looking to get a headstart on using my new warn 2500 winch. Do you guys just leave the hook cinched up to the face of the roller fairlead, or do you have a different way? On the '04 sportsman 600, the winch is up pretty high, so it doesn't seem necessary to have a cuople feet out and hooked to the top rack for when you need it to get out of a mudhole? what are the minimum kind of accessories you carry? thanks for the headstart!

 

Sure carry a tow strap, save a tree and the add lenght of one sure helps out. You can rap it around 2 or 3 small trees also. Or sage brush, big rocks ect to help get you unstuck, saving your cable. Also carry a good set of gloves and use them. Yea and I just hock my up to the fairlead. Have fun and later

 

definitely get a ****** block, also called a pulley block. This will help you when you or someone else is stuck and there is enough resistance that you just cant move it. What you do is put the ****** block on the other machine, run the line out to it and back to your machine or a nearby deadman (tree) This effectively doubles the line pull of the winch. It also works half as fast, but trust me it is stronger. You can also use it to winch at bad angles, like around a turn or something when you cant get straight on to the stuck one. What I do with my 700 is leave the ****** block on the line, put the winch hook down on the lower hook point (that little horizontal bar below the radiator, I assume the 600 has it too) then I put the hook of the ****** block on the front rack and just lightly snug it. This way when I need it, I can either unhook both and run the line out single-line, or I can leave the winch hook attached and run the ****** block out for a double-line pull. It works really slick for me. Anytime your doing a hard pull, you should think about using the snatchblock, because it not only doubles the pulling power of the winch, it doesn't make the winch work as hard, so it will last longer.
Lets see, what else? never try to pull something out by backing up while the winch line is attached. thats how you break winches and winch lines. The winch has more power than the machine anyway. The winch has the most power when there is only one layer wrapped on the drum, so unless its a quick little easy pull dont just pull out 6 feet and work it harder. That is another good thing about snatchblocks, you have to pull more line off. Always respool the winch line under as much tension as possible. Its okay to do it by hand, but pulling the other machine all the way to you is better. this makes the line last longer. Oh, the most important thing. You should hold all the brakes on firmly on the winching machine, which is easy on the Polaris because of the single lever. If you just put it in park or hold one brake on, you only get the weight on the rearend working in your favor, plus the winch will transfer weight off the rear wheels as it pulls. You want all the weight of the vehicle locked against the 4 contact points with the ground. If you try it both ways you will see exactly what I mean. And I always stay right on the machine-the extra 20% of weight on the machine helps a great deal. I shy away from tying the back of the machine to a tree to keep it from moving. I have done it in extreme situations, but I dont recommend it because it is a good way to make the machine longer.
much of this info applies to you being the one doing the pulling, but you get the idea. And since youve got a big Polaris, youll be doing most of the rescuing anyway. Sorry for the long post, as you can see its my favorite topic!

 

Northstar2

thanks for the info. Get longwinded as much as you like. It's sounds like this is going to be a fun toy to get to know and learn with. I look forward to anymore future posts of yours on the subject.

 

I always drape a jacket over the winch cable when pulling. It's a common trick when winching a Jeep because the jacket over the cable prevents the cable from coming through the windshield if the cable breaks or comes loose. I haven't had to learn the hard way, but seems like it would be a good safety trick on ATVs also. In the mud, it would be best to use a buddy's jacket.