First off I just wanted to say thanks for all of the great info on the site. I have been searching around for quite a while but this is my first post.

I just picked up an '08 500 Touring and absolutely love it! My question is what size winch do I need? The bike weighs 770lbs dry so by the time I have it full of fuel and a winch installed it will be at least 825lbs. I'm trying to decide between the XT25 and XT30. This is my first ATV so I really don't know if the wireless remote is going to be used that much. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks, Mike

 

Welcome cougar! I have the RT30 on my 500HO, with no complaints. I just figured id get the biggest that would fit , then i was ready for anything. Congrats on the new machine and good luck.

 

Either should be a good choice. One thing I will say is choose a winch that pulls from the middle. I think most of the new warns do. The old warn 2500# and 2000# winches pulled from one side rather than centered.

 

Do any of you have the wireless remote? If you have it how often do you use it?

 

go w/ the 3000 if you have the extra money as you can neve rhave enough power when your stuck good

 

This is the winch I am going to put on my 800... http://www.gorillawinches.com/...atv-3000lb-winch-w.htm Saves a lot of $ compared to a Warn.

 

Do NOT scrimp when it comes to your winch, get the Warn... If you prefer synthetic line, I'd pick the Warn XT30 which comes with the wireless control, if you prefer cable, then go with the RT30, either way, I'd stick with Warn, save money somewhere else, not with your winch...

My .02

Tom
Bryson City, NC

 

I had the 3000lb warn and it broke just as easy as the others. All my buds have had great success with gorilla and viper, and they cost much less. Keep in mind if you don;t clean them very good after a outing none will last long.

 

i have a gorrila and they are the exact same winch as the warn i love my gorrilla waterproof series 2500 i pulled sportsmans out with it and my own quad and use it for my snowplow it has the same internal parts as a warn you just have to get the right one all of them are good unless it looks like this one

as you see the winch has no streength over the cable reel and if teh cable goes inbetween teh real and the motor it bends it out and stripps moves the gears out of each other and you cant fix it i tried. you can get them on ebay gorrilla ,venom,warn all work the same also i had an electircal prob with my gorrila and over a year later i asked teh person that sold it and no questions asked they sent me a brand new electrical box with remote and , and switch everything but the winch its self for free!!!!! hears is ebay name outdoor2you

 

hears a great winch with the synthetic rope just whent for 84 dollars and there are more for that price thats the same one i have but i don't hae the synthetic i wish i did. that warns are around 300 dollars thats 3 times as much so if you ever had a prob with a gorrilla and needed a new one you could buy 2 more as spares lol theres no need to buy warn.