My wife and I both ride SP 500s. Hers doesn’t have a winch and her fan doesn’t turn on any more or less than mine. So I would say no, the winch doesn’t restrict air flow enough to create any problems.

Just an interesting side note here on the Warn A2000 and A2500. When the first A2500s came out someone posted here that they thought it was the same winch as the A2000, only with a bigger solenoid to “handle” more power. I’ve always wondered about that. Yesterday in the 2001 Polaris catalog I saw a “kit” consisting of a solenoid and a switch that claimed to “turn your Warn 2000# winch into a 2500# winch.” If that’s true, that’s all the more reason to avoid the solenoid and wire it directly to the battery.

 

just put my winch on my new red 500 ho last week. i used the solenoid and trashed the toggle switch. i mounted the solenoid right by the other one to the left of the airbox. we just used 3 plastic ties straps to mount it to the frame. works great.no drilling of frame or loss of storage space.

 

Been thinking about that direct wiring deal. I don't feel too comfortable with the switch that came with mine. What would happen if the main switch stuck while you were using it? I think you would be in a world of hurt if you couldn't stop it. Just think the extra time to install the solinoid would be worth it, or am I being a little over cautious?