Does anyone have a winch on their 04 500 ho? I have noticed that you can take the plastic part that says polaris out under the front rack. Is this to place a winch? Do you need a special mount to mount it? What type of winch works best? Thanks for any help you can give.

 

I do not have a winch but that is the spot. A few guys I ride with have the winch. (most have warn) I do know that you need to mount it on brackets or a frame.

 

Mine is from Polaris ... if you look at my pictures you can see the mount.

 

Did you have to use a special mount to mount it?

 

It's the Warn Winch kit from polaris ... comes with all the parts ... had the dealer install it ... they only charged $70.00

 

You do need the mount set up. You can buy it on ebaY for $40. It comes with the winch mount, the fairlead bracket, and a mount for your winch contactor that is set up to go under the left rear fender, right beside and aft of the battery.

I have a Polaris/Warn 2.5ci on my SP400 which the dealer installed and did such a terrible job that I got my money back. I also have the Warn 3.0ci on my SP500HO which I installed in a much more clean and professional fashion than the dealer would have! If I did it all over again, I'd have the 3.0ci on the 400 too. It's a better set up.

 

Thanks for the replies. What will it cost me for the mount in all? I know it want be exact because every dealer charges something different?

 

Knowing what I know now about it, I hate to say it but I wouldn't even consider buying it from a dealer. Unless you're in special circumstances, the dealer won't come close to what you can buy a Warn 2.5ci or 3.0ci on ebaY. I paid about $350 including shipping to get my 3.0ci here to my doorstep. I bought the mounting set up from another ebaY vendor that I have done a fair amount of business with since buying Brush Guards and Tube Bumpers for both of my Sportsman. That was $37 and was thrown in with free shipping on my last bumper/brush guard order.

With my 400, I got the 2.5ci winch on the Polaris deal..."get a free winch or save $300". I took the winch but again, knowing what I know now, I should have taken the price break and bought the winch afterwards. When you ask your dealer how much that 2.5ci will cost, I'm sure they will tell you $350 to $400 easy, PLUS install. A 3.0ci would be well over $500 I'd guess. Mine charged $170 to install it and they said they had an "expert" installer. As it turns out, their "expert" installer was some 16 year old punk, probably named Gomer, that had trouble workin' the spray nozzle on a garden hose. His install kept my bike for 2 days instead of the promised 1/2 day that we had prearranged and he didn't tighten any of the bolts that he had to loosen to do the install I found out AFTER I got it home (50 miles away!). Then, a few weeks later I had issues with my contactor, took it in and left it for 3 frikkin' days and they couldn't find the problem. I got it home after NO FIX and found just how poorly the wires were all run....it was a disgraceful mess that they would even let a machine go out there door like that and I made the call and told them to refund my $170 or I would see them in court for that charge PLUS what it cost me to transport the quad and have the entire install profesionally done by a competent mechanic. I had my check in 2 days. I will NEVER go back to that dealer.....EVER! I bought my 500HO 2 days later in Los Angeles! BTW...That's "Powerhouse" Polaris/Yamaha in Paso Robles, CA for those of you in California that are interested! At the rate their goin' I hope they close their doors and save the ATV loving public from further grief!

Sorry for that rant...I'm STILL not over that one yet! Buy your winch and a mount set up and if you need it, come back here for install guidance. Heck, I'll send you step by step photos if you need 'em, it's really pretty easy if you can turn a wrench.

 

When I get everything, I'll give you a yell if I can't figure anything out. Thanks for all the info.