Just got the ATV2000 Superwinch I order installed Friday. It looks cool, so I guess it was worth it.

How many people have one and how often have you used it. Having one makes you think you can go anywhere. This is on a Kawasaki Priaire 400 4x4. It would still be a drag to get stuck.

And along that line... how many here have got themselfs stuck before.

 

I have one on my Kodiak and it gets used quiet often. There are many mud holes that I'll try to get through just because I know I have the winch to get me out if I get stuck.

From what I know about winches, I would personally rather have a Rule winch. And if my Warn winch ever quits working on me, Rule is the route I'll go.

 

i have a warn 2000 on my autocat. thank god for that. can't wait for theses stock tires to wear out, then i'll get 589s,i'm sure that will help me not use the winch as much. it's not that bad if you know how to use it properly. wish i had the 2500's remote though. if this thing breaks that's the route i'll go...and i think i'm going to upgrade my battery to a 260cca, i'm pretty sure it will fit in the stock box.

 

I've got a Warn A2000 on my 'Cat, and like BadHabits said, my 'Claws have definately allowed me to stop using my winch as much as I did with the stock tires. Keep in mind though, a winch is not just for freeing yourself-it's a tool with definate utility purposes, and many of them at that. For example, I've freed myself only a few times, though since I got my 'Claws not at all-yet. However, I have winched out several full sized rigs, including Toyota's, Suburbans, Ford's, and even the "all mighty" Jeep. Talk about a bruised ego, you ought to see the look on their faces when you pull up on your atv, and actually winch out a full sized rig who is stuck beyond belief! Sure gives you a great feeling though! On a side note, this was done with the aid of a ****** block, of which I'd highly recommend you pick up in the near future. They are another great tool to be used in conjunction with your winch, and double the pulling power as well. You'll also want to get a nylon strap at least 6' long, and 2" wide to be used as a "tree saver", probably some good leather gloves as well, so you don't tear your hands up.

Other things I've done with a winch are chores such as mending fencelines, tightening wire, hoisting harvested game such as deer or elk up into a tree for skinning, hell, I've even hung my 'Cat in a tree from the winch line in order to do some work on my shocks while up in the mountains without a jack! They're also great for removing large logs or boulders out of trails too.

Anybody else with some cool winching stories, or another "innovative" use for a winch??? Winches are great tools, and like FKNA said, they're also added "insurance" for braving those really tough mud holes.

Best of luck,

Mike

 

Cowboy, that look you speak of is priceless. First time I winched out a full sized truck with my quad was at Village creek, between Lumberton and Silsbee Texas. This guy got is truck stuck and was going back and forth trying to get himself unstuck. After watching him for a few minutes I get attention and told him I'll get him out. That initial look you get when you tell them you'll help is absolutely priceless.

 

Just how does one pull a full size car/truck free with an ATV. I've yet to use my winch. Do you just allow the winch to pull or use the ATV... or both. I'm still wondering how a ~600lbs ATV pulls a stuck-in-the-mud 2000lbs+ truck out. If the person stuck is REALLY stuck it seems the winch would just pull the ATV into the mud.

Tell us how you guys did it.

 

MWHC, you let the winch do all the work. And depending on how bad they are stuck, the terrain, etc you need to position the quad accordingly. Here's a couple of examples. When I went to winch a full sized truck out of sand on level ground I first got the cable tight, then I put the quad in reverse to dig my tires into the sand. Once that was done, I let the winch do the rest of the work. When the other truck I mentioned at Village creek got stuck, the ground was uneven, wet n muddy. I positioned my quad on the other side of a small hill/incline about 2 feet high. What this did when I started using the winch, instead of pulling the quad towards the truck, it was pulling the quad down towards the ground which kept me in place while I winched him out.

So really, there's only two things to keep in mind when winching out a vehicle be it another quad or a full sized truck. 1) Let the winch do all the work 2) Position the quad in such a fashion that it stays put instead of being pulled towards the stuck vehicle. Oh, there's one more thing. 3) Give the person in the stuck vehicle instructions not to spin the tires, but instead just give it enough gas to assist in moving the vehicle in the direction that the winching is taking place. The last thing you want to happen is far them to spin those tires and dig themselves in even deeper.

 

Thanks for the instructions! I feel kinda like a winch expert now. They really don't tell you how to use it propery in the booklet it comes with - you know... I've never used one before. Only the things not do to (which you would have to be retarded to try in the first place).

FKNA, those are great pics!

I love going through water. I don't know what it is but it's my thing.

The 'dead in the very cold water' pic... how did you get out of that one?

 

just remember, when you do use it,and use it you will, not to forget to put your jacket or something over the cable in the middle. that will really slow down that deadly whip if it happens to break, especially when you are winching something very heavy. better yet, use a ****** block. it'll double your pulling power and be twice as strong as a single line.

 

BadHabits and FKNA are both right on the money there, though I use a slightly different approach with the REALLY stuck rigs. If you go to my link below, there are some pics of me winching out an old Toyota pickup. He had a chev 350 under the hood, with a lift and 33" tires. When he went in that one mud hole, he was over the winch deep, when finally stuck, it was about hood level on the truck, most of the way back towards the tailgate. He had two buddies both in toyotas try to pull him out with little luck-one blew the rear differential, while the second broke a heavy logging chain. They all laughed when I said I'd get him out. I pulled out a roughly 20' or 30' strap and tied off to a tree with a clevis to some tabs I made for the rear end. With this method I also have a 2" ball for towing trailers, and can also hook up a clevis for straps and such when need be without removing the ball. Anyway, after tying to the tree, I spool out the winch line, always using a ****** block for big rigs-this doubles your pulling power. From there, just start grinding away on the winch-with something heavy like a jacket over the line of course, in case something breaks -this helps prevent the snapped line from coming back in your face causing serious injury or even death. Anyway, the winch and ****** block do all the work. The guy in the toyota was thrilled to say the least, he loved it. His two buddies were mad as all get out though, and ended up leaving him there-one limping away in front wheel drive only! The guy I pulled out was so impressed, he asked if I'd follow him out the rest of the way through the trail to the end, so I said sure, I'd love to. He got stuck a few more times, of which I winched again once, then actually towed him out two other times.

I've winched the suburban and trailer before numerous times using this same method, it actually works very well. Just to give you an idea, I have 50' of line on the drum, and carry an extra 100' of identical aircraft cable in the box up front with hooks on both ends for the extra long pulls. I also have a 6', 20', and 30' 2" wide nylon tow straps, 3-3"x3/4" clevis's-one twisted, other two are strait, and probably an extra 100' or so of other rope, as well as an extra ****** block for those "fancy" pulls when you need to angle a bunch. It might sound like a lot of equipment to use just for winching, but believe it or not, I have needed all those straps and all that rope on one particular pull before. I'd rather have it and not need it, then be stuck in one of those situations up a creek without a paddle, if you know what I mean. I also carry several pairs of leather gloves as well-that winch line can really do a number on bare hands. Things like a first aid kit, an axe, shovel, t.p., knife, emergency sleeping bag all fit nicely in the box as well.

Anyway, best of luck with your winch, they're a great asset to any four wheel drive vehicle.

Mike