well I tried to add some photo`s but I`m not smart enough, I keep getting that my pics are too large, if you want to pm me I`ll e-mail them to you. I think the warn xt will fit easily. I put synthetic rope on mine but we will have to see how it holds up, so far I like it, it is alot nicer to handle than cable.

 

Well, here's a try at some pictures of the winch on my 420. Follow the links below. Let me know if you have any questions. If you know how I can get the pics on here better so people don't have to paste all the links let me know. Thanks


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount013.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount008.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount004.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount003.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount002.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount010.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...chmount011.jpg

 

Nice pics. I have a 2wd 2007 Rancher 420. Does this winch add much weight to the front end? I love my 2007 but the 2wd is very light in the front end with the added power. Need to add a little weight to hold front end down a little better. Would a set of rims and tires help this also. I almost wiped out a The Uwharrie Trails this weekend a couple of times because of this.

Thanks SpinalTap

 

It will add 20 pounds to the front end. If you're looking for a way to add weight, this is a fun way to do it. Be careful with the tires. Biggers tires on the 420 will negatively affect the handling. Happy trails.

 

I hope the light front end is less of a problem on the 4wd model !

Next week I'm picking up a new yellow 420 FM 4wd when it arrives at the local dealership, and I definitely could use a wench. The first thing I need to use it for is dragging big tree limbs and log sections out of a gully and cross-hill in the process of cleaning up a wooded area.

What make is your 2500 lb wench? I like the way in looks and the way it is positioned low in the front of your machine in photo #002. It would be nice to find an appropriate wench I can order online, preferably complete with mounting kit.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Venom Winch. Go to ebay and search "420 winch". You will find a bunch of them. Get the package that comes with the mount plate. They come with everything you need to mount it on the 420. And all for under $160 including shipping. If you don't have an ebay account, I'm sure you can just call them and give them your C.C. # and get it that way also. I've been pleased with mine, and you got to give them credit for being the first ones to come out with the plates to fit the 420. Let me know if you need any help with the install. The instructions are pretty good.

 

Thank you, artic4, for your helpful reply. Checking the Venom Winch website I, like the fact that the 3000x is rated 1.1 HP, both Warn and Ramsey 3000lb. winches use motors under 1 HP, and the Venom unit is offered for an incredibly low $89.99 on their site at venomwinch.com . But the limited 90 warranty gives me pause.

Right off the bat I will be putting it to work in the woods, so I really need a winch that will hold up under much more abuse than just getting unstuck occasionally. Researching further I find that Superwinch offers a limited lifetime warranty, and their ATV winches seem to be highly regarded. They also spec out favorably against similar capacity Warn and Ramsey winches in my opinion, which both also offer limited lifetime warrantys. I decided to order the Superwinch ATV3000 for $229.00 plus about $30 shipping via UPS ground from Zorko's, an authorized dealer and service center for Superwinch in PA, website at Zorkos.com. This items goes for $300 and up in other places, as do the Warn and Ramsey 3000 lb. units.

Finally, the Superwinch parts dept. tells me they do not yet produce a mounting plate expressly for the 2007 Honda Rancher 420. I just may have to visit a local metal fab. shop when the unit arrives, unless I find another solution beforehand.

Suggestions are greatly appreciated, and I will post the results here when it's all done.

 

Woodrat - for the mount, just buy the venom mounting plate. It has universal holes for 2 or 4 hole mount winches. Superwinch is a nice winch that you should be very happy with. Good luck.

 

Yeah, I would definitely recommend the venom winch mounting plate. I just installed 2 last week, went smoothly, fit perfectly, and the instructions were very good, no complaints. The only thing is, if you have stock rims and tires, it may rub slightly at max turn, one we installed rub a little, not enough to hurt and it was only when you turned it as sharp as it would go, the one with aftermarket tires and rims had a good inch or so of clearance. just food for thought

 

I notice some Venom products disappearing from their website and ebay since they slashed their prices the other day. I hope it just means they're clearing out for new stock. Today I still find the winch mount plate offered by Xtreme for the 2007 Rancher 420, and the one by Kappers Fabricating Inc. (KFI)

KFI has won my buisness simply because they've gone to the trouble of listing all the popular winch makes and models their plate will accommodate HERE. There is also a glowing endorsement of a KFI plate used by the staff at 4x4Review.com to mount a Mile Mark PE3500 winch on a Honda Rancher, apparently an earlier model Rancher because their plate is not the same one we're looking at for the 2007 model.