Hi everyone, I'm new to the forums. I've been lurking for a while, especially while trying to decide which ATV I wanted. Anyway, around Xmas I picked up my '06 Kodiak 450. Of course never happy to leave things stock my mods have begun!


I'll see if I like the winch as is, then I'll probably tack it down with something stronger than U-bolts
First Ride
Winch
Winch2
Winch3

 

Welcome to the forum, FastWagon.

That's a pretty nice set-up you have there, that front bumper is pretty radical. Good job on the rear mounting, I like to see people take things into their own hands and think up things like that.

I'm interested to see where and how you have the controles for both winches mounted??

Again, Good Job.

John

 

Ummmm, OMG...... And just WHO is that in your "NEW ALBUM"??????

Disreguard my last post about your ATV........ Now that is a "NICE REAR-END SET-UP", if you know what I mean.

NICE!!

John

 

Thanks for the comments! ..yeah, I forgot about the other album, that was from an off topic post on another forum [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

As for the controls, the front winch has the handlebar mounted rocker switch, just above my starter button. The rear winch came with a large control unit that I mounted on the front rack near the steering column, it's as close as I could get it to the handlebars, the cord wasn't very long

See Here:
Controls

 

Hey, thanks for snapping that pic for me. I have one of those rather large controles also and hate it. In the spring, I'm going to make my own box, but use the buttons outta the switch I have now.

I also wanna make a receiver so that I can switch the winch to the back when needed (which is usually most of the time as I like venturing into mud holes and usually can't make it through, back is the only way out)

 

You can look at my site for some suggestions on the winch mount ... I used a 1/4 plate steel and bolted into the frame.

 

I made a rear winch mount for my king quad, works great. I bought a rocker switch from napa to switch the leads to the selinods for the two winchs, so I can use the same rocker switch for both winchs. works awsome. i've got lots of pics if anyone wants to see. Ryan.

 

Fastwagon,
Pretty clever install. I've got a couple of comments tho... When that rear winch pulls, the main force component is going to be on the top "U" bolt. In your the pictures, that location appears to be right in the middle of the vertical frame members, between the top and bottom horizonal frame rails, the weakest point. You could, depending on the circumstance, bend or twist the frame at that point. I also have a little concern that if you ride over rocks you could catch the lower pipe end caps, moving the winch or the pipes out of position, possibly bending the two vertical frame members those pipes are bolted to.

Consider this. Mount the winch on the underside of the two pipes and slide the pipes up as far as possible. That will have a double advanage of getting those end caps out of the way, and moving the "pull" force further up towards the top frame rail, a stronger location. I'd also consider welding a square piece of steel plate (3/16" should do it) covering both pipes and on their "outside." You could then attach your "U" bolts through the steel plate and over the pipes, attaching the whole works to the frame. The steel plate would serve to stabilize the pipe pieces when winch pulling or in case it gets bumped (that's why it should be welded - to protect from side to side forces), particularly when your pull is "off center." ...or, you could bolt a piece of 1/4" steel plate to the two vertical frame rails with "U" bolts, mounting the upper "U" bolts has high as possible and mounting the winch directlly to the plate, or bolting your two pipes to the steel plate. That would transfer the pulling force to the upper "U" bolt mounting location, a much stronger place for the force to be applied.

My 2 cents do with it what you will.

 

i've changed it a little bit sense I put that pic up, i'll have to take some more pics of it and send them, to see what you think, thanks man, ryan.

 

JimJa

Those are some good points. I think I will try mounting the winch upside down, and sliding the brackets up. Thaks for your input.