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I installed my new winch yesterday, and I tested it a little by unspooling the line and pulling it back in. When I pulled my batteries out this morning, there was water all over the tops. I'm thinking that I may need new ones. Any suggestions of what the problem may be???

Water as in, it boiled out? Or wet from condensation? Your batteries might have got a bit warm with all the winch activity. I'd top them off with distilled water and keep an eye on them. Make sure all your connections are clean and tight, from battery to winch and everything in between.

I checked all of the levels in the battery after I posted the question, and the fluid level in all of the cells was right up to the top. Maybe it was just condensation, but my Pinz is always stored inside, and the water wasn't there when I got done installing the winch. Who knows?
Thanks for the input.
Spence

Spence
What do you mean by right up to the top?
If you mean they (each cell) is full to brimming it's overfull!
The correct level should be 1/16" (1 to 2mm) above the septic plates.

If you fill the cell completely full, it will boil over and make a mess of the battery box and rot the thing out---Eventually.

If you have overfilled it and need to re-check, remove the caps at arms length or use a face shield. A plugged cap can occur and the escaping gases will blow H2SO4 into your eyes, so beware. As a professional this is a hazard, and should always be treated so.

If you are unsure of the state of charge or that a cell(s) is/are going down buy a hydrometer with coloured zones so that it will quickly tell you the state of each cell after a charge. Alternatively you can go to a battery specialist and test the batts on a drop tester. We use a Snap On wheel up unit that spits out a printed result to show our customers what is the true health and CCA's of each unit.
Dennis

Thanks for the info Dennis. I have never filled the batteries since I have owned it, that was how I bought it. I'm looking into getting a set of Optima batteries but I'm still doing some research. There seems to be alot of different opinions among some of the Pinz owners as to what to buy. Red, Yellow, or Blue top. If I'm going to spend the money on the Optimas, I would like to get the best possible.
Thanks again
Spence

Spence.
Essentally this is why older style batteries fail prematurely.

The original batteries found in a Pinz are of the highest quality, but like all batteries of yesteryear they need constant and regular checking to ensure you get the maximium life from the unit. Thirty years ago when these types of batteries were commonplace, a shop like mine would always have a carbouy of distilled water and some acid to check and adjust the specific gravity of batteries. In fact when I started as a school leaver in the nearly sixties my first job was rebuilding big truck batts. A disgusting task believe me. The only relief I got was pranking the lacklustre autoelectrician in charge of the section.

If the cell is allowed to dry out the lead tends to drop off the plate and fall to the bottom of the cell where it collects and starts to short down the septic plates. Over time this causes the cell to lose its effy and the unit loses its ability to crank the engine.

As you may have observed the industry has progressively moved away from these types of batteries, first with low maintenance, then no top off and lastly to gel cells like the Optima/Exide .

The Red Top is designed for automotive use and is prefered if you use the truck like your car, daily and frequent use. What we have found with these types of batteries is that they don't like boost charging at 40 odd amps from dead (such as you might do with an old lead acid unit). This activity tends to buckle the plates and cause a dramatic drop in effy.
Our battery rep has suggested you use a good regular battery hooked up in parallel to charge gel cells and don't boost charge 'em.
Best of luck with your battery selection, do make sure they are anchored down in the crate, vibration and jolting shocks destroys batteries real fast. In any case the Optima is a good battery should you roll the truck on the trail, no acid spills.
Dennis