I got on Warn's website Sunday and sent them a note asking about various aspects of their different models of winches. Apparently I asked enough questions that they decided it would be best to call me instead of reply to my email, which I thought was kind of cool.

Specifically, I asked about the 1.5 on my Rancher; the material the housing was made out of on the 1.5, 2.5 and the 3.0; load hodling ability of the dynamic brakes; how water tight each model was.

I'll give you all the info that was given to me by the rep, which had to refer to his engineers on a few occasion to make sure and give the correct info.

For starters, I'll give the info on the 1.5. My interest was peaked by this model mainly due to its light weight and the fact that is comes standard with Mechanical brakes. This particular model has the plastic housing and was in no way designed to be water tight. If the unit gets submerged in water for any length of time, the intention was to disassemble the unit and dry and lube. No I was told that most likely, a quick creek crossing where the winch goes in and right back out of the water would probably not get any water inside the unit. As to the units pulling ability when coupled to a Honda Rancher, that depends. I was told it would assist in climbing inclines, but from the sounds of it, if the quad didn't have the ability to help at all and the rider was on the quad, it would most likely be too much for the 1.5 to handle. Contrary to what some folks have posted, while the few raps you have the greater pull force you have is true, when the 1.5 get 4 raps on the spool, the pulling capability does not drop in half, according to Warn, there is still over 1000 lbs of pull. The low amp draw is appealing, the slow pulling rate when compared to the bigger models is not so much appealing. This unit only comes with the mini rocker switch, and has a lighter cable than the other model. The wired remote is option, and even though you'll find old info on the wire remote stating it is for use with the 2.5 and 3.0, it works with the 1.5 as well. But, by the time you add the wired remote, you’re in the 2.5 range. The rep recommended the 2.5 if many inclines or mud holes were the target of your trip.

As for the Warn 2.5, the ci model is dynamic brakes, the ce model is mechanical brakes. You can always install mechanical brakes on the ci model, but at a greater expense typically, than buying the model with them already installed. The load holding ability of the dynamic brakes are roughly 200 to 300 lbs. In other words, this isn't going to be enough brake to suspend your quad from a tree limb (as was mentioned in another thread, neat story). The housing on the 2.5 is plastic as well. Like the 1.5, the 2.5's plastic housing is only subject to stress when you haul your ATV using the winch to secure it, or have slack in the winch cable and use the quad to yank on an object. Apparently this can strip out the housing that the gear rides on. Like the 1.5, the 2.5 was not intended to be submerged either. Same principle applies, if it gets dunked, plan on taking the unit apart to dry it out and lube it up. Again, the short dip in and out of water shouldn't hurt the unit. This unit only comes with the mini rocker switch, but does come with the heavy metal cable. The wired remote is optional. Adding the wired remote to the 2.5, especially the ce model, and your in the 3.0 ci model's price range.

Now to the 3.0. Again, there is the ci, ce and a limited edition, no longer produced xt model (more on this model in a bit). The ci used dynamic brakes, the ce and xt have mechanical brakes. The brake holding load ability of the 3.0 ci with dynamic brakes is roughly the same as the 2.5, 200-300 pounds. The housing on the 3.0 is all metal, being all metal, the rep still suggested that strapping down the ATV and yank with the 3.0 winch isn't a recommended procedure. The 3.0, all model, was designed to be water tight, although he did say if submerged long enough, they have seen water enter the unit. For the most part though, the water is a none issue with this model. If you look at the various pulling capabilities of all the models, you'll notice the bigger the model, the more efficient it is at a given pull rate than the lower model, i.e. the 3.0 will draw less amps at 0-2500 lb. pull than the 2.5 model does. This seemed appealing to me as you are working your electrical system less at a given pull. Of course the 3.0, when maxed out is drawing more than the 2.5 is capable of, which stands to reason. The 3.0, all models, come with the mini rocker switch and the wired remote. The xt model comes with a specially designed roller fairlead and synthetic rope, for added durability and lighter weight (almost 3 lbs. lighter than the ci or ce model). According to Warn, they design a different roller fairlead for use with the synthetic rope, which does not pinch the rope like a standard roller fairlead will. If you noticed anything about various brands of synthetic ropes, you know they recommend a Hawse fairlead which is made out of basically the same material as the rope itself, and not aluminum. As mentioned, the xt was a limited run, with a special rope and fairlead and was painted red, which is the only difference between it and the ce model. Being that the xt was a limited run, what is on the shelves now is it. However, the warn rep told me that Warn will release a new 3.0 model that comes standard with everything the xt model came with, but it will not be red, but rather gray like all their other models. Said it should be out some time in March.


I hope this helps someone else that may have questions about Warn winches as I did. I had questions about the other brands too, but I've decided a Warn 3.0 xt will be my first winch for one of my Ranchers. I'll look deeper in to the Ramsey winches when time comes to equip the second Rancher.

 

You should check out ramsey as well if you care about the amp draw... the ramsey will pull about half the amps of the warn at full load.

 

Like I mentioned at the bottom of my post, I will check out Ramsey when the time comes to equip the second ATV. Right now, I preferred to have a faster winch. While the Ramsey draws less amps, it pulls slower. I was also a bit leary of that rocker switch they include, it looks kind of big when mounted on the handle bars, IMO. I'm hoping, by the time I need a second winch, Ramsey will have a smaller rocker switch, as I will most likely want to equi9p the 2nd ATV with the Ramsey ATV 3000 w/synthetic rope (although I don't see this one for sale anywhere yet). You can buy it through Ramsey, but 759.93 is way to high IMO (of course that is Ramsey's Retail price I'm sure). I was able to buy the Warn 3.0 xt for 450.00, with free shipping. I do like the idea of the wireless control that Ramsey offers.

 

I had a 400 kodiak that had a warn 2000 on it.
It was plenty of winch for all conditions (7,500 miles on the quad)
I used it for my plow, Mud, inclines,Pulling out stuck trucks, and hauling a heavy old oil fired furnace up out of my basement.
I also have a Rancher........the Rancher is over 50 lbs lighter.
I would have no problem getting the 1.5.....and if I was worried about it at all I would carry a ****** block.
I see alot of guys saying you need a 3.0 or bigger on the forums all the time.
A quad doesnt have near battery enough to run a bigger (bigger than 3.0)winch for a full line pull (even if left running with the lights off)

 

I have a 1.5 mounted on my Wolverine. Things that appealed to me about it were the light weight (11.5 lbs.), low amp draw, and high mounting location to keep it out of the way of trail obstacles and the elements. Very, very happy with it so far, it has never let me down. I re-spooled it with some Amsteel blue winch rope and added a UHMW fairlead to drop the weight a little more. Last thing I wanted was a big, heavy winch weighing my front end down. The 1.5 performs very well for its size.

 

How much of the Amsteel Blue line were you able to put on the Warn 1.5, and what size did you end up getting? I noticed the 1.5 came with 5/32" line instead of the 3/16" like the 2.5 or 3.0 come with. I noticed a couple places on Ebay selling 40' lengths of Amsteel Blue for those Venom or Viper winches.

I like to hear the positive reviews of the 1.5 cause the second Rancher is the wifes and I don't imagine a winch would be needed all that much. Like you, the weight of the 1.5 was very appealing. I ended up getting the Warn 3.0 xt which has the synthetic line already installed and weighs in at 16.3 lbs. I suppose I could lower the weight a tad more with a UMHW Hawse fairlead, but I doubt I do right away.

 

Well, it didn't take Warn long to post there new 3.0"s". From the sound of it, Warn is going to offer all the winches wiht the synthetic rope as an option and the "S" will designate what winches come with the synthetic rope, the "ci" will still have the wire rope for those needing that application.

Warn 3.0s

 

I ordered 50' of 3/16" but ended up shortening it to 40'. I also had to remove the "rope saver" sleeve at the end of the rope. It's kinda bulky and wanted to bunch up on the winch. I added a winch saver to the rope while I was at it.

I took the 10' I cut off and had loops crimped onto each end, turning it into a rope extender. I carry it in the storage compartment of my quad. Nothing wasted...

 

Ummmm The ramsey should be cheaper than the warn even with the wireless remote... if you don't include the wireless remote on the ramsey it is MUCH cheaper. I'm looking at atv direct and they have it with the wireless remote for 375 and without for 340... the warn is 390.

 

I was speaking of the Ramsey ATV 300 w/synthetic rope. I did find it in stock (the Ramsey with synthetic rope) at ATV Direct, for 529. I was comparing this model to the Warn 3.0 xt as that Warn model is equipped with a special synthetic friendly roller fairlead and synthetic rope. Other than those two comparisons, your right, the Ramsey’s are cheaper and there is a good chance I'll be installing one on my other Rancher when the time comes (I'll probably not be able to resist checking out that wireless set up, sounds cool to me). One thing I thought odd about the Ramsey 3000 with synthetic rope was they elected to use an aluminum hawse fairlead as opposed to the recommended UHMW fairlead. Maybe they figure they'll sell more synthetic ropes that way[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I really don't know what to expect out of my synthetic rope, my luck would involve dragging it across something that cuts it.

Wolvydude, I think that winch saver is an excellent idea. Since this Warn comes with a roller fairlead and I see people talking about nicks in the fairlead cutting the rope, I figure I need to install the winch saver to keep the tow hook from marring the surface of the rollers.