I saw in a KMart catalog the other day showing a 1500lb. ATV Superwinch for $120. I was wondering, wouldn't it be possible to mount a winch in the back and one in the front and use both at the same time when needed? that's 3000lbs. of pulling power for $240, just hook up both winches to each other. Is this possible? I'm just unsure if the electrical system can handle this. This might sound stupid, but if it works, I can save at least $100 compared to 1 3000lb. winch.

 

Current draw on the battery would proably be too much for a single atv battery.

 

Two T1500 winches operating simultaneously at full pull would draw aroun 200 amps combined; the typical ATV battery (nominally, 14 or so amp-hours) wouldn't last long, if indeed the wiring and internal battery circuitry would support that load.

Aniel, you say, "Two SuperWinch 1500 pound winches, one front and one rear, give 3000 pounds of pull."

True. However, ONE SuperWinch 1500 and a ****** block gives 3000 pounds of pull; also, with a ****** block, you can make pulls from any angle, including backwards (snake the cable under the quad, thread the cable through the ****** block anchored behind the quad, then back to the quad rack or towbar).

A matter of preference and style; if you want winches fore and aft, by all means, mount them; however, the approach doesn't appear cost-effective to me, when a ****** block costs less than a tenth of the extra winch, yet doubles extraction force without increasing current draw.

Tree Farmer

 

What you state is correct Tree Farmer. However, I've noticed, according to claims on these forums, that sometimes even a 2500lb. winch wont get the job done. I don't do a lot of mudding or rough riding, but when I do, I don't want to get stuck with a puny winch. One 1500lb. winch might be enough for me, as long as it does what it claims to do. Getting nowhere with something you paid money for is pretty bad though. Now that I think about it though, I don't really need 6000lbs. of pulling power

[This message has been edited by Aniel (edited 12-11-1999).]

 

I have seen dual winches on Sportsmans before, but there were not designed to pull with each other.

I don't see how you run the rear winches cable to the front with out quite a few ****** blocks, but I think you would only need 1 ****** block to go from the front to the rear.

What quad are you putting this on?

 

I'm planning this for a 99' SP500

 

Ok I see. Get a front winch, a rear winch, 3 ****** blocks, and a long chain. If the front winch with the block can't pull you out then you will always have a rear winch to pull you out.

OR you could use both at the same time(for a few seconds at a time) to turn your quad around. All you would have to do is take the front winch and hook it to a tree to one side and take the rear winch and hook it to a tree on the oppisite side. This would turn your quad that way you would not be pushing the mud.

 

Gee BONER that's.....very creative. I think I'll just get myself one winch and work my way up if I need more Thanks for the input.

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When you mud ride as much as i do you learn a few things and you also make a few things to make it more fun.

 

Aniel, my brief and incomplete winching techniques discussion might make more sense after you look at the "Winching Tips and Pointers" accessible from superwinch.com. (By the way, SuperWinch favors the politically-correct term, "pulley" block.)

While no one can guarantee you'll never get into a situation where you can't self-recover with your winch. your chances are much improved with ANY winch and proper rigging (did I say a ****** block often comes in handy?). Good luck!

Tree Farmer