Before choosing a winch for your ATV, make sure the winch you’re getting is the right fit. We’re looking for the goldilocks zone here, not overpowered, not underpowered—something just right. There is a wide range of winch capacities to choose from, so the best place to start is with the weight of your four-wheeler. Take that number and multiply it by 1.5, and you’ll get the minimum weight your winch should be able to pull. For example, if you have a beefy quad that weighs 750 lbs, your winch should be rated for at least 1,125 lbs (most lower capacity winches start at 2,000 or 2,500 lbs). However, if you ride with buddies on UTVs or on steep grades, a lower-capacity winch may not do the job when someone gets stuck. Shooting for a bit of extra muscle, maybe a winch in the 3,500 to 4,500 pound range, can give you the power and peace of mind you need when you’re out riding.
Once you have the right winch, make sure you have a workspace that is clear and level to work on, and your battery must be disconnected before you start the installation. Gather the tools you’ll need according to the winch’s instructions, but the basic items will probably be universal: safety equipment (glasses and gloves), socket set, mounting plate, and wiring kit. Most mounting plates are sold separately from the winch, although at SuperATV you can often pick a winch to buy alongside the matching mounting plate, so double-check you have everything you need.
Start by deciding if you want to mount your winch on the front or rear of your four-wheeler and confirm there is enough space for the mounting plate. If you’re already running some aftermarket accessories, you may have to move some things around to get the right amount of space. Follow the instructions to correctly bolt on the mounting plate and be sure they are torqued correctly. Our super durable, heavy-duty mounting plates are built to give your winch a rock-solid anchor point, but if they aren’t installed correctly, you could damage your winch or your rig—or both.
Align your winch to the mounting plate and secure it with the hardware included with the winch, but don’t overfasten. Ensure the winch cable is properly routed to eliminate pinch points and avoid any sharp edges. Once this is complete, tighten every fastener in accordance to the specifications found in the instructions.
Pay special attention to your winch’s installation instructions during the wiring process, as an incorrect connection could result in shorting out your quad. A good place to start is installing the solenoid, as it will have clearly labeled terminals for where the battery positive and negative wires should connect, as well as the positive and negative wires for the winch. Put the solenoid somewhere with easy access. Once the winch is wired to the battery, install the remote control or rocker switch on your handlebars or dashboard. Finally, connect your control mechanism to the solenoid.
Double-check that everything is wired according to the instructions and then reconnect the battery. Test out the winch’s spooling functionality, being sure to pay attention to cable alignment and that the winch is responding correctly. With a new winch, it’s unlikely that you’ll have spooling issues, but it is possible. The biggest problem comes with swapping the positive and negative terminals, leading your winch to spool out when you hit the “in” button and in when you hit the “out” button. This swap can be seriously damaging if you unexpectedly start spooling in.
More common issues are poor ground connection or incorrect wiring, which will result in your winch not working. If you do notice wiring problems, disconnect your battery again before fixing them.
Keep your gloves on when handling steel winch cable, as sharp burrs or frays can hurt your hands. You could also swap the cable for heavy-duty synthetic rope to get the strength you need without worrying about getting cut up — even better, you can get a Black Ops winch that already comes standard with our synthetic rope. As you start putting your winch to work, be sure that the line is always evenly spooled when it is retracted to avoid tangles. As with the rest of your quad, keeping up with regular maintenance is the best way to make sure your winch can always perform at its best. Keep it clean and check on wiring connections, especially after rough and tumble outings. Moving components should be greased occasionally, once every few months, but that may need to be done more frequently if you’re riding in harsh conditions.
Installing a winch is one of the fastest and easiest ways to improve the utility of your ATV for both work and play. A winch makes pulling easy on the farm or job site, while it can also rescue you or your buddies from some sticky situations out on the trails. If you’re looking for a high-performance winch that you’ll be able to rely on no matter the situation, check out the selection we have over at SuperATV! From lightweight to super heavy-duty, we’ve got whatever you need.
If you have questions or want some extra help picking out the winch you should install on your ATV, drop us a comment below or reach out to our team. We’d be happy to help you find the answers you need!
