I have some questions for all my learned ATV brothers out there. I've never had a winch and have been shopping around for one the last few days and have noticed there is a seperate price for the winch and the mounting kit. Now, does this mean that the winch doesn't come with any mounting hardware at all, or does it mean if you want it front mounted (outside the fenders) you have to by the kit for your model? I'd like to have mine mounted under the fenders with just the rope running out through a roller fairlead upfront. I've pretty much settled on a 2000lb. Warn. The lowest I've found is at atvpartsdepot.com for $289.95, is this the cheapest? Lastly, how difficult are they to install, and how long does it take? Thanks in advance.

 

Ihave a 2001 Rancher and I got a Superwinch 1500 for Christmas ($149 @ Kmart) and no they do not come with mounting hardware i went to my dealer and for $69 I got the mounting kit and it mounts up under the fenders where you cant even see it with the fair lead mounted on the bumper it was so easy everything fit perfect and the winch is so high in water up to the head lights the winch barely gets wet and I was suprised how strong I even winched out a Suzuki Samari that was stuck!!!

 

Phil,

That is the best price that I have found. It appears there was a price increase since December. The price was $274 @ atvpartsdepot.

Rockymountain atv $299
Cabelas $329

 

the winch does not come with any mounting hardware nor does it come with a fairlead. You can get a local metal shop to fabricate one for you. It needs to be 1/4" thick in the shape of a trapezoid. Also my next suggestion would be to go to Tractor Supply Co. and get a tow rope(to wrap around a tree,buddy,stump, etc.); also it is a good idea to get a "soft strap"(excellent for getting your freinds out w/o looping the winch wire [which will damage the wire and scratch your friends quad]). My last suggestion is to get to get a ****** block (doubles your winche's strength) to get yourself out of the stickiest spots.

00' rancher 4x2es, 1500lb winch w/50ft cable, rhinolined rack, 26" mudrunners on the rear.

 

I have a 2000 Rancher ES and I think it took me about 1 1/2 hours to put on the winch. I have a Warn 2000. I bought the mounting bracket and Roller Fairlead seperate. Yes you can fabricate your own if you have the time and talent. I had both but bought the stuff instead. If you have never seen how it attaches, I would recommend you buy the kit. With the instructions, it will make your life easier. I have a superwinch on a 300 4x4. I put that one on back in 97 so I knew what it took to make one but for the sake of ease, I bought the kit for the Rancher.

Finding a good place for the solenoids is the hard part.

I also attached another switch inline to kill the power to the solenoids. I figured there was no reason to have them powered up all the time I was riding down the road.

 

Made my own, but still bought a Roller Fair Lead.

Check out the pics in my briefcase.

 

Hunter
Great pics. Real nice looking job. That looks like a superwinch, have you had any trouble out of the rocker switch. I've heard they can give some trouble.

 

I did have some difficulty with it, it was a older switch, but Jack Jolly at Superwinch send me out a new one and no worries.

 

Rangercd:
"1 1/2" hours to install a winch you got to be kidding it took me that long just to figure out how I was going to route the wiring.

Phil350
I am some what of a perfectionist and it took me a full day to do the whole job "RIGHT" I would think you should figure about the same.
But then again maybe I am just slow or installing the warn 2500 is more labor intensive?? finding a place to put that HUGE solenoid took some time.

 

I also mentioned that I had done it with a superwinch on a 300. I work on machinery all the time. I have the tools maybe it wouldn't be smart to judge doing the job on my ability but it can be done in that length of time. I didn't hurry through it. I didn't think the wiring was difficult at all other then finding a good place to put the solenoid. I didn't read the directions working on either winch. They are both pretty basic. The warn a little more complicated but only because of the solenoids. In looking back at my time sheets cause I put the superwinch on the 300 on company time, it took me 2 hours or that is what I have logged for installing it. I think on it took longer to get the rack and front plastic off then doing anything else on that one.