Do any of you guys out there hate the placement of the winch on our ac's. It seems that EVERYTIME i get stuck the winch is buried in the water and mud. This is one aspect i really think is a good idea , how polaris has put the winch at the highest point not blocked by anything. SO many many times i have had to use a come-a-long to get myself out because the winch is unaccessible. I would love to find a nice set up to get a winch on the back, i think this would make more sense. Thanks for letting me blow off steam!!!

 

good luck...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I agree completely I don't know what they were
thinking. I like the mud and get stuck ALOT and I
swear 90% of the time my winch cannot be seen.
When you're stuck in the mud it is usually easier to
get pulled out by someone else anyway. I take a lot
less chances when I am alone or the only one with
a winch.

 

Thie winch is about 50 lbs with all the hardware. It makes sense to have it low to lower your center of gravity. AC sits higher than most quads. Getting the weight down low is beneficial.

 

It does add weight to keep the front end down, and that placement does make sense to me. Plus, with their design, its tucked away neatly in that position and has a much more stock look than any other quad has I think. But that is a good point about it being buried when you are stuck. But everytime I've been stuck to the point that I needed to winch out, most everything else on the quad was buried as well.

 

Build bracket that fits your hitch reciever and mount the winch however high you want. You could even put a reviever on the front and have a pair of welding connectors that let's you plug it in on either end too.

 

Its not really efficient but when I am on a trail I think I might get stuck on I spool out just enough cable to place the hook on the front rack. As far from the front of the rack as I can get it. Then tighten the cable so there is a slight pressure so it does not get hoooked on anything.

If I get stuck and bury the front end I grab the cable hook off the rack and spool cable out (not the best way to do this) hook up and free myself before anyone notices (doesn't usually happen either).

On a side note I think the low winch point on AC helps to lift the front end when pulling yourself out forward. PLus I have found that a small shovel and a 5lb sand anchor work great if a sizeable tree/rock stump is not close enough for the winch cable to reach. Just dig a hole bury the anchor and connect your cable to the anchor.

SJ

 

I carry a 20 foot strap and 100 foot 5/16" nylon rope. If I can't reach something to tie off to, where I live in tree country, I really screwed up. I thought a folding shovel was required equipment.

 

Another idea....... Hook your winch hook to your front rack via a bungee. Then you can snug it up and it's not directly hooked to your metal rack. Also, loop a two foot piece of nylon rope onto your rear hitch. Bring the rope up to your rear rack and attatch to a bungee. If you need a pull from your buddy from behind just hook their winch hook to your rope and away you go. Now you can stay out of the mud and water from both ends.

 

the polaris winches are very easy to get to and click on freespool and everything which is great but i have seen so many of those winches go through the back windows of people's trucks. which well i like it tucked all nice and neat way up inside my wheeler yeah it is kind of a pain in the butt to click on freespool but i will live. and i do the exact same thing as swampy junior from the second i get my winch hooked up my hook is hooked to my front rack and then i snug it up fairly tight so there is no play in the cable. quick easy access and no reaching in the mud and still the winch is low enough to pull upwards so it is a win win situation. i have been doing that for years with the winch cable and now i notice everyone i ride with does that except the polaris guys no place on the plastic rack to hook it.