The only thing that i can tell ya is the connection on the bottom of the winch fills up with with water and the nut will rust, i dont know what the answer is other then water proof greese it really good

 

I have a Warn 2000 on my Sportsman for 2 years now and it has been in more muck than I can count. It has refused to work but with a little coaxing it done the job. I recently disassembled it to clean it and learned that in no way shape or form is it waterproof, its not even water resistant. What warn has done is use some good water proof grease. The hole set-up is very durable all the way down to the brushes and the brss armature bushings (no bearings). I would highly recommend the warn winch, go with the 2500lb if you can afford it if not you will just wish you would have. The 2000 can also be up-graded to the 2500 at a later date for about $150 if I remember right. (its a diffrent wirnig harness and a directional relay).

Happy Winching
Kuntry
2000 SP 500
ETC................