Winch alternatives for flexibilty

5033 Views 21 Replies 13 Participants Last post by mrbb, Feb 14, 2017

Redtape

Discussion Starter · Feb 2, 2017

I am going to buy a Honda 1000 UTV, and I'll be riding remotely without any assistance to get out of a jam. Since it's a 1500 lb. machine, and I'm no spring chicken, this could pose a serious problem. I don't think a winch mounted in the std. positions would address many situations that I can envision. This machine will not have a plow mounted on it.

I have a winch on my Honda ATV in the std. front position, and I find the usage limited by the direction of pull that you are presented with. I know you can get a winch to hook on the trailer hitch, but that's the limit of my knowledge of such hook-ups. Can I somehow configure my set-up with one winch that I can switch to the front or rear depending on the stupid predicament that I get into? Any suggestions will be appreciated. I'm just hoping to do it right the first time for a change. LOL Thanks......

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Manny

· #2 · Feb 2, 2017

yes you can have receiver mounted winches that can be moved front to back. however, its not really a necessity if you carry a block and tackle with extra cable. that will get you out of most situations.

I would get a 4k pound winch minimum. warn offers great winches and if you look at superwinch I would go with the terra series.

mrbb

· #3 · Feb 2, 2017

you can also carry a 4 ton come along
get a GOOD winch kit, with a snatch block or TWO, and you can then pull from all sorts of angles
SOMETHING else to consider, is MANY times when you DO get stuck, there isn;t even anything to HOOK a winch line onto?

then , you MIGHT need a LAND ANCHOR to carry with you

the best tool to carry with you while riding is YOUR BRAIN,(and don't laugh, many don't use there far too often when off roading and get in trouble due to this simple rule)
and KNOW how to use it, as in learn right and wrong ways to do things and LIMITS of YOU< your machine and tools you have with you !
JUST cause you BUY something doesn't mean you know proper way to use it!

if it looks IFFY< and your alone
a light bulb should come on and tell you, BAD IDEA HERE
go around or BACK
or be prepared to get stuck and be bale to get out on your own!

KNOWING HOW to winch correctly, and that's a SKILL< you learn , , its NOT just stick a cable on a tree and go
there is a Right way, a safe way and many wrong ways to winch things out
information on proper ways to winch are out there learn them, and you will be a LOT safer and better off in the long run!

GOING prepared is key, better to have and NOT need than need and NOT have, when you off road Alone!

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Larryw

· #4 · Feb 2, 2017

If I was a adventure with 1500 pound sxs I would have at least a 4000lb front winch and have a winch set up for the back on a quick wiring attach and rear receiver mount. Sometimes you just can't go forward. Wheels and suspension get locked under logs, roots and skeg.. Winching frontwards in them situations can cause serious damage to stuff.. Always have a backup plan. Or at the very least get a stout hand winch, snatch blocks, extra straps.. I rather have it and not need it ect ect ect.

SamUK

· #5 · Feb 2, 2017

An alternative to being able to swap a winch front to rear is to run a tube (if you can) front to rear of your ATV/UTV and fabricate a strong mount at the rear. Run the cable/rope through the tube. You permanently run a snatch block from the front end and if you need to winch out the way you came in you can.
This is something I'm currently trying to mock up on my ATV, I'm having issues building a strong rear point to attach the hook to though as the tube (front to rear) doesn't pass through anywhere ideal.

mac102004

· #6 · Feb 2, 2017

I would find a front receiver for it or build one and run a Warn 4500 minimum, ideally a 6000-8000lbs full size truck winch and dual batteries. Or maybe a gas powered hydraulic power pack and a hydraulic winch....

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

alloutdoors

· #7 · Feb 2, 2017

If you want flexibility in hooking the unit up, then get a light weight come along, snatch block and some synthetic rope(s) to carry along. This configuration will not be "quick" but you will have a relatively light weight item to bring along and be in a position to address many different situations.

Reactions: 1

Wood

· #8 · Feb 3, 2017

When in doubt...don't do it

Menard_LaPue

· #9 · Feb 3, 2017

Very good question, Redtape. In the past I mounted a winch on a 2" receiver so it could be used front or back on my truck. Worked great and provided flexibility for moving the stuck vehicle and for loading the trailer. However, the "portable" long cable to the rear was always inconvenient to hook up, despite that it was "clean", so in reality I always looked for any other solution before using the winch in the rear.

The idea to run a tube to the back is also an excellent idea, but difficult to employ in practice. The tube takes up ground clearance, must be configured just right so as to not kink or stress the wire in front, but if these considerations are overcome, a rear strong attachment is easy enough through a rear 2" receiver hitch.

Carrying a second winch, aka 4k come-along, is an excellent idea. You can turn your vehicle this way, if necessary, unless of course you get stuck nose down on a steep hill. I ended up carrying a second winch which was only 2k pull and $50 from Walmart which quick mounted to the rear receiver hitch, and believe it or not, this is the one I employ most of the time, rather than use the come-along. It is a cigarette lighter plug in model, very unsightly, doesn't meet any standards on this forum whatsoever, but is now 10 years old, beat to heck with abuse, keeps on ticking, very simple to use, and better than a come-along. The rated 2000# pull might be 1000# maybe, but is about just a little bit more than my arm on a come-along.

Always carry two swivel blocks and small chains and plenty of cables, regardless of anything else. And a shovel. And a shovel. And a shovel.

Good luck, let us see your set-ups.

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mrbb

· #10 · Feb 3, 2017

snatch blocks will double pull to don;t forget and easy to carry and use, and help with odd angles , based on where land anchors are

Tattiestorm

· #11 · Feb 7, 2017 (Edited)

Hi Redtape,

I am only a newbie on here but a couple of years ago I purchased a Honda engined capstan winch and fabricated a plate that mounts on to the front rack.

This winch can be removed by taking the R clip from the winch bolt and then fitting a strop to the winch to attach round boulders, trees, stumps or a ground anchor.

I will try to find a picture of the winch on the bike.

Cheers

A

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Tattiestorm

· #12 · Feb 7, 2017

Winch Attached to Quad

Land vehicle Vehicle All-terrain vehicle Car Automotive tire

Hopefully the picture has worked.

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2

Reactions: 1

_Wilson_

· #13 · Feb 8, 2017

Ts, that's a interesting winch mod you've build! I'd like to see more pics of it!

rodp

· #14 · Feb 8, 2017

Never mind the winch, I see you have garden cane shooting sticks maybe ?? :biggrin:

I assume you also use the winch for retrieval of the beasts? Any good for that?

Tattiestorm

· #15 · Feb 12, 2017

Hi All,
Rodp, yes indeed I use the quad sticks as they are the best thing since sliced bread.
I use the winch primarily for extracting deer from some of the difficult parts I hunt in and also it is handy when you get the bike bogged as the electric winches are nearly always under water/moss/peat/ mud and difficult to get the cable/ rope out of.

Jay10 I will take more pictures of the way the winch is mounted to the rack this week some time and post them on here.

Thanks

mrbb

· #16 · Feb 12, 2017 (Edited)

only thing I would add here is be CAREFUL< if that winch is mounted to the rack, as them small bolts are NOT made to be used to pull entire atv with. and I have seen them shear off, on smaller things besides winching,

that is why they mount winch plates to the frame, as its is so much stronger!
so heads up there
what kind of can is on that rifle and what caliber? also, whats the ruling over there with that type of stuff
fairly easy going, or a lot of hassle and paperwork?

Tattiestorm

· #17 · Feb 13, 2017

Hi Mrbb,
The winch is primarily mounted on the rack to carry it around the forest, but if I happened to get bogged or stuck I weigh up the situation and either leave it on if it is just needing to take a little bit of strain on the bike to free it and if it is well and truly to the "Headlights" I would remove it and attach the strop to something substantial and haul it out.

It is a T8 and the rifle is a Browning A Bolt .270 I mainly use 130g bullets, getting the Moderator in this country is a straight forward affair, more I suspect with noise disturbance and deafening oneself.

Cheers

A.M.

mrbb

· #18 · Feb 13, 2017

OK cool, I was a class 3 dealer here for a b while, and some times getting them can be much harder than needed, too many folks don;t understand how helpful they are to the ears and safety side, all they see if TV and Movie's and think BAD things about them
a shame, if more folks used them, many older folks wouldn;t be deaf today if you asked me!

but yes, I have seen the rack bolts shear off when folks have tried to tow out stuck sleds by tying off on the rack
them small 8-10 mm bots just snap right off, so wanted to advice you on that
as one's I seen break, ended up with a bunch of damage to atv as they bent and torn racks like they did?

johnnycombo

· #19 · Feb 13, 2017

Hi Redtape,

How about something like this:

https://www.allterraindepot.com/pro...oNYyiKShOqnF2YsJFNH3AgluvtG-WlfUQgxoCmCvw_wcB

rodp

· #20 · Feb 13, 2017

mrbb said:
OK cool, I was a class 3 dealer here for a b while, and some times getting them can be much harder than needed, too many folks don;t understand how helpful they are to the ears and safety side, all they see if TV and Movie's and think BAD things about them
a shame, if more folks used them, many older folks wouldn;t be deaf today if you asked me!

but yes, I have seen the rack bolts shear off when folks have tried to tow out stuck sleds by tying off on the rack
them small 8-10 mm bots just snap right off, so wanted to advice you on that
as one's I seen break, ended up with a bunch of damage to atv as they bent and torn racks like they did?

It's more or less a given here in the UK that when you apply for a calibre you also apply for a suitable moderator. I don't think I know anyone without a mod on a rifle. We even use them on air rifles.

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