Just bought a Warn 2500 off ebay, new in box, for what I believe is a great price. $227.50 and awaiting it's arrival. I also ordered the mounting plate to go with it. Can anyone give me some advice or things to watch out for when doing the install. Is it a long process or a couple of hours. One more thing. Do you guys have it hooked up hot so it's always on even if the ignition key is not in. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks and Happy Easter.
Michael

 

i also bought mine from e-bay but it didn't come with the solenoid or switch. the kit i got only had the switch on the winch itself. i had to order them separate. i had my dealer do it so there were no f**kups. he put the solenoid in the storage bin under the seat and put the switch on my front rack (see my pics). it only works when the key is on. its a great winch and an absolute necessity to have when riding in the trails. there is nothing worse than being stuck and unable to get out.

 

When I got mine, I put the switch on the handle bars and when I went up a steep hill my leg hit the switch and engaged the winch and pulled the lead crimp on the rope through the roller fairlead. So now I put a toggle switch on and mounted it under the the handle bars down buy the air box, now it can't work until the switch is on.

 

I have the Warn 2000. But installation is about the same. The hardest (or should I say longest) part for me was routing the power cables properly. The winch itself is pretty simple. Just put it in place and bolt it down. It takes a little finesse to get the winch in to position though. I do not use the solenoid. I run the winch straight off the battery. If you have kids or are afraid of the winch being actuated when you don't want it to be, then use the solenoid. I have had my winch solenoid-less for over year without a problem.

I am about to do it all over again front and rear. Going to install the Montana Jacks Multi-Mount system I just got.

 

I bought a 2500 lb warn winch for my 2002 I guess almost 2 years ago and I paid 435.00. I installed it myself and the hardest part was running the wires and finding a place for the solenoid which I put beside the air cleaner box opposite of the shifter. I put the switch on the rack on the same side and it is easy to reach. I plow snow alot so I use it alot. I probably had it installed in a few hours total time. I didn't like how it sits so low since I go through deep mud alot. One day it wouldn't work and ended up burning up my solenoid which by the way I had to replace myself since the warranty was up by a few days. Cost of about a hundred bucks. Seems the mud worked it's way inside the winch and froze everything up. I had to tear it all down and clean it and grease it. Seems to work good now but not sure how long before the mud does it's wonder again. All in all I think the super winch is just as good for the money.