welcome to the forums look like a real nice machine

 

Welcome to the forums from OK. As far as winches, there's millions of opinions. On mine i bought a superwinch terra 25, and it came with the remote. Also, its completely sealed, including the contractor. And it fits good, but it is a tight fit, its bad, honestly, it is pretty straight forward.

 

MeanGreen,
Welcome to the forum. As Bobs330 said, the Superwinch Terra25 is a nice fit in your Rancher! I have one in a Rancher as well. Additionally, as Bobs330 said, it is a LOT more winch for LESS money! You will definately be happy with the winch, it's fit, and it's performance. The Superwinch's come with your choice of wire rope (cable), or synthetic rope. They also come with an extremely handy remote control! The best prices around for a Superwinch Terra are from Amazon.com. You can also order a winch mounting plate for a Honda Rancher on Amazon.

 

Thanks guys, I'll definitely look into the Terra 25. What is everyone's preference for the cable...wire or synthetic? I'll use it mostly for hunting & working on our lease property. Am I right in thinking that wire cable is more rugged / durable, and synthetic is lighter / easier to work with?

 

Meangreen,
Welcome and I'd add +3 to the Terra 25. I also have a 2012 Rancher and I recently put the Terra 25SR on mine with a KFI mount. I went with the synthetic rope because my research says they do not build up energy like the steel cable in case of breakage. It comes standard with a remote.
I think you'd really like the Superwinch.
Ron

 

MeanGreen: The overall preference is definately for synthetic rope; even with people who have winches on 4WD vehicles and trucks. The cost for synthetic (as you'll see on Amazon.com) is a little but more, but generally very much worth it. Here are the pros and cons of each:
Wire Cable:
Pros: Less Expensive, Not quite as easily damaged.
Cons: Frays on the cable are nasty (hand killers), can cause a violent snap-back if/when broken, buries itself tightly into the winch roller and can be difficult to unroll, metal fatigue (and breaking) occurs when it is used with a plow.

Synthetic:
Pros: Soft and pliable, stronger than the same size wire rope, won't snap back if broken, easier to unroll off the winch roller, no fatigue occurs when used with a plow (If you are going to plow, synthetic is the ONLY way to go). A longer length of the same tensile strength can be wound onto your roller)
Cons: Costs more, A sleeve should be used to protect it when wrapping it around an abrasive object such as a tree or rock.

When you go to Amazon.com, type: Superwinch Terra 25 It will then display the Terra 25 with wire cable as well as with synthetic. Both come with remote controls and all the other goodies, except a mounting plate, which must be ordered seperately.

By the way, the Superwinch also draws less current than nearly all the other 2500 lb winches, and it runs quietly as well.

Be sure to let us all know how you're getting along with your new winch! ! Then, we'll let you know how we're getting along with our Old Winches!

 

Welcome to the forums! The terra25 is a goooood winch when my warn goes out that'd what I will get and get the synethic you will love it, have the rope on mine never had any problems and been on the Grizz since 07

 

69: You're absolutely right............With synthetic rope AND synthetic oil, YOU ARE SET!

 

Good post Kent. Mine has steel wire, and have used it to pull trees off the trails, andit pulled my rancher even with the brakes locked, they definitley have alot of pulling force. Ive never used the remote, but am glad to have it if needed.

 

I have a Motoalliance Viper Max 3000lb winch on mine.
This is the 3rd Viper winch I've bought(3 different bikes) and will never buy another brand.
None have ever let me down...and my winches get covered in mud,and submerged under water on a regular basis.
My pics show it with a steel cable,but I bought it with the synthetic rope.
The company I ordered it from forgot to order my billet fairlead,so I haven't installed the rope yet.

If you read...you'll see a lot of info saying that anything larger than a 2k winch could rub the left front tire at full lock.
I have aftermarket wheels on mine(correct offset) and 26x9-12 Bighorns on the front.
I have absolutely no clearance issues even at full lock...

 

As far as installing the winch it fits perfect...but I did have to take the front bumper completely off to install it.
Afterwards it fit fine.
If you are using a steel cable,you will have to trim the inside bottom lip of the bumper cover.
With a synthetic rope...you'll have a smaller aluminum fairlead...and shouldn't have to do any trimming.

 

lots of great info guys, thanks!

 

No problem...glad to help.

 

Nice photos DC!

 

Thanks...not too bad for phone pics huh?lol

 

winch usage

like most people say a synthetic winch line is a lot safer ( no stored energy if it snaps) and easier on hands etc. Safety tip I learned in the canadian army (signals) . if your using a steel cable to winch out , always throw a heavy coat or jacket on the cable, if it snaps, the heavy coat etc will drag the cable down on the ground, using up kinetic energy . makes it safer if it snaps

best Bear

 

Great advice there westbackline.

 

Good advice for steel cable users Westbackline!

 

If you do go with the synthetic (which I highly recommend) make sure that you get an aluminum Hawse type fairlead. I don't know if the superwinch comes standard with one. The use of a roller fairlead will cause damage to the synthetic rope because it will get caught in the corners where the rollers meet. A Hawse type fairlead is a solid piece of aluminum with an oblong cutout which has no edges. And welcome from the Volunteer state.

 

The Superwinch synthetic does come with an aluminum Hawse type fairlead.
Ron

 

Most...if not all synthetic rope winches come with an aluminum hawse fairlead.
The reason I got the wrong one is...the company I ordered my winch from already had an Amsteel rope in stock.
They ordered the winch and forgot to order the aluminum hawse fairlead...so it came with the steel cable pre-installed and included a roller fairlead.
The other two Viper winches I ordered came with the rope pre-installed and included the correct fairlead.
It wasn't a manufacturers mistake on this one...it was a retailers mistake.
In fact...I'm still waiting for the correct fairlead to come in.(It's been over a month and I'm getting a little aggravated about it)

If they don't hurry up and get it here...I'm just going to order one of the custom Billet ones from Rubberdown Customs.
I'll just have to decide between the three styles...
Flames,Skull,or "Got Mud".

 

JK - Good point about the aluminium hause with synthetic rope. As a matter of fact, if you purchase a Superwinch or a Viper winch with synthetic rope, then those winches are shipped with an Aluminium Hause. However, if you purchase an expensive Warn winch with synthetic rope, it is shipped with a roller hause. Also, if you purchase the Warn Synthetic rope kit, they ship you the synthetic rope and a roller hause. Obviously, Warn doesn't get it. See: Warn Industries - Winch Rope for ATV & Side X Side Winches: Synthetic Rope Replacement Kit
Warn would be my last choice. Superwinch would be my first choice because of both the quality and quantity that you get for the money.

 

Awesome stuff guys, thanks again. Looks like I'll be ordering a terra 25 w/ synthetic rope this week! Which KFI mount should I get? Amazon has two listed for the Rancher 420...a one-piece plate and a two-piece

Amazon.com: KFI Products 100705 Winch Mount for Honda Rancher 420 2x4/4x4: Automotive

Amazon.com: 2007-2013 Honda Rancher 420 4x4 KFI Winch Mount: Automotive

 

The one piece mount should work fine!

 

Welcome to da forums...:icon_ devil: Go with whatever winch you can afford,and like the available accessories the best..I personally run a couple of Warn s,have several large Warns on Jeep,Landcruiser,trailer,etc,but also run the chea,errr lesser costing Harbor Freight 3k lb. winches,as well as other non Warn winches with great end results,and success from all of them when I use them properly..If I overheat one,it is bound to not work as well until it cools down,hence I allow cool down time between each pull..I also always employ winch blocks if needed rather than over loading,or taxing my winch,and charging system...Synthetic rope is the way to go,even though new wire rope works just as well without damaging ones hands,but once it gets older,and develops stickers it can be a real pain to use..Steel wire rope doesn't abraid,or cut as easily as synthetic,but if you always place a rope saver around any possible chafe points,or sharp obstacle you can lessen,or stop any cuts,or abrasions to the synthetic rope...Make certain to always keep tension on,and keep wire rope spooled neatly,and evenly,and it'll serve you as well as synthetic will until you kink it,or break a few strands causing stickers...You can't go wrong with any of the modern winches if you use them properly,and know what you're doing..Practice using the winch is as many "staged" situations as possible prior to needing it for real the 1st time,and you'll be ahead of the game...Most winches mount pretty trouble free I have found with the exception being sometimes plastics need a small trimming to clear,or brackets need a little bending to align them properly...:icon_gd: