Winch ATV options

Joined
Nov 27, 2013
Messages
1,812
I have a Honda Rubicon 4 wheeler, and am looking at winch options. Any recommended brands for something that will be used here an there? Also, any pros and cons of putting one on the front vs getting a manual or one that you carry around so you could pull out no matter which direction is needed vs hard mounted?
 

gman82001

WKR
Joined
Sep 22, 2013
Messages
303
Just replaced a 15 yr old one with a new harbor freight badlands 1500 and it seems pretty nice for $100
 

SOL2

FNG
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
14
My favorite winch was a 2500 lb super winch, but can’t find them anymore for cheap. Used to pay like 100-150 for them from Cabela’s. I have a harbor freight one now. 1 st one lasted about a month, second one is still going. Jury is still out!
 

cnelk

WKR
Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
6,862
Location
Colorado
Warn Winch [electric]

Ive had one on my 2002 Yamaha Big Bear for 20 years.

Mount it on the front and it can also be used for a snowplow or even used to pull trees out of the way
 

Luked

WKR
Joined
Apr 3, 2014
Messages
939
The Badlands winch at Harbor freight gets a lot of good words.
 

SCHUNTER73

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 25, 2021
Messages
169
How are you guys mounting the harbor freight winches? Does their kit really work?
 
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SWOHTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 1, 2016
Messages
1,463
Location
Briney foam
Warn in the 2k-3k range. Had two of them on two different ATVs, they work great.

Bring a come along as well if you’re that concerned about needing to go backwards.
 
Joined
Jul 20, 2014
Messages
965
Location
Kirtland, NM
Warn on mine as well. I’ve used it to pull myself out of spring/summer snowdrifts. Winch late season cow elk out of the sagebrush. I used it a lot when I built a big chain link fence around my house.
 

Westernduck

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 26, 2021
Messages
131
I’ve had a super winch on mine for the last 5 years. I have no complaints with it, but I would be open to using another brand.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2021
Messages
344
Location
NV
Warn has been perfect for me, and parts are easy to keep them working for the long haul if needed.
 

jtevanMT

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
126
Buy a Warn. I tried to save money but had two others off-brands fail in my ATV.
 

Pap89

FNG
Joined
Dec 9, 2021
Messages
11
Location
PA
I have an old Warn on my Yamaha Big Bear. It's getting really loud when using it. If it's too far gone, I'm thinking a Badlands is next!
 

packer58

WKR
Joined
May 28, 2013
Messages
994
Warn makes good gear for sure, iv'e got a 2500 on my Honda Rubicon 500, on my Pioneer 1000 iv'e installed a Badlands 5500 "Harbor Freight" and so far so good, very quite. There's a lot of info on the web as far as mounting brackets that interface between Brand XXX winch and Brand XXX utv. Consider the type of cable you want to use, iv'e got typical cable on my warn 2500 and the first few feet are like a porcupine, i have synthetic on my 5500 and love it.
 

Oldbuff

FNG
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Messages
28
Super Winch is my favorite winch, but I can no longer find them for a reasonable price. They used to get them from Cabela's for about $100 to $150.
 
Joined
Jan 29, 2015
Messages
1,897
Location
Kalispell
Warn - at least 2500 - I was able to drag an elk a few hundred yards out of a thick patch of nastiness last year with my 2500.
 
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