has anyone tried to make a winch mount for an arctic cat 250 ('01)? Would 1/8" steal plate work?

 

It depends on the structure and bracing, but for just a plain flat mount 1/8 is a liitle thin IMO. I'd use 3/16".

 

well i was planning on reinforcing the bracket with 3/4" square tubing

 

You are aware that the AC winch mount kit is available for your quad for for $65 usd, part number 0436-117. It has all the parts and pieces you need and take about 30 minutes to install. I didn't see it being worth my time and effort for that small amount. If you insist on doing it go with 3/16 ' minimum, the factory one is 1/4".

 

well i figured out my solution. i took a piece of 1/4" aluminum plate and cut it to size and bolted it to the front of the front rack using 6 5/16" bolts. any opinions on this would be appreciated. ill try to post pics when i take some.

 

Here are the pics of the mount.

 

1 - IMO aluminum is a little too soft to use for a winch mount

2 - Having the winch positioned that high on the machine is going to cause it to pull you downwards instead of up and out of the mud or whatever your stuck on....

3 For light pulls i am sure it will work fine but if you ever bury it really good and are pulling hard ,the leverage from having it mounted that high could cause the racks to bend or even break .

Sorry if i bursted your bubble,,,, but i think you would be alot better off and SAFER buying the factory Arctic cat mount

 

I agree, unless it's like 6061 or something like that in aluminum, I wouldn't trust it. It also is high and the downward pull would probably damage your rack and/or pull the bolts out of the arms that hold the fenders. You reality need to attach the winch lower and to the frame. I made my own winch mount. I used 3/16 inch steel plating. I have some pictures in my bio. Good luck

 

I agree with the other responders. That front end looks like my 01 400. I just had the front plastic and rack off replacing the LED dash. It meets the front bumper/frame right under your mount via 2 bolts. It attached with 2 other bolts at the back. There is a decent span with no attachments points in the middle. The tube is rather thin, I can see where it could bend/fail under a decent load pulling up. The rack is strong for what it is but not as strong as the frame where a factory plate would go. Then there is the entire angle of pull question.... believe the others, if we get stuck we need that upward pull to get us over what ever we are in. If its in and working then you have the wiring done. To me that is 95% of the trouble. If you decide to move it, well, you have almost all of the hard work done.

Brent

 

the wiring is already done (see pics). okok...you talked me out of it. would 1/4" steel plate with 3/8" flat bar reinforcements work better for making a mounting plate? and where on the front is the best place to mount it?