I was told it was bad to use a winch as a tie down when on a trailer. I had a Warn that died on my sportsman maybe because of using it as a tie down?
I don't want the same thing to happen with my 350's winch.

 

Yes. It's not safe or smart. Many owner's manuals specifically say not to do it.

 

I think I ruined a winch potentially prematurely by doing that. I had another Grizzly 660 several years ago with a Viper 3000 lb winch with synthetic rope. We didn't trailer it that much, mostly rode nearby. The gears stripped out and it quit working within about a year. I think perhaps it was because the winch was probably of inferior quality more than using it as a tie down point but I'm sure it didn't help. It is convenient to use the winch but it is very hard on the gears inside because of the shock they receive from bouncing around on the trailer going down the road.

 

You may also want to check your local DOT regulations as well... be that USA or Canada. I've read where a lot of DOTs require 4-point, independent tie downs. That would indicate a winch would only be a single tie down and possibly violating some DOT regulations.

Best to verify your local DOT regs.

 

Winches are made to have a constant pull not jerking on the cable that comes from bouncing. If that was the only thing holding the ATV down and the gears stripped it would be goodbye quad. I always use 4 tie-downs, one to each corner of my trailer.

 

There was a tie down on the back of the quad but yes it was the only thing holding it from the front. I will most likely never do that again.