Hey, i'm new at this and i was just wondering if it is worth it to get a winch for a Recon ES? If it is, what kind would you recommend? thanks![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Cow,
I'm in the same position regarding my Rancher ES. Even worse, I ride my Rancher over on my ranch in Nevada high desert which means for me: 1) mud hole? what's that? 2) trees? nope. none o' them either. 3) ok, there is some serious sand over there - in "places"

So, all joking aside why do I need a winch? A buddy in Alaska swears his winch is his most important, most often used tool - but that's Alaska (mud, snow and ice). I suppose my uses would be to more safely pull the Rancher up the steep, TOO short, ramp into my truck bed and for pulling uses while doing ranch chores (like stretching wire along fence posts).

Tell-ya this though, Pard: If I were riding a Recon 2WD in muddy terrain or was crossing water very often - that winch would be the first thing I'd buy.

One other thing - I don't know "jack" about winches but I am an old dude with lots of outdoor and backwoods experience. The reason you buy a winch is to bail your hind end out of trouble spots, soooo, here's a place where you DON'T want to scrimp and save a buck. Buy the best one on the market (not necessarily the most expensive or the most powerful - but the one with the best reputation). Only the best will do because you are betting your bacon on it's performance when you are in a tight spot.

Yeah, I hate to part with the long green but I suspect I'm gonna buy a Warn and have the dealership mount it.

 

last week i was riding alone and got stuck and with out my winch i would have walked 4 miles to my truck.
come-a-long works just as well at 10% of the price of a winch....
i have the ramsey 2500 remote and i didnot pull me out with the help of the 4x4 atv
ant

 

If you bought a Recon, the first thing I'd buy for it is a full skid.

Winches are like insurance policies. You don't need it until something goes wrong. Some companies might not have a mount for the Recon so you have to see what is available. I have not used my winch except for just trying it out. But if I need it then I'll be glad I have it. A come-a-long would be a good idea too but then you have to carry it on the rack. Most the time it is possible to lift a Recon out of harms way because it is light.

 

I know Il be getting a winch very soon.got my polaris 700 stuck to other day and stuck bad my buddy tried to pull me out with his grizz 660 and it just couldnt get a bite so he turned his quad around hooked it to a tree then used his warn 2500 # winch that did the trick.hey cow1234 look on ebay you can pick up a warn 2500 for about $250.bucks

 

I don't know what kind of riding you do but in my experience I will ride through anything and everything just because I know my winch will pull me out. Out of the guys I ride with I am the only one with a winch and we have a whole lot of fun and get a lot more riding time because we are not wasting time getting unstuck in stuff we have no right riding through. Yesterday alone I used the old winch about 8 times in 2 and half hours of riding. (it just rained, lots of mud). I have the Warn 2500# and got it from the dealership when I bought my quad, saved the install cost ($100) and put it on myself, real easy. A winch is so much easier to use than a come-along and takes much less effort and time. Well that's my long winded 2cents.

 

Not even a question....

If you can afford a quad, you NEED a winch (not to be confused with your significant other) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

YES, IT"S WORTH IT...

MY RULE........AND I'VE BEEN RIDING SINCE I WAS 12 (I'M 32 NOW):

"IF YOU THINK YOU WON'T NEED IT OUT ON THE TRAIL, YOU WILL....."

No matter what you may think or believe, nothing SUCKS more than getting stuck somewhere because you forget to grab "that friggin XXX"

You understand right..?

 

Well let me put in my 2 cents on the winch deal. I put a winch on mind awhile back, and I have to say today is the day I really put it to the test. I am glad I have a winch. I have a 2000lb Tusk winch from www.rockymountainatv.com I had mud up over the tire, I hooked the winch to a tree and puch the button and give it gas and out the hole I came. yes I do alot of mud rideing and today was the only day I had to use the winch. Of course I had to pull my buddy out to. I have a 2003 Honda Rancher Es 350 4x4 and have 305 miles and love my quad.

 

For me a winch is great. I do a fair share of mudding. My previous machine did not have one. I did buy a come along but it only had 12' cable but I was normally stuck at least 30' feet from shore. Got a rope but it was the streatchy kind and by the time the 12' was pulled in the rope had streatched so did no good, my mistake I guess. before the come along it was 2x6's, muscle, and cursing or a buddy with a winch that got me out. IMO it is a worthwhile insurance. You may need it rarely depending on where you ride but when you need it it is great. I also use mine for pulling trees out of the woods.

 

If you can afford one they are great little insurance policies. Look at Warn or Ramsey.