Anybody out there with a winch on theirs? What kind do you have and how is it mounted? I have access to all the steel I need and a machine shop at work. With that in mind, I would like to make my own mounting bracket. There are 4 mounting tabs on the frame under the radiator guard. I assume this is where the mount is attached. I am leading toward the Superwinch. Northern Tool has them at $139 and $189 for the 1500 and 2000. Those are the best prices I have found. May i have your input on any of these issues? Thanks in advance--Dan.

 

Use your ingenuity designing and fabricating your winch mount; if the tabs are convenient and strong enough, use 'em; otherwise, some U-bolts around frame or bumper members provide strong enough mounting points. Shoot for minimum protrusion of the winch fairlead and mount, so you won't get hung-up on steep banks.

If no fairlead comes with your winch, you can fabricate one by torching a slot in a piece of plate and smoothing the edges; a "hawse" fairlead like this is adequate for ATV winching applications, although there's nothing wrong with a roller fairlead.

The only significant difference between the T1500 and ATV2000 is; 25' and 50' of cable, respectively; plus, the ATV2000 has an internal spring brake standard (useful if you're holding a snowplow blade with it).

Oh, yeah; get a ****** block! Carry some auxiliary line, like additional wire rope (as long as your winch cable); and chances are, you won't have to walk home!

Tree Farmer

 

Thanks Tree Farmer,
I was hoping to get your input! As far as the internal brake, without it, will the spool unwind after a plow is lifted or is it something that would just work itself free after a while? In other words, would the plow stay up long enough to reposition the quad? I do understand that when not in use, the plow should be lowered, removing stress on the winch. With the mounting, should the base of the winch be on the same plane as the ground or would it not matter as long as there was enough clearance for the cable to come off the spool? I am already working on the accessories to add to my pack. Thanks for the info. Dan

 

Dan, without the brake, the winch spool static rotation is retarded mainly by considerable gear friction. It is by no means easy to pull cable from a winch at rest. The internal spring brake provides additional friction.

Without the brake, the snowplow blade position would probably become lower eventually from gravity and shock from surface irregulatities; however, the fall would not be at all abrupt.

Tree Farmer