Ramsey's New Wireless Remote Winch Control

Brad Littrell of Springdale, Arkansas loves 4-wheeling challenging trails. He frequently competes in 4x4 events in Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. His "built" '97 Jeep TJ with external roll cage works well, and he works it hard. At Ramsey's National Off-Road Challenge Series in Cass, Arkansas, he earned 4th place. Read about Brad and the Off-Road Challenge Series in the August '01 issue of 4WHEEL DRIVE & SPORT UTILITY MAGAZINE.

Before advancing to the Off-Road Challenge at Attica, Indiana, he installed a Ramsey Wireless Remote Control to his Ramsey Platinum 9500 winch. The wireless remote will save some valuable minutes in the timed events. Now Brad's spotter/co-driver can safely operate the winch without having to climb back over rocks or slog through mud back to grab the winch control cable.

The following is our step-by-step description of installing Ramsey's Wireless Remote Winch Control in Brad's Jeep.

Universal Winch Application
	Universal Winch Application Ramsey's new Wireless Remote Control works with almost all 12-volt DC front-mount, self-recovery winches equipped with electric solenoids: RamseyWarnSuperwinch Ramsey's Remote Controls are not designed for commercial or industrial applications.

Installation, Quick & Easy
Remote Control Wiring Connections Demonstrated Below	Finding A Vertical Place On Chassis For The Receiver Is The Hardest Part Of Installation

The weatherproof Wireless Remote Control receiver is only a little larger than a pack of cigarettes and is completely pre-wired with quick-connect plugs. The hardest part of the installation is deciding where to mount the receiver.

Ramsey's easy-to-follow directions dictate that the receiver be mounted vertically, on a chassis grounded metal surface. The only wiring required is attaching the unit's ground wire, which is part of the tuned-circuit, and should not be shortened. The unit can be mounted with the supplied plastic wire-ties or sheet-metal screws.

On Brad's Jeep, we mounted the receiver on the firewall beside the brake booster. The unit has two quick-connect plugs, one going to the antenna and one to the Remote Adapter Cable. The antenna wire is long enough for the 6-inch magnetic base antenna to set on the hood or even on the roof. The second quick-connect plug accepts the Remote Adapter Cable, which replaces the winches' Remote Control Cable.

The Wireless Remote Control is the easiest-to-install, aftermarket electrical component we've ever installed on a vehicle. It comes with good directions, and all the mounting hardware; sheet-metal screws, plastic wire-ties, and self-adhesive cable mount clips. The only tools we needed were an electric drill and a screwdriver. It would take only minutes to move the Wireless Remote Control from one vehicle to another.

Full Function Transmitter
Transmitter Displayed On Roller Fairlead	Magnetic Mount Antenna External Roll Cage

Ramsey's Wireless Remote Control transmitter has a range of 50-feet, but requires a line-of-sight between the transmitter and antenna. Fortunately the magnetic mount antenna can be moved for best reception.

To use the Wireless Remote Control, the Adapter Cable must be plugged into the winch. Then disengage the clutch, pull the cable out, and hook it normally. Engage the clutch, and press the transmitter's "ON/OFF" button for 2-seconds to activate the transmitter. Its red LED will flash once to confirm that it is "ON".

With the transmitter "ON", pressing the "IN" button reels the cable in and pressing the "OUT" button spools cable out. Pressing the "ON/OFF" button for 2-seconds turns the transmitter "OFF", and the red LED flashes twice confirming that the transmitter is "OFF".

With the transmitter "ON", pressing the "IN" button reels the cable in and pressing the "OUT" button spools cable out. Pressing the "ON/OFF" button for 2-seconds turns the transmitter "OFF", and the red LED flashes twice confirming that the transmitter is "OFF".

If the unit is inactive for 20-minutes, the transmitter automatically turns itself "OFF" to prolong battery life. Ramsey recommends that when the winch is not in use, the Remote Adaptor Cable be unplugged from the winch to prevent accidental winch activation.

Additional Transmitters and In-Cab Control

Additional transmitters are available so the driver and/or the spotter can both operate the winch. It's easy to program the receiver security code for additional transmitters. However, we didn't order an extra transmitter because Brad's Jeep already had an in-cab toggle switch to operate his Ramsey Platinum 9500. We left the in-cab switch wired in, and both controls work well together.

Better Winch Control From A Safe Distance

With Ramsey's Wireless Remote Control, either Brad or his spotter can operate the winch. They no longer have to communicate by sign language over the noise and distance. The spotter can reel in or spool out winch line at a safe distance from the straining cable and churning tires. As a Result, they spend less time putting the winch in service and more time driving or winching.