By Casey Cordeiro
Photos by Casey Cordeiro and the manufacturers
ATVs intended for mud come with winches as well. Like mud-specific UTVs, mud ATVs are likely to have the winch mounted high. The high mount works well for those intending to mount a snowplow.BUYERS GUIDE: WINCH MOUNTS
There are several accessories that are “essential” items to have on your ATV or UTV. Depending on the terrain you ride, those essentials can change somewhat. Our essentials are a spare tire, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit and helmet, and protective safety gear for every rider. Not everyone thinks of a winch as essential, but it is something that every off-road vehicle could benefit from having!
Some of you are yelling at these pages saying, “I don’t need a winch; I ride in the dunes!” Do you know what makes it so much easier to get a tipped vehicle back on its wheels? You guessed it, a winch. If you primarily ride trails back east or, even more fitting, in the mud, then you’re already familiar with the value of a winch.
Most modern four-wheel OHVs don’t come with a factory-installed winch, winch mount, or a purpose-built bumper to mount a winch unless it’s a special edition. In order to properly install a winch, you need either a mounting plate or a very strong and well-built front bumper that is purposely made for winching.
We are going to highlight bumpers, winch mounts, and winches that are purpose-built for your ATV or UTV. Almost all ATV and UTV brands have an accessory division that sells winches and mounts specific to their own vehicles.
This QuadBoss winch kit doesn’t have the winch mount but does have a lot of features, including a wired and a wireless remote.WINCH MOUNTS & BUMPERS
There are two main ways to mount a winch to your ATV or UTV. Either via a thick metal mount with dedicated mounting points designed to attach to the frame of your vehicle, or a purpose-built bumper made to mount your winch and handle the stresses a winch puts on a machine.
Many winch mounts are available from either the vehicle manufacturer, an accessory manufacturer or the winch manufacturer directly. For those without a bumper, thick metal winch mounting plates ensure that your winch doesn’t rip out of your vehicle under high-stress situations, like pulling your vehicle out of the mud. The winch mount also features an attachment point for the fairlead. With so many varieties of winches, manufacturers can’t make a universal winch mounting plate.
This winch kit from SuperATV comes with everything necessary, including the winch-mount plate.The second way to mount a winch to your vehicle is via a front or rear bumper. Make sure that you are pairing your winch with a bumper built to hold up to pulling the amount of weight that your winch is rated for—2500, 3500, 4500 pounds, etc. It should be sufficiently gusseted where the winch mounts to it. You want a nice flat plate to mount your winch to, but make sure the flat plate is securely attached to the bumper with extra tubing (or plating) and thorough welds.
Look for sturdy attachment points from the bumper to your vehicle. If you really want to do this right, upgrade all the mounting hardware to grade-8 bolts for ultimate strength.
Some bumpers have winch mounting points on the bottom in a more traditional location and some have the plates located higher up. If you’re a mud rider or plan to use a snowplow attachment, you aren’t going to want your winch mounted low by the front differential of your vehicle. It will be buried in the mud if your machine is buried in the mud.
Special editions intended for mud running generally come fitted with winches from the factory. Note that on this mud setup the winch is mounted high to stay up out of the mud.BUYERS GUIDE: WINCH MOUNTS
WINCHES
The topic of winches and which winch is right for you is a whole article in itself. We won’t get into efficiencies, line-pull ratings, or line speeds. We’re going to go through the basics so you know what to look for in a winch.
With so many options, you should know that there are quality and feature differences with each winch on the market.
First, how do you know what winch capacity you need for your specific vehicle? We always recommend that you opt for more capacity than needed. You need to know that the max capacity of your winch is measured when the line is completely unwrapped from the drum (say it’s a 4500, so it has a line-pull force of 4500 pounds.).
With each layer that the line wraps around your winch drum, you lose line-pull force. For example, if you have a Warn Axon 4500-S winch, which is a popular option for many new UTVs, you have 4500 pounds of pulling power on the first layer of line wrap around the drum, which means that the rope is all the way out at almost 50 feet in length.
By layer four of the wrapping, which is the maximum number of wraps for this particular winch, the maximum pull is at 2810 pounds. With each wrap around the drum, the winch line is getting further away from the center of the drum, thus reducing the available force that the motor has on the line.
Basically, what we’re saying here is that you want enough pull on the last wrap to be able to handle your vehicle. For most of the time you are winching, you don’t have the entire 50-foot line pulled out. If you have a modern UTV, most of which weigh between 1200 and 2000 pounds, you’re going to want at least a 3500-pound winch, which has a maximum pull of 1975 pounds with the line all the way in (from an Axon 35-S as an example).
That’s barely enough to handle most modern two-seat UTVs and will be underrated with larger four-seat UTVs. You’d want to go with a 4500 in this situation. It’s never a bad thing to overestimate your needs. Buy it once and get more capacity than you think you need. Keep in mind that mud and all the goodies that we take with us on the trail add machine weight, too.
This YXZ1000 winch setup is an example of a winch that is mounted to a plate attached to the frame. Like many OEMs, Yamaha sells Warn winches through its dealers.BUYERS GUIDE: WINCH MOUNTS
Another thing you want to look at is the build quality of the winch you are going to buy.
Some are IP-rated for waterproofing, such as IP-68-rated. If you’re going to be in mud or inclement weather while riding, you’re going to want stainless steel hardware and a good IP-68 waterproof rating.
To further enhance the reliability of your winch, look for a winch that has a built-in contactor so you reduce the chance of an electrical failure out on the trail. The clutches, motors, and electronics are all things that matter, too. While most winches operate the same, there are also some new innovations that you should be aware of.
One company that is bringing many innovations to the winch market isn’t a winch company at all; it’s actually Polaris. Their Pro Heavy Duty Series lineup of winches, which include pulling power ratings from 2500 to 6000 pounds, include industry-first technologies that make your winching life easier and safer on the trail.
The first is the Rapid Rope Recovery feature, which speeds up the re-spooling activity by up to five times faster. Faster re-spooling means you can quickly get into the driver’s seat again.
The Pro Series Auto-Stop feature automatically stops the re-spooling of the winch when the collar touches the fairlead.
This is a great safety feature, and it also prevents driveline stress and over-spooling on the winch. The last thing to mention is their wireless remote, which works up to 50 feet away from the vehicle.
Generally, the only new ATV or UTV models that come standard with a winch are special editions like this Can-Am Maverick Sport X rc. The X rc models are for rocks and technical trails, so a winch is a bonus.Last but not least on the features-to-look-for list, you should look for a winch with a good warranty. There are many trusted companies with great winch warranties, but some don’t have good warranties. Make sure you have confidence in the winch you are buying and trusting out on the trail.
When we look at the different winch manufacturers, we first have to talk about Warn. Not only has Warn been in the game for an extremely long time, but they are trusted for their reliability, quality, and the great parts used on their products.
This is especially true with their new Axon series of winches, which condenses the entire package significantly. The Axon series has an internal contactor and minimal wiring, meaning your installation is quick, easy, and painless. Plus, the entire Axon winch lineup is compact and ready to fit almost anywhere on any vehicle. Yes, Warn winches are typically more expensive, but we believe you get what you pay for. We have the most experience installing and using Warn winches.
This is a common setup. The Warn winch mounted to this Yamaha is attached to a winch mount, but the winch is protected by a bumper.In addition to Warn, there are many other winch manufacturers to choose from. For instance, 4 Wheel Parts has really elevated their winch offerings in recent years with the Smittybilt brand. Plus, 4 Wheel Parts locations are in nearly every state, so you can probably find one close to home. You’re also going to find many more options on the internet. Go with the best one you can afford.
You don’t want to be stuck out on the trail, that’s for sure.
Last but not least, what about cable versus synthetic rope? It mostly comes down to your riding environment. There are pros and cons to both. If you play around with sharp objects all the time, the cable might be the better choice for you. Otherwise, synthetic is easier to deal with.
An increasingly common winch setup is to have a bumper with a winch mount built-in. It often makes for an easier install.When selecting a winch, one of the decisions you will need to make is whether you want a cable unit. The wire cable is strong and works well encountering sharp corners.Choosing a synthetic winch rope is becoming more common. They are still very strong but can be easier to handle with better flexibility.This is a simple winch mount. It doesn’t need to be complex or fancy, just strong and well-engineered.
Here is a list of trusted manufacturers, which include winches, winch-mount bumpers, dedicated winch mounts, and 2-inch receiver mounts (if you need a portable solution).
APROVE: www.aproveatv.com
Aprove has three winches that are made for ATV and UTV use.
ASSAULT: www.assualtind.com
Assault has winch-mount bumpers on the way, but they do sell bumpers that are made to work with frame-mounted winches, and they have openings for a fairlead for a clean install.
CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT (CABELA’S): www.champion
powerequipment.com
Champion has a wide range of winches in pulling ranges suited for OHVs but offers no mounts.
COMEUP WINCH: www.comeupusa
.com
Comeup has a lot of heavy-duty automotive winches, but they have a Cub Series for Powersports applications.
EMP: www.extrememetalproducts.com
EMP does sell Viper winches, but the company is bigger in winch mounts and winch bumpers for almost all popular brands.
FAB FOURS: www.fabfours.com
Fab Fours is better known on the automotive side, but the company does make winch mount bumpers for Polaris machines.
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS: www.harborfreight.com
Harbor Freight sells Badland winches for ATV and Powersports use. It has a hitch mount and a mounting plate that appears universal.
HIGH LIFTER: www.highlifter.com
High Lifter has a few winch mounts but many more winch-mount bumpers. The company sells Viper winches.
KFI PRODUCTS: www.kfiproducts.com
KFI is another company that sells winches, winch mounts and winch-mount bumpers. Bumpers are limited to Polaris and Arctic Cat, but there are a large variety of winch mounts, including hitch mounts.
KOLPIN: www.kolpin.com
Kolpin has winches as well as winch mounts.
MOOSE UTILITIES: www.moose
utilities.com
Moose calls its winch line Aggro, and it has a variety of sizes and winch mounts.
MOTO ALLIANCE: www.motoalliance
.com
Moto Alliance is the source for Viper winches and winch mounts.
NORTHERN TOOL + EQUIPMENT: www.
northerntool.com
Northern Tool has a nice variety of winches, but only a universal mount and a hitch mount.
POLARIS: www.polaris.com
While many ATV and UTV brands offer winches, Polaris has its own Pro HD winch brand, and it has some innovative features that are unique. Naturally, the accessories division has mounting options as well.
QUADBOSS: www.quadboss.com
QuadBoss has house-brand winches in various sizes, as well as a wide variety of winch mounts.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATV: www.rocky
mountainatvmc.com
RMATV’s house brand Tusk has winches and winch mounts, but it also sells a variety of bumpers and mounts from other brands, as well as Polaris and Warn winches.
SMITTYBILT: www.smittybilt.com
Smittybuilt is better known for automotive winches, but it does have a line of ATV winches.
SUPERATV: www.superatv.com
Black Ops is the SuperATV winch brand, and the company has a large variety of winch-mounting plates.
It has winch-mount bumpers, including some winch-mount rear bumpers.
SUPERWINCH: www.superwinch.com
To no surprise, Superwinch has a variety of winches that are suitable for ATVs and UTVs. The company also has an extremely wide range of winch mounts.
WARN: www.warn.com
In addition to tough, quality winches, WARN sells winch mounts and winch-mount bumpers for ATVs and UTVs.
Some folks don’t think you need a winch in the dunes, but they can help get people unstuck or turned back over.CONCLUSION
By reading this article, you can tell that there are many options for both winches and winch mounts on the market. We’ve started your research. Now, head over to your local parts shop, Powersports dealer, or the all-powerful Google interweb and conduct more research on your specific vehicle.
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Fact Checked
Lori KilchermannAn all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is often fitted with a winch to aid in pulling the machine from a location where it has become stuck. An ATV winch mount is used to fasten a winch onto the ATV in a manner that will not damage the ATV. Commonly mounted onto the chassis of the vehicle, an ATV winch mount disperses the stress of the winch across a wide area of the chassis so that no single area receives too much stress.
In some instances, an ATV winch mount provides both front and rear winch mounting to aid in any type of misfortune the vehicle becomes involved in.
Due to the nature of the ATV, many riders become stuck in deep mud, steep obstacles and snow. A winch allows the rider to fasten a cable to a solid structure to assist the machine in getting out of trouble by pulling as the rider applies throttle at the same time. The ATV winch mount provides a place for the winch to be mounted where factory engineers have determined it will give the optimum in performance. The positioning of the winch on the ATV winch mount is decided upon using angles and stress identifiers to determine the optimum pulling placement of the winch cable.
Manufactured of high-grade steel, an ATV winch mount is typically designed to attach to bolts that already exist on the machine's chassis. This prevents having to drill through the chassis and risk weakening the steel or damaging an unseen component within the framework. There are some mounts that are manufactured of stainless steel, however, most winch mounts are manufactured from high carbon steel and come with a powder coat finish. This involves applying the powdered paint to an electrically-charged mount and then baking the mount until the paint is melted and hardened onto the mount.
This creates a much more durable finish as compared to regular painted finishes.
On a dual ATV winch mount, a portable winch can often be used on both the front and rear of an ATV. This makes a good choice for those ATV owners who participate in frequent trail rides with other ATV owners. The winch can be placed on either end to assist in pulling a stranded rider, depending on the location of the winching ATV. When used on an ATV that is a primary hunting vehicle, this portable mount makes it possible to use the ATV as the anchor point when winching a large animal up a steep incline, by allowing the hunter to position the machine in the best and most stable position.
For extreme off-road ATV riders, an electric winch is a real lifesaver when stuck in potholes and mud. The electric winch is very easy to install and operate, it is controlled by a remote control, which is installed on the steering wheel of the ATV. Most importantly, such a winch will not require much physical effort from you to pull out the ATV.
It has an electric motor powered by a battery. When choosing, you need to proceed from engine power and tractive effort. It is recommended to choose a winch with a pulling force of 1.5-2 times the weight of the ATV. And how to install, connect and use it, we will tell in this article.
Electric winch is a drum with an electric motor. To connect it to the battery, the kit includes an electric unit and a set of wires, with the help of which the battery and the winch are connected. The control panel can be wireless and wired, which is also connected to the unit.
To mount the winch to the ATV, you need a platform, brackets, bolts and clamps. The kit also includes a roller lip, and a cable complete with a hook may also be included.
The platform, as a rule, comes with a winch, but if it is not available, you can make it yourself from a metal plate with a thickness of at least 4.8 mm. It is mounted on the frame with bolts of different sizes, it can also be welded to the frame. The electrical box is recommended to be installed slightly away from the winch, but most often it is installed on the site.
Next, we connect the power cables in accordance with the connection diagram specified by the manufacturer in the product data sheet.
We connect the control panel and install it on the ATV steering wheel. It is recommended to pull the wires tightly, excluding their friction with other parts. They also need to be protected with cable corrugations.
Next, we fix the roller lip to the platform using bolts. And you can assemble all parts of the ATV back.
Once you've installed your electric winch, it's worth testing it out on level ground before driving it off-road. Using a winch requires certain knowledge and compliance with safety rules. Below, we will tell you what you need to know when pulling an ATV out of a hole or mud with a winch.
In particular, if the winch has a steel cable, it is forbidden to work without thick leather gloves. In addition, clothing or hair must not be allowed to get on the winch drum. It is advisable to wear non-slip shoes and a hat. 
Important!
When working with a winch, all safety rules specified in the equipment passport must be observed.
You must not approach the cable and winch in working condition and allow other people to approach it. It is necessary to use a cable damper, as in the event of a break, it can damage people and objects around.
Before use, you need to make sure that all elements are in working condition, that they do not have breaks or damage, and that all fasteners are fixed sufficiently securely.
After using the winch, it must be cleaned of dirt, dried and lubricated with special oil.
If you are used to using an ATV, as they say "to the fullest", if you cannot imagine existence without measuring deep puddles and swamps, overcoming hilly terrain, and the thirst for extreme sports was born faster than you, then installing a good powerful winch is just what you need. what you need.
Installing a winch on an ATV is a simple process, but responsible and requires certain skills and care.
You can read an article on the correct use of a winch on an ATV here.
Winch platform.
Suppose you have already decided on the choice of a winch, then you should pay attention to the mounting of the platform. You can make the platform yourself or purchase it specifically for your ATV model (although you will most likely still have to grind and finish).
It must be said that the attachment of the winch platform to the frame must be reliable and thoughtful, because all the weight under load will fall on this particular unit.
Winch wiring harness.
For easier cable routing, we recommend that you remove the ATV plastic, this will greatly facilitate your task.
When laying wires, try to keep the power cables as short as possible, this will avoid current loss when the winch is running. If the wires are too long, they should be shortened after laying near the battery and put new terminals in place of the cut.
Cables should be tucked into the corrugation to avoid short circuits and direct contact with the ATV frame.
Attention! Wiring should be carried out with the battery terminals disconnected.
Wiring diagrams for the winch and control panels.
Connection for control unit, winch and battery.
Wiring diagram for winch control to solenoid.
Winch radio control connections to dual solenoids.
After installing the winch and wiring, check the winch and control panels for proper operation.
A video that shows in detail the entire process of installing a winch on an ATV:
you can always ask a question or make a suggestion in the comments. I wish you a successful installation of the winch on your ATV, and fewer situations in which you have to use it.
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