Given the environment and hard conditions that all-terrain and utility task vehicles are used in, a good winch becomes a real necessity. While exploring wild nature, you can easily get stuck in deep mud, or you may need to help out your fellow riders. A winch and a tree or other massive object used as an anchor can save the day and rid you of many dangers. However, this equipment has to be properly selected, and several factors should be taken into account.
Most winches offered on the modern market are electrical and powered by DC 12V. Outfitted with a planetary or worm gear mechanism, they are dependable, practical, relatively easy to install, and effective. The most important parameter when choosing any of them is a rated line pull. This information is provided by the manufacturer of the winch and shows how much weight it can pull safely. There is a special formula helping you to determine the minimal rating: Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) multiplied by 1.5.
This coefficient takes into account the additional effort needed to get an ATV or side-by-side out of a boggy area, as the mud will try to suck it back. Also, keep in mind that GVW includes the occupants and everything on board such as cargo, accessories, fuel, and so on, except for a trailer if you're towing any. Another thing for you to consider is the way the winch should be mounted. Naturally, it has to fit the vehicle, and the mounting base should be strong enough – in some cases, stock bumpers are too weak to carry this accessory.
Probably, you will need an aftermarket bumper and/or special mounting plate to reliably attach a winch. Most of these mounts are available together with the information about their bolt patterns and compatibility with some popular models of winches. One more important factor is the line type: it can be a synthetic rope or steel cable. The former is more convenient, practical, and rather reliable, but if you're going to drag your vehicle across the rocks or similar obstacles, a cable could be a better option. It's extremely strong and durable but tends to splinter, so make sure you have a pair of gloves to protect your hands.
Having a sturdy winch on your ATV or UTV is key to a safe, worry-free trail riding experience. We offer tough-as-nails winches in a variety of sizes and different handling capacities to safely pull your ATV/UTV. Built with rock-solid materials and powder coated with a weather-resistant finish, they offer the strength and durability to withstand the rigors of unexplored trails. With a powerful winch delivering ultra-strong gripping power, you can easily free your stuck vehicle by yanking its trapped wheels out of a ditch, snow, mud, or sand to solid ground. So, go wheeling in the snow, climb over boulders, or cross mud pits with peace of mind that you can recover yourself out of any sticky situation.
