I am NEW to the ATV World!!! I want to install a winch on a "08" Honda Rancher 500. Being a welder fabrictor I am able to make most anything but have never done this before. Pics or a diagram for mounting and wireing would be a REAL BIG help to me!! If you have anything you think would be of help please send it along. I would like to say Thank You in advance for your time. Olddirt2

 

You can fabricate a mounting bracket, but quad specific brackets are already available. Rocky Mountain ATV.com (and others) sell them for around $40-$50.

Installation is pretty straight forward. Here's a link for pic's & instructions for installing a Gorilla brand winch on a Suzuki Vinson:

Installation Instructions from ATV Source.com

 

The winch you will buy will have the wiring instuctions with it. The mounting plate is easy enough ,just make sure it bolts to the ATV and its winch mounting holes are drilled for the winch you bought.

We put this winch on this Scrambler while drunk in a garage one night,just from steel laying around.

 

KFI makes very nice powder coated mount plates with hardware at quite a bit less than the big brand name.

I could also get some plate, cut and bend, and get the required hardware... But for the time spent I'd just order one.

Make sure you specifiy the right machine. The Rancher is a 420. In 500 there is the Rubicon and the Foreman...

 

Got mine mounted today just using left over hardware from other projects. I will post some pictures later. It really doesn't take much just make sure that where you mount it you can get a straight pull with it. I wanted to mount mine up under the plastics but there was no way to line it up correctly for a straight pull. If I were to turn the wheels all the way one way one tire would rub on the winch. I had to order the mouting plate but all the bolts and hardware were stuff I had around the garage. I just bolted it to the front of the ATV and it works great. I also ordered the handle bar switch for mine also.

Here are the pictures:

 

I got to try out the new winch today and it worked great! The directions said that I needed to pull the cable out and rewind it with some weight on it. I found a hill out in the woods and winched the ATV up. It worked just great! I had my wife operate the handlebar switch while I made sure it wound the cable up neatly. It has 50 feet of cable on it so winching that all back in took a while too as I would stop and let it cool a bit.

 

When the cable gets frayed and ever needs to be replaced,buy the new synthetic rope,its lighter can be handled with bare hands and winds up easier and neater,you will like it.

 

I may check into the new synthetic rope. Since I unwound mine I could not get it wound back on as neat as it was.