We had a thread up a few weeks ago about mounting a rear winch on a sportsman. Well after some thought I came up with a design to suit my old Warn A2000, along with new contactor upgrade, wireless remote and synthetic rope.

The bike is a 2010 500HO.

I fabbed up the mount yesterday afternoon in around three to four hours. I've used mostly 50x6mm flat purely because that's what I had in the workshop. A fabrication place could no doubt do it with lighter steel and fold it where I have welded it but I'm really happy with the end product.

I've included a new rear exhaust mount because when the original was reinstalled it pushed the can too close to the anti-roll bar.

I'm also trying to make everything bolt-on so when I trade the bike in I can return the whole thing to standard.

The mount uses two existing bolts below the rear cubby on each side and still allows full operation of the cubby and tow bar.

I'm going to get it powder coated so it may be while before I update the thread with it fitted.

All the best

JF

 

would like to see pictures of it mounted. How are you wiring it in?

 

Looks good from here.

 

First of all the battery is going to be upgraded to an Odyssey for better performance. There are a few different models that will fit in the stock bracket and I am waiting to hear from my dealer on which one will suit best.

The whole setup i.e. the winch, cradle, fairlead and contactor, can be built up and wired on the bench leaving two tails for the battery connection. As the cradle is offered into place the contactor fits between the bottom of the cubby and the top of the anti-roll bar. So it's just four bolts and two battery connections and it's off again.

I decided today just to paint the winch mount. It seemed daft to powder coat a prototype that might need altered. (although I can't really foresee any problems)

I'm not happy with the Warn hawse fairlead. It doesn't have a complete radius around the mouth and is cast steel. Ideally I'd like a stainless version but in the meantime I'm going to source an aluminium one. My wife is in Canada for christmas so may pick one up from Rubberdown Customs.

The rope will be Plasma 12 Strand synthetic, 6mm in purple. We have tried various other brands over here and always go back to Plasma 12. www.ruftraks.co.uk

I'd be interested to hear from anyone running an aluminium fairlead.

All the best

JF

 

I am looking to upgrade to the UIX30L.