. The fairlead is hole-chamfered - or rounded - on both sides to reduce friction on the rope when you're pulling it in and out. This helps reduce wear on the rope to keep it strong and functional.
Note: The hawse fairlead does not mount directly to the winch - it typically attaches to tabs on the winch mounting plate (sold separately). Bulldog Winch mounting plates - as well as most other aftermarket mounts - include these tabs.
The Alpha Series winch is constructed of strong, durable materials that are able to withstand any weather condition or terrain. The vented motor and sealed gearbox are made of corrosion-resistant powder coated steel. The contactor is sealed to keep water out, and the power unit is constructed of heavy-duty yet lightweight plastic that makes it ideal for mounting in remote locations. The steel tie bars and extra-thick side frame drum supports help to create a strong and rigid winch body.
You will need a suitable mounting location to install the winch on the front of your vehicle. Winch mounts are built into many aftermarket bumpers and grille guards. Alternatively, you can install a universal front-mount plate (BDW20008 - sold separately) to create a mounting point for both your winch and fairlead.
If you are mounting the winch on your bumper or grille guard, you can use the included wiring to connect the winch to your vehicle's battery. Quick connects (BDW20133 - sold separately) are available to make removing and re-installing the winch easy. If you are mounting the winch at the back of your vehicle or on a trailer, you may need an additional 20' long wiring kit (BDW20206 - sold separately) or a 24' long wiring kit (BDW20207 - sold separately) for extended cabs and long beds.
| Layers of Rope | Capacity (lbs) | Total Rope on Drum (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Layer | 8,288 | 19-5/8 |
| 2nd Layer | 6,400 | 43 |
| 3rd Layer | 5,300 | 72 |
| 4th Layer | 4,700 | 75 |
The line pull capacity of your winch is determined by the maximum load your winch can pull with a single layer of rope on the drum. As more layers of rope are wound onto the drum, pulling the same load requires more force, leading to a loss in winching power. With a 2nd layer of rope around the drum, your line pull capacity is reduced by approximately 14 percent. With 3 layers on the drum, the line pull capacity is reduced by approximately 23 percent, and with 4 layers on the drum it is reduced by approximately 35 percent.
Note: It is recommended that you begin any line pull with a minimum of 5 wraps and a maximum of 2 layers of rope on the drum.
To select the appropriate off-road/recovery winch for your application, determine your gross vehicle weight. The GVW is the stand-alone weight of your vehicle plus the weight of any items in and on the vehicle. Once you have determined the GVW of your vehicle, choose a winch with a capacity that is 1-1/2 times your GVW. Using that formula, this winch - with a 8,288-pound capacity - will work for vehicles with an approximate GVW of 5,525 pounds.
| Percent Incline | Rolling Load Capacity (lbs) |
|---|---|
| Level Surface | 82,880 |
| 5 (3°) | 55,281 |
| 10 (6°) | 41,605 |
| 20 (11°) | 28,179 |
| 30 (17°) | 21,632 |
| 50 (26°) | 15,416 |
| 70 (35°) | 12,681 |
| 100 (45°) | 10,692 |
To calculate your winch's rolling load capacity - the amount of weight it can pull up an incline - you must multiply the line pull capacity by a factor determined by the degree of the incline.
The multiplication factors shown in the chart, right, include a 10-percent rolling friction factor.
Note: A 5-percent - or 3-degree - incline is a 1/2' rise over a 10' distance. Follow the chart to determine your winch's rolling load capacity.
Increase the pulling capacity of your winch by doubling up the rope with a pulley block (BDW20027 - sold separately). Secure the pulley block to a tree saver strap (BDW20015 - sold separately) with a bow shackle (BDW20020 - sold separately) to provide a strong anchor for your double-line pull. Or use the Bulldog Winch 8-piece rigging kit (BDW20074 - sold separately) that includes everything you need for heavy-duty recovery. Using double-line operation will approximately double your winch's pulling capacity.
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Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi there, I'm Michael with etrailer.com. Today we're gonna take a quick look at this Bulldog Winch Alpha Series competition winch. This is going to allow you to quickly pull your stuck vehicle over large rocks, up steep inclines, or out of mud and water. So this is gonna be perfect for your buggies, sand rails, jeeps, and other rock crawling and off-road vehicles. This does have a 6.8 horsepower, 12 volt DC, a series wounded motor that's gonna deliver ultra fast line speed. The motor is more powerful, more efficient, and produces more torque than a permanent magnet motor.
So our rated or static load line pull with a single layer of the synthetic rope around the drum is going to be 8,288 pounds. So that will work for a vehicle recovery capacity of 5,525 pounds. So you wanna make sure that your vehicle fits into that capacity. It does have an all steel three stage planetary gear train with a 138:1 gear ratio. So that's gonna provide increased drum speed when compared to worm drives or one or two stage planetary gear trains.
So with zero pounds of pull on our line we're gonna have a line speed of 55 feet per minute which is about four times faster than most comparable winches. So that is gonna be very fast for us. Even with our full capacity, that 8,288 pound line pole, the line speed is gonna be 11 feet per minute which is still pretty fast especially for that amount of weight on there. It does have a event that's going to allow vapor to escape to prevent premature moisture, or prevent moisture buildup, and it does have the fanned heat sinks that will allow the heat to quickly dissipate to keep the motor cool. We have an automatic mechanical brake that's gonna hold 100% of the load while minimizing your winch creep.
And then here on the side we do have our free spooling clutch that ensures a nice fast rope payout and reduces the layer on the motor. The gear box can be rotated 360 degrees so you can reach the clutch handle no matter what. You have the orientation, you have the winch mounted inch. Our rope is a 75 foot long three eight inch diameter HMPE synthetic rope that's gonna be as strong as steel but it's extremely lightweight and safe to handle, unlike your metal ropes that are potentially going to have splinters and that sort of thing. Plus, if this we're to snap, it's going to have a lot less kinetic energy so it's going to be much safer for you as well.
It does have this six foot long woven polyester protective sleeve and then we've got our 3/8 inch steel clevis hook here with that snap to make sure that it stays in place. You can see we also have this heavy duty CNC machined one inch thick belay aluminum Hawse fairlead with the rounded fairlead hole that's gonna help prevent friction damage to the rope. The fairlead does have a black anodized finish to help resist corrosion. The distance between these mounting holes is 10 inches. Our power unit is going to include our contactor our thermal limiting switch, and here on the backside you can see we do have our on/off switch. So this is going to mount on top of the unit here. There is a wiring kit that it will allow you to mount this remotely if you would like to do that. That is sold separately, but that will give you a few more options on how you can get it fit into your system. Now this does include a sealed 500 amp contactor that's gonna transmit the power from your vehicle's battery to the winch motor. This is water and weather resistant to IP 67 specification, so it will hold up well even if you're out in very wet environments. We do have six foot long two gauge battery leads that are in this heat and abrasion resistant sheathing to help in all sorts of environments there. They recommend that you use a battery that is 650 CCA or more to get the maximum out of your winch. There is also a thermal limiting switch that's going to automatically cut power to the motor to prevent it from overheating. There is a green light on the unit itself that's going to let you know when it is safe to use again. That will turn on when the the unit is ready to be used. It does have a 3 minute on, 15 minute off duty cycle so keep that in mind when you're using it. Make sure you're not going to be pushing it over its capacity, but that thermal limiting switch will help make sure that you're not gonna do any damage. We also have our rubber handheld remote with 12 foot lead. That's going to allow you to operate the winch from a safe distance that just plugs into the top here, like so, get that lined up and then tighten down. This does have a weather resistant power switch that's going to allow you to bring the load in and let it out. There's also a wireless remote control is sold separately so if you need a little bit more than 12 feet you can use that wireless system to get quite a bit more. Our tie bars and our extra thick side frames help to create a nice strong, rigid wench body. Does have a durable black powder coat on it that's going to help resist corrosion. It does also have the galvanized motor tube that's gonna resist internal corrosion as well. Our rope drum is a narrow 3 inch diameter by 5 and 5/16 inch long drum, that's going to allow the winch to be more compact and fit into tighter spaces. That small footprint is gonna be ideal for your tight frame rails or small aftermarket bumpers that you're wanting to get this mounted on. If you're looking at overall dimensions for this, to figure out where it's going to fit you can see we're sitting at approximately 19 and 13/16 of an inch long. Our max width, we're about 6 1/2 inches wide. And then our height is gonna vary based on where you have your power unit mounted. So if we do have that power unit mounted on top of the rest of the winch that we're gonna be sitting about 11 and 1/2 inches. But if we we're to remove that power unit with that other kit that's going to allow us to mount it elsewhere. Our max height is gonna be about 7 1/4 of an inch tall. On the bottom you can see our mounting points so these are going to be about 4 and 1/2 inches by 6 and 1/2 inches apart. So center to center. Keep that in mind, make sure that's gonna work for your setup. With the synthetic rope installed this only weighs about 57 pounds. It doesn't add a whole lot to your system but it is gonna be very fast and reliable for you. It does come with a limited lifetime warranty on the mechanical parts, so you can trust it is gonna do a good job for you, and if you we're to have any issues, you'd be more than welcome to reach out to us. But overall, if you're looking for a great option for your Jeep or other rock crawler or off-road vehicle and this is gonna be a great way to go. That concludes our look for today. Again, I'm Michael with etrailer.com. Thanks for watching.
This bully as-9000tx is a good in-betweener of a step and a running board.
I needed a strong low hanging step that I could "pirouette" on. I am 75years and weigh 280 pounds. Bad back etc. I get up with both feet then turn around and scrunch my ample behind up and on seat. The point is it has held real well.
Okay..the installation was not an easy one..My 1997 f150 4x4 3door pickup
is not an easy fit. the "seam" that most steps rest on is very narrow and drilling the 2 holes for each mount proved un-doable ..too narrow. These got welded on.
The 4 holes that supposed to be drilled for the top part of mounts on the rocker panel...would be very hard (too cramped for drilling)..maybe with a right angle drill
You might do it. My installer guy welded them too..and also drilled a couple holes and used larger screw/bolts than were provided. So that is my story.
For my truck it is an excellent step but needed a pro guy with welder stuff.
Cost me $100 bucks install but he is friend of my son. Probably cost more.??
Cost less on e-trailer than other online retailers.
The step mounts to the rocker panel. It requires drilling with an angle drill. Also, self tapping screws are part of the mounting. I don't trust the self tapping screws because the sheet metal in the rocker panel is too thin and is indented with grooves which make it difficult to line up the self tapping screws. I mounted two of the steps and when finished, I had my son and daughter try them out. The steps both shifted when they were stepped on. I had to make modifications to strengthen the mountings. I would have preferred to have steps that mount to the cab mounts (frame). Now because of the drilling, I will have to try to rust proof the rocker panels. Otherwise, the steps look good and now are strong enough to be used safely.
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