Well, maybe I ought to sell this SuperWinch X2F 3000 pounder and use the $$$ to re-invest into a "normal" winch made for ATV usage? What do any of you think about that idea?

 

bloodtrail, Did you contact Superwinch? They will be your best source for accurate information. The capacity of your atv's electrical system may not allow you to reach the winch's rated capacity. The winch itself may be EXACTLY the same motor, gear train and housing as a smaller capacity winch they sell. I.E. Warn 2000/2500 is the same winch, just uses more efficient switch contacts in the "2500" which allows more current to reach the winch from the atv which allows it to pull a little more. Contact Superwinch and get the real story.

 

And larger guage wire.

 

Wannabee's exactly right. The "too big" winch stories told by the dealer to GlenS are hard to believe; Winch bent the frame? Winch broke its mount? Hmmmmmmm. Jeff, of High Lifter, carries a 6,000 # winch on his Monster Machine without ill effect.

I'm mounting a 3000 # X2 SuperWinch on a Bayou 300 4X4 with SuperWinch's blessing; the caveat, we're unlikely to see a full 3000 # pull, certainly not for very long, because of electrical system limitations previously discussed.

But bloodtrail, if you're uncomfortable with that winch, don't mount it! It's your quad, after all. While I can think of no reason a 3000 # winch wouldn't be an ideal complement to any ATV, you're the one who must be satisfied.

Tree Farmer

 

I asked the dealer about a winch I saw on a wolverine not powerful enough to pull another quad up a snowy hill. So I mentioned a buying a more powerful winch. He told me those stories. If hooked between (seemingly) immovable objects where is the force from that 3000 pound winch being transmitted? Something in that system will fail. Cable, mount, winch motor, quad frame something. The weakest link will go.

GleNNS

[This message has been edited by GlennS (edited 01-20-2000).]

 

GlenS, believe what you choose!

In my limited experience, I've never found a quad wanting recovery while attached to an "immovable" object. (Yet, I doubt 3000 # pull from a properly-mounted winch would damage anything.)

The force acting on a quad in recovery cannot exceed the resistance of whatever's sticking it--mud, gravity, etc. When the resistance is overcome, the quad moves! The "weakest link" in ATV recovery is the resistance holding the stuck quad.

Properly mounted, a quad winch distributes its pull through multiple attachment points, e.g., the many bolts holding the front bumper. Bending the frame by pulling on the bumper seems as implausible as the same situation with an automobile. The ATV's entire weight can be suspended by the bumper without bending the frame; would a winch pull bend it?

Now, about breaking the mount (and almost coming through the "front frame") of the Big Bear! Hmmmmmm. Hardened machine bolts with incredible strength mount the winch; did these fasteners shear, against the resistance of a stuck quad? The mount is heavy steel plate; did this plate buckle and tear, again, against the resistance of a stuck quad? Should a mount begin to fail (if this situation is possible, through defective materials and installation, perhaps), the operator's control of the winch motor through its control switch should avert disasters like the winch "almost" coming through the "front frame," as described.

The electrical part of these equations raise more questions than their enigmatic mechanical sides; at only 3000 # pull, a winch draws 223 amps. How did the unfortunate owners of these "too big" winches generate that current, or more, long enough to bend a frame or break a winch mount, from their ATV electrical systems and 14 amp-hour batteries?

Again, believe what you will. Your dealer may know more about winching than I. I would not hesitate (in fact, I'm NOT hesitating, with SuperWinch's full knowledge and encouragement) mounting a 3000 # winch on a quad. Make your own decision.

Tree Farmer

 

I did talk to SuperWinch late this afternoon, and was given the Green light! They said it should be fine, so Im going to use it! Im not real worried about bending anything, and I think it will work out good! Thanks for everyones input!

 

Tree,

Your assumming I know too much. You mention a properly mounted winch and I agree it should work. I have no idea how these quads had there winches mounted or what circumstances they broke. It could have been mounted with bubble gum and tin foil for all I know. The people using the winch could having been using the winch incorrectly (Pulling out a truck while blocked against a tree.) I do know that when you say the weakest link in a winch pull is the force holding the object stuck is incorrect. I have seen many a winch cable snap like an elastic(cable weak link). I have seen a quad stuck so bad that the truck it was winched by moved backwards and the driver had spin the wheels and winch(traction of wincher weak link, mind you the quad would have come out alot easier if they had been winching correctly instead of winching the front end down into the mud rather than up out of the mud) So with that much force on the components and the mounts breaks (by faulty mounting or whatever) you don't think there will be damage to the quad, if the winch is mounted deep in the frame? I also don't know how honest that dealer is, he may have been full of bull. The point of it all is I can see how the damage could happen.

Glenn.

 

You're right, Glen.

My assumption, regarding the weakest link in a stuck quad scenario, assumed proper mounting and winching techniques. I generalized to the point of inaccuracy (although I never doubted your truthful reporting of your dealer's tales).

In the Army an expression prevails, "G.I.-Proof." This adjective describes design characteristics so robust and unambiguous even the most careless or inept soldiers cannot misuse or damage the equipment. Few "items of issue" are G.I.-proof! The same can be said of ATV winching equipment, certainly.

I think an optimum winch mounting for ATV self-recovery puts the fairlead at about the elevation of the axle centerline. This geometry often isn't practical because of interfering radiators, bumper design, etc.; also, the location may unduly expose the winch motor to water and mud contamination. As the discontinued "Peanuts" comic strip instructed us, "Life is a series of compromises."

Many mounting shortcomings can be compensated for by use of a ****** block (sorry, previous readers; couldn't help myself!).

I've enjoyed our winch discussion and appreciate your input; hoping someone may avoid a night in the swamp from reading this topic.

Tree Farmer

 

O.k, that last post by Tree Farmer put another question in my head! How much abuse can a winch live with as far as being run through mud and river crossings where it will/might be under water/mud????? or does one have to really be carefull on what you subject to yoyr winch?