To all you TRV owners out there, you know that large plastic storage box on the rear of the rig, that bolts right up to the frame?

What to you think about removing the box, and fabricating a winch mount? I've got the Warn winch on the front, but more times than not, I've wished I had one on the rear of the vehicle.

Thoughts? Think the frame is strong enough in that area to accomondate a winch? The TBX has a mount there, can't see why Arctic Cat didn't give the TRV's the same option (its the same frame!).

thanks

 

Won't it be easier and cheaper to adapte a winch mount to plug in to the trailer hitch mount? Then you would have the winch and you box.

 

To be totally honest, the rear box is worthless to me. Anytime I use it, we i go to retreive whatever I put inside it later, its covered in dust (or if i'm in the water, mud). Its not sealed, so I dont' even use it. I've got fender bags on my 'Cat, and they are waaaaaaaaay better, and more accessible.

I've got one of these on each side. Forget the rear box. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Picture of bags

 

I have a fender bag and tank saddle bags with a holster omn the right one for my magnum handgun, but the racks carry the really big heavy stuff and if the box isn't sealed, seems like not much of a challenge to seal it. As to dust on things, either mount a rack bag or put together some kind of cover. But if it is really dusty out even the front rack gets dust on it.

 

I've been looking at that waste of space box for some time also. A wire-feed and some plate stock would make that area a lot more usable. A winch in the trailer hitch would either be to low or if you raise it up - could be to much leverage for the frame/receiver IMO.

If you come up with anything or even concept drawings post them here for the rest of us TRV drivers to see and comment on. I have a winch still in the box waiting for a place to be bolted on. I thought about a plate under the rear rack (lol) to attach the winch to. A straight load would be tolerated but not much from the side. See my pics for other TRV ideas.

Good topic

 

Have the rise off the reciever and then have a couple of support frames to pin the upper part to. The frame where the box pivot bolts to the rear of the frame would be a good place to anchor the pinned support pieces. Pins like the speed tack uses only larger, that will solve the leverage problem.

 

If you look underneath the TRV muffler, there are a number of mounting tabs and holes not being used. What could these be for?

Something on the TBX I guess, never seen one up close. If I junked the "waste of space box" and used the rear most frame rails for a mounting position, it "seems" strong enough for a winch mount, but I'd hate to put it to the test and end up tearing the thing apart. Last time I check a replacement frame is like $2000. Eeeek.

So it would probably require some "beefing up" of the exsiting frame. And I guess you'd have to relocate the rear light, not that its all that useful to begin with.

This is something I did to improve the worthless stock rear rack....

Shelf Picture 1
Shelf Picture 2
Shelf Picture 3
Shelf Picture 4

As you can see, mounts a single gas can easy, and recently I found that it also mounts a standard sized plastic "milk crate". Great for a little more cargo room.

And another mod I've done, to give the 'Cat a steerable third headlight:

Headlight Picture 1
Headlight Picture 2
Headlight Picture 3
Headlight Picture 4

I just got done working on the Honda 400ex, so maybe I'll go tinker with the 'Cat now. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

And Mr. WhoDatInDaMud- I love what you've done to improve the rear rack into a MRP type setup. Simply awesome!

 

I looked at the thing for about an hour the other night.

It looks like if the exhaust pipe was moved to a more traditional setup (straight out the back instead of sideways under the rear seat) that a winch could be mounted there, with plenty of strong mounting points, AND a place to mount the rollers (where the waste-of-space box is now).

 

You guys don't need a 2nd winch. You need to learn how to use the one on the front. Carry some winch accessories & use a pair of ****** blocks to get the cable around to the back where you need it.

 

I'd welcome knowing more about this method of moving the ATV backwards using the front winch.