Hi all- I'm a new guy here, and to ATVs in general.

This past weekend I bought my first one, a 2006 Sportsman EFI. I wanted to get a 2006 because the rear worklights and EBS was standard, versus on the 2007 models you have to pony up for the deluxe model, and I didn't want the aluminum rims or the fancy colors.

Anywho, I'm in the market for a winch. 2500 pound minimum, and I'd like to have a handlebar switch mounted, but with a remote to use when respooling. Is a mechanical brake a must have? I would like to get the best 2500 pound winch available, but I want to get the best deal at the same time. What about these Viper or Venom or something winches all over e-bay? Does anyone know if they are any good?

Also- mounting? It looks like the location on the 2005 and up is pretty high to keep things out of the mud. I like that idea, but do I need to think about something like a Warn multi-mount or the Montana Jacks reciever system? If I did want to get the Montana Jacks reciever, would it fit over/behind the Polaris double tube bumper?

Thanks for your help!!

My buddy has a venom winch on his. He broke the freespool right away, and then the terminal part, where all the wires go went bad, the the rubber on the handlebar switch broke. The winch works good, when it works. I think with the right maintence, it would be ok. The gorilla with remote kinda intrigues me

I have the pure polaris 2500 winch works realy good so far but it doesnt have the remote. Alot of the guys here use the ramsey with a remote controler.

Mattgo, First off Welcome. Now then, I just bought a 2500 Warn/Polaris winch off E-Bay for $286.00 shipped to my door. I would look there. Only buy Warn, the others are not that good. There are a few on E-bay now. As for as the muti-mount, Its all in what you want. I just use the factory location and never had a problem. Lood luck

I have the RAMSEY #3000 remote. You never have to much winch. For me it is either WARN or RAMSEY, I just don't have faith in them off brands. The old you get what you pay for keeps popping into my mind. They maybe good but for my piece of mind I spent the extra have never regretted it.

No matter what brand you get be sure and get a SNATCH BLOCK and a tree strap to go along with it. I have also replaced my wire cable with synthetic rope.

There are some deals to be had with #2500 winch but they are being fased out in favor of the #3000-#3500 models. What you have to remember that a quad stuck skidplate deep in mud or headlite deep in snow has alot of drag on it. That #7-#800 lbs is multipled several times.

I just purchased a Warn RT 30 (3000# w/ mechanical break and remote, plus limited lifetime warranty). It's the newest Warn atv product. The mechanical brake is of benefit when winching uphill...the winch will hold the load even w/ the winch motor off. If the winch only has a dynamic brake, it can spool out under a load heavier than 500# (according to the Warn tech I spoke with).

The Polaris winch is 2500# w/ no remote and only a 1 year warranty. The dealer really tries to push these but I believe it is not as good a deal as going w/ other Warn/Ramsey winches.

I've always had great luck w/ the Warns (used to have an 8000# warn on my CJ-5 when I was a crazy young pup and we winched ourselves all over these southern Oregon mountains (always used a snatch block!!!)

Great buy! Yes the brake is a definate good option.

Mattgo...I ordered a mounting kit through my dealer that is the same mount as the one Polaris uses on their factory installed winches.
The Warn Prod. # is 73680. The dealer had to call a Warn distributor to cross reference this # in order to access the "entire" mounting kit....(long story) because Polaris will not sell the factory mount kit unless you order a winch from them!!! I said "no go" and my dealer then got hold of a distributor that had the mounting kit but it was not under the Warn #73680 listing (not sure what that # is but your dealer will have to search it out through his distributors of the Warn line). We are waiting for it to arrive... keeping my fingers crossed that it will be the mount that fits into the bumper pocket on my 07 500EFI sportsman. Will let you know.

PS.....Go to the Warn website and access the winch section and then click on the RT 30...it will bring up a pic of the winch and in the right column you'll see the factory mounting kit that I will hopefully receive soon from a "distributor"...however, when I called Warn, they said that the Polaris mounting kit w/ the PN#75630 is NOT available even though it's on the website.....after further discussion w/ my dealer who has also called Warn about this, the truth is that Polaris and Warn are supposedly not working well together because of an "unknown" cause, so they will not go out of their way to make it easy on the customer to simply order what we want.

After spending much time on the phone, I am finding that the business world is full of "politics" just like the world of politics!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Troman,

quote:

Originally posted by Cob:
You never have too much winch. For me it is either WARN or RAMSEY, I just don't have faith in them off brands.
No matter what brand you get be sure and get a SNATCH BLOCK and a tree strap to go along with it. I have also replaced my wire cable with synthetic rope.

I'll second that!
If I ever need to replace my 2500 lb Warn, it will be with a 3000+ Ramsey or Warn winch.

If you want a much better mount than the Polaris factory mount that mounts in the same front niche of the 06-08 Sportsman get a KFI. It is cheaper, better, mounts all standard mount winches like Warn, Ramsey, Gorilla, etc.... and there is no hassle trying to get Warn, Polaris or your dealer to find the Polaris factory mount. Here is the original thread...

KFI thread

One other point. The original factory Polaris bracket doesn't come with the fairlead mount so you are stuck there also. The KFI comes with it.

I have a Xtreme winch and never had a problem with it. It has been used quite abit this year for plowing.

Warn is the only way to go..........

Welcome Mattgo. I have a Warn 3000 with both the handle bar switch and the wired remote. I've had it for about three years now. It has seen plenty of use and I have not had any probs yet. Mine doesn't have the break. If I was to get anouther it would have it.
I also have the Montana Jack reciever mount. I don't know if it will fit with the bumper. If you contact them I'm sure they can help with that question. Might want to look into synthetic rope to replace the wire.

have 2500# warn winches on both of my quads, with wired remotes, but any new quads will have 3000# or better.....stroker