How to Install a UTV Winch

If you don’t have a UTV winch installed on your side-by-side or ATV, you need to do it before your next ride. Whether you’re stuck in a ditch, in the mud, or on a log, a good winch is your get-out-of-jail-free card.

You’re in the right place if you don’t know how to install a UTV winch. We’re here to make intimidating wiring easy and to walk you through the steps required to install a winch on a UTV.

But before we get into all that, let’s cover the basics you need to know before choosing a winch.

Choosing the Right UTV Winch

The first step to installing a winch on a UTV is always to pick the appropriate winch for the job based on your machine’s specs and usage.

2500 – 3500 lb. Winch

A 2500 lb. winch is an ideal ATV winch—small, affordable, and easy to use. A 3500 lb. winch works great on ATVs and most small UTVs. However, these winches might start to bog down if you’re buried in deep mud, climbing over rocks, or running a larger vehicle like a four-seater.

SuperATV winches include:

• Handlebar rocker switch and a wireless remote
• 166:1 gear ratio
• 100% waterproof
• Aluminum hawse fairlead
• 3.0″ x 4.87″ (76 x 124mm) mounting bolt pattern

4500 – 6000 lb. Winch

If you’ve got a big machine spIf you’ve got a big machine sporting some extra accessories, you’ll probably be better served by a 4500 lb. or 6000 lb. winch. The added weight of bigger tires and hefty suspension mods will pretty much guarantee you’ll need at least a 4500 lb. winch.

And if you plan on hauling your buddies when they break down, you might as well get a 6000 lb. winch just to be sure.

SuperATV winches include:

12,000 lb. Winch

A 12,000 lb. winch is for the biggest of the big—including trucks and Jeeps. Most people don’t need a winch this size. For those that do, you know who you are.

SuperATV winches include:

• Wired dash rocker switch
• 266:1 gear ratio
• Permanent magnet DC 12v, 1.9 HP motor
• Winch measures 14.56” x 4.41” x 4.86”
• Aluminum hawse fairlead
• 3.0″ x 6.6″ (76 x 168mm) mounting bolt pattern

Choosing the Right Winch Mount

Now that you’ve figured out which winch to get, you need to get it mounted. You can’t finish your UTV winch install without a winch mount plate or a winch-ready bumper.

You can easily find either on the SuperATV website by selecting Winch & Winch Mounts or Bumpers from the category options and then filtering based on your specific needs.

Just note that bumpers that are winch ready will be called “Winch Ready” bumpers. If it doesn’t say “Winch Ready,” you can’t mount a bumper to it!

If you’re in the market for a bumper and a winch, a bumper with a built-in winch mounting plate is exactly what you need.

Installing a winch on a UTV is a breeze with a winch-ready bumper. And the free spool knob is usually more accessible than if it were mounted inside your chassis with a winch mounting plate—handy for when you’re buried in mud.

If you decide to go with a winch mounting plate, just make sure it’s compatible with the winch you need by checking the bolt pattern. SuperATV’s 2500 lb. and 3500 lb. winches both have a 3.0” x 4.87” bolt pattern (76mm x 124mm), and the 4500 lb. and 6000 lb. winches both have a 3.0” x 6.6” bolt pattern (76mm x 168mm).

How to Install a Winch and Winch Mount on a UTV

Tools and Materials Needed

Don’t forget to gather all your tools before you get started. We’re focusing on a Polaris Ranger Winch install for today’s example.

Here’s a list of the tools you’ll need to install your winch:

• 7/32″ Socket
• 3/8″ Socket
• 8 mm Socket
• 10 mm Socket
• 14 mm Socket
• 15 mm Socket
• T-25 Torx screwdriver
• Phillips head screwdriver
• 17 mm Wrench
• 6 mm Allen
• Heat gun
• Side cuts
• Crimps
• Ratchet
• Drill extension
• Power drill
• Ear protection
• Eye protection

Let’s walk through the steps to install a winch and mount using the Polaris Ranger XP 1000 as an example. Most of these steps will be identical regardless of the machine you’re installing your winch on.

Step-by-Step Winch Mount Installation

1. First, remove the bumper from the machine. For this Ranger model, the stock plow catch must also be removed. Mount the SuperATV winch to the winch mounting plate and finger-tighten the four M8 x 25mm bolts included with your winch.ch mounting plate and finger-tighten the four M8 x 25mm bolts included with your winch.

2. Once you’re sure of the winch’s orientation and fit, tighten the bolts down.

3. Take the winch assembly and bracket and mount it on the Ranger using the four M10 x 20mm bolts provided.

4. Loosely tighten at first so that you can make sure everything is aligned. The Nylock nuts that came with your mount are paired with the lower two M10 x 20mm bolts.

Tighten all four bolts to snug and now you’re done with the easy part of your UTV winch install! All that’s left is the wiring.

How to Wire a Black Ops Winch

Now that you have the winch plate mounted and tightened up, it is time to wire the winch. Follow the diagram below to make sure you’ve got it right.

If you swap the positive and negative wires, the winch will spool out when you press “in” and spool in when you press “out.” It’s not the end of the world, but it’s still nice to get it right the first time.

Winch Wiring Diagram

Our solenoid is color coded to make wiring as easy as possible. Following this diagram will tell you where everything goes and following the steps below will give you more details.

Keep in mind that an in-line fuse is not needed or recommended for our winches.

Step-by-Step Winch Mount Wiring

Here are step-by-step instructions for installing your winch on a Full-Size Polaris Ranger.

1. Mount the solenoid in an easy-to-access location. We recommend somewhere under your UTV’s hood. This will give you easy access to your Ranger’s busbar.

2. Connect the red wire to the red terminal on the solenoid and run it to the hot terminal on the bus bar.

3. Connect the black wire to the black terminal on the solenoid and run it to the ground terminal on the busbar.

4. Connect the yellow wire from the winch to the yellow post on the solenoid and the blue wire from the winch to the blue post.

5. Make sure to tighten all of the connections, but do not overtighten.
   
6. Connect the male end of the rocker switch to the female plug coming from the solenoid. Make sure to tighten the connectors by using the cap screw on the metal ends.

7. Locate your UTV’s 12V key on the power source. This should be in the busbar under the hood.

8. Using the provided connectors and wire, connect the red 12V switch wire to the UTV’s keyed power source.
   
9. Mount the rocker switch in your dash. Now you’re done with wiring!

Install the Fairlead

A fairlead allows your synthetic rope to spool in and out without fraying and cleans debris off the line.

1. Models like this Ranger require the fairlead to be mounted to the bumper. Other models may mount directly to the mounting plate or elsewhere.

2. Run the rope through the fairlead and attach the clevis hook and baffle ring.

3. After you’ve finished installing everything, you can reattach any trim and/or bumper parts.

If you’re looking for even more precise winch installation instructions, check out our full-length UTV winch install video.

Congratulations! Your winch is now installed and you’re ready to get dirty!

Your Next Adventure Awaits with a Fully Installed UTV Winch

While every machine is different, most winch installations will be fairly similar to this one. At SuperATV, we have instructions and install videos showing you how to install your UTV winch no matter what machine you own.

Follow our instructions and guides and your winch installation will be way easier than you thought. As always, contact us if you need help choosing a winch for your machine.

Searching for the perfect winch? Find yours at SuperATV.com.