I'm not going to do many modifications to my ATV. I bought it to have fun with and to also use as a worker on my property.

I'm thinking about adding a winch. Since I'm new to these vehicles, what are some good winches to consider? Where should I look for them? Are they easy to install?

 

i would go with a WARN 2500 lb winch. They work really well in all situations, esspecially if you use a ****** block. my suggestion is that you get a front brush guard to mount it to (it will save the front end from almost anything, esspecially the rad). i would look into getting a winch for the back too, (i am, it would be handy if you cant go forwards)

 

if your going to get one for the front/back then go w/ a recces type style where you can take it out and put it either place by unplugging it. i think there a little more money but better then getting 2 of them. no there not hard to install at least not the ones on front. just my .02

 

i agree with that. i've seen on other quads were they have a reciever on the front and back of the quad, and all you have to do is unplug it and move it to either end, plus you only have to buy one winch and not two!!

 

WARN 2500 winch successfully installed this past weekend.

The hardest part was the disassembly of the rack, rack mount and the bumper.

 

now you'll have to post pics. of the beast all done.

 

I will. It's hectic around here. New house, four acres of land, a new puppy and two new (used) ATV's.
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I could use some help regarding winches.

You guys seem to be the experts so I hope that you don't mind that I don't own or operate an ATV.

I have a boat that I keep on a trailer. I can hand winch the boat onto the trailer, but I need a winch that will pull the trailer out of the water. I don't have a hitch on my car.

I think that one of the Gorilla brand winches would work (inexpensive, reliable, etc.), but I have some questions.

Will I be able to permanently mount it to a post without too much hassle?

Does the switch have to be held the entire time of operation or can I get the trailer moving and attend to other things while it moves up the bank? Doesn't it cut off automatically?

Can the winch be wired directly to a battery without some type of fusing system?

The boat is a 15 ft aluminum Lund w/ a 35 HP outboard. W/ trailer the pulling weight can't be too much. Is there an advantage to getting a winch w/ more pulling power?

Any suggestions that you have would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dick

 

I am confused. Do you want a winch to pull your boat out of the water or to pull the boat/trailor out?? Could you have the winch on the atv & use that to pull it out??

I have mounted winches on all my atv's & it is not that big of a deal. Just follow the instructions. I have mine wired so that the key has to be turned on before it works. (so the kids don't play with it)

Buy a WARN winch!!!! I would NOT try to get by with a cheap winch. On a $7000-$8000 machine, what is an extra $150 for a well known, well respected, & trusted winch. It is one thing if it just has to lift a plow, but another if it has to pull a 800 lb. machine out of the mudd. I have had Warn on all my quads & couldn't be happier. I have the 2500 lb. on my SP 700 & pulled an 800 out of the mudd without a problem.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I want the winch to pull the boat/trailer out, but I don't have an ATV.

The plan is to attach the winch to a solid post (with a battery next to it) and pull the boat/trailer out of the water and up the bank.

Dick