anyone have a good pic of a winch mounted on a 97 prairie 400? i cannot seem to find a pic of one mounted or even a pic of a mount itself. I found all the mounting points but by looking at it it will leave the winch out in front of the bumper and i was hoping to mount it in behind to keep it safe.

 

I have a Prarie like yours and had a winch on it but I took it off a few years ago because it stuck out too far and the winch isn't the best either (it doesn't have a free release to pull it out by hand) and I'd broken the cable a few times using my blade because it doesn't have a stop on it (I use an electric lift cylinder now, like it much better). I have been wondering too if anyone makes a better mount for a winch though. As I found out a few months back there isn't much of a place to hook onto on the front if you need a tow.

 

Not sure but I did ride a 2wd 400 that had the winch and it was mounted low and stuck out enough that I had to be careful when going over ledges because I hit the winch a few times. It was sand so no problem but dirt or rock would have been another story.

I've seen winches on the 4x4 400s that had it mounted higher but it was still in front of the radiator shield and stuck out too far for my taste.

 

Right now I'm using a portable winch that connects with a heavy duty strap. I sorta like it as I can hook it to any side of the atv. Comes in really handy on side hills but would love to make it permanent as its one less thing to pack

 

Found these;

Mile Marker ATV Winch Mounts 51-1310 for your 1998 KAWASAKI KVF400 PRAIRIE 4X4 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at PowerSports Place

Warn ATV Winch Mounting Kits 39555 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at PowerSports Place

Second one looks good and doesn't look to stick out hardly at all.

 

Look at the fine print on the first one. The picture is not actually what the product looks like. The other one does warn make a super small winch? Where they have it mounted is less that a foot wide and you would be lucky to have 6 inches depth. Yet their winch seems to have lots of room? Or is it just me.

 

Yeah, not much room there, which is the problem with hooking on anything to pull from the front at all. Wonder if you have to buy the Warn winch if you get the plate (I don't know if the mount holes are universal for everyone's winch)?

 

Id like to just see a plate that keeps the winch hidden.. I have a sheet of T1 steel that i can make the plate out of that is nice and thin but stronger than something 2x its thickness. then i can just build my own... I may just have to relocate the lights and put the winch up above the rad

 

I clicked on the instructions tab, the second one does not sit inside the frame like in that description picture. Sits completely outside, but the plate doesn't stick out any further than the winch does;

http://static.powersportsplace.com/g...a1-pn39555.pdf

Does say that holes are set up for two choices of Warn winches, but I don't know why you couldn't drill holes for another brand.

 

Mine is a 2001, almost the same. My winch is mounted upside down on the mount from the dealer. Here is some pics if it works.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...B/DSCF1007.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...B/DSCF1008.jpg