I got the $69 winch deal with the new KQ but after looking over the installation and considering the extra weight I'm not sure I want to put it on.

The winch has to weigh 30-40 pounds, how much does this effect handling? It also seems like one more place for something to go wrong electrical wise.

I never ride in mud and have never been stuck in a situation where I could have winched myself out, if I am stuck it's usually in snow and with no trees etc, around. On the other hand; the winch looks cool, would protect the radiator some, and if I ever did need it would come in handy.

What do you think, is it worth the trade-offs to install a winch I probalby won't use?

If I don't install the winch I will probably still put the mounting bracket in just for a good tow point. Also, I'm about 95% sure that the KQ mounting plate is the same as the TwinPeaks/P700 mounting plate, the box had a KQ label over the TwinPeaks label and the instructions are for the TP too.

 

i would do it, it really doesnt affect the quad too much, i think it weights 24 pounds if not mistaken i would do it but if u dont like the weight keep it around and when u get in a situation where u do need it then you will know when ot put it on

 

30 to 40 lbs? holy sh*t you musta got one hell of a winch.....i have our 2000lb warn off the quad to fix it...and the winch, mounting plate and roller fairlead, along with the 50ft cable and big hook we use weighs only about 22-23 lbs according to our old bathroom scale

 

Get the winch for $69, installation isn't that bad and if you take your time and hook it up correctly you won't have any electrical problems. You won't be able to tell any difference in handling and it could save you a long walk or allot of work. If you don't have many trees around they have accessories for that or just get yourself a spike to anchor the winch to the ground. You don't have to get stuck in mud to need a winch. You could roll it over the side of bank, maybe you didn't make it to the top of that hill climb. You may also feel the urge to try things you maybe wouldn't have, now that you have the winch to get you out.

 

It only takes one time for that $69 investment to become priceless.

I've always gone 'winchless' but almost every time that I do any serious riding I'm in company with my brothers winch equiped P650. I'm seriously considering a new KQ and if I get one I'll get the winch - especially with the current winch deal.

Jaybee

 

For $69, you could put it up on the shelf and think about it..........then if you decide against it, you could sell it for a couple of hundred on ebay (or some member here perhaps).

 

The winch is a must! You may not have to use very often at all, but the first time you need it you'll be glad you put it on! Sometimes even the most inocent looking water hole can hide some pretty deep ruts...been there [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] If you ALWAYS go out with someone who has a winch then you may not need one, but the first time your out by yourself and get into a bind you'll will never doubt having put it on again.

 

This is my first quad with a winch. It's also my first quad over 550 pounds. I wish I would have had a winch on my kawasaki mule 2510, that thing was a tank.

Go with the winch, I love it and would never buy another utility and not have one on it.

 

I installed the Warn2500 on my P700. and the first thing I noticed was the machine was no longer willing to snap the front end up, you can still get it up with the right gas and jerk, but nothing like it was before...

THe weight did not seem to bother the handling of the machine on trails....

I have use the winch several times, and looking back consider the winch installation a blessing, and would mount a similiar unit on every utility quad I owned. This last trip two sunday's ago again proved it's value, winching my kid's quad into the trailer after he broke it....

I'd say....living in Utah, and you probably have a lot of remote places to ride......Install the winch. Your sure to find a use for it. and carry a tow strap too...

 

I had to make the same decision a while back. I live in the arid southwest, where mud is nonexistent and snow is only found at high altitude. I have never been in any situation (even in snow) where I couldn't just lift he bike out. And like you said, most of the time there is nothing to attach a winch to anyway. In the end, I concluded that it was just way to much weight on the front end, where it does the most harm.