RTV 900 winch mount

[Stoweski]

Hi everyone. I recently purchased a Viper Max winch for my RTV 900. The problem I am having is trying to find a winch mount that will allow me to mount the winch to the front guard instead of in the 'standard' location. I believe mounting it in the standard location is absolutely useless as I can't freewheel the winch without opening the hood and reaching down to the winch... unless I'm missing something.

I have the KFI winch mount for the 900 (2010 year model) and the winch mount that came with the Viper Max but it looks as though they use the bolts on the frame... which means the winch can only be mounted behind the front grille.

Would anyone out there have an idea of where I could get a winch mount that would fit my needs? Also, if you have a 900 and a winch... and took pictures of how it is mounted to the front guard, that would be appreciated. I'm just getting frustrated at not finding a solution online tonight.
thanks!

 

[plykins]

Hi everyone. I recently purchased a Viper Max winch for my RTV 900. The problem I am having is trying to find a winch mount that will allow me to mount the winch to the front guard instead of in the 'standard' location. I believe mounting it in the standard location is absolutely useless as I can't freewheel the winch without opening the hood and reaching down to the winch... unless I'm missing something.

I have the KFI winch mount for the 900 (2010 year model) and the winch mount that came with the Viper Max but it looks as though they use the bolts on the frame... which means the winch can only be mounted behind the front grille.

Would anyone out there have an idea of where I could get a winch mount that would fit my needs? Also, if you have a 900 and a winch... and took pictures of how it is mounted to the front guard, that would be appreciated. I'm just getting frustrated at not finding a solution online tonight.
thanks!

I installed a Warn winch with the KFI winch mount. The winch sets outside the front guard. It mounts to the mount and in turn the mount is mounted to the base of the opening in the front guard. If I get a chance, I will take some pics tomorrow. :thumbsup:

 

[DT86]

What about a removable mount to fit both the front and rear receiver hitch? I'd bet it would make the winch twice as handy.

 

[plykins]

What about a removable mount to fit both the front and rear receiver hitch? I'd bet it would make the winch twice as handy.

Wiring might be a problem. Have to wire in a solenoid to fire the voltage to run the winch.

 

[DT86]

Wiring might be a problem. Have to wire in a solenoid to fire the voltage to run the winch.

It's not that big of a deal. If I wanted or needed a winch on my 900 that's how I'd do it. Alternatively you could build a receiver mount and leave it on the front all the time.

Honestly you lost me on the whole "solenoid to fire the voltage" part.

 

[Stoweski]

I installed a Warn winch with the KFI winch mount. The winch sets outside the front guard. It mounts to the mount and in turn the mount is mounted to the base of the opening in the front guard. If I get a chance, I will take some pics tomorrow. :thumbsup:

Would like to see picts... thanks. I can see how the mount hooks onto the front guard but it only hooks on with two bolts (unless others are drilled). I don't see how the mount can be bolted to the frame (adding another two bolts to secure it to the RTV). I also tried lining up the holes on the winch after putting the mount in place and it hits the black plastic grille.

So yea, picts would be nice.

My guess with the f&r receiver hitch is that the winch would need power wires run from the contactor to both the front & back of the RTV. Then some kind of quick attach plug would have to be used. Good idea. Something I'll look into as an option. I do not want to modify any part of the RTV for a winch so that may be the way to go.

 

[plykins]

It's not that big of a deal. If I wanted or needed a winch on my 900 that's how I'd do it. Alternatively you could build a receiver mount and leave it on the front all the time.

Honestly you lost me on the whole "solenoid to fire the voltage" part.

On my Warn RT30 winch there is a contactor(ie solenoid) that is mounted in the battery compartment and connected to the battery. From this there are heavy wires that run to the winch and small wires that run to the dash winch switch. I guess you could buy a cheaper winch that plugs into the acc. plug, but you would be risking the chance of burning up your wiring from too much current passing through it. Not something I would do.

 

[plykins]

Would like to see picts... thanks. I can see how the mount hooks onto the front guard but it only hooks on with two bolts (unless others are drilled). I don't see how the mount can be bolted to the frame (adding another two bolts to secure it to the RTV). I also tried lining up the holes on the winch after putting the mount in place and it hits the black plastic grille.

So yea, picts would be nice.


My guess with the f&r receiver hitch is that the winch would need power wires run from the contactor to both the front & back of the RTV. Then some kind of quick attach plug would have to be used. Good idea. Something I'll look into as an option. I do not want to modify any part of the RTV for a winch so that may be the way to go.

Here are a couple of pics.

 

[Stoweski]

Looks like a 2 piece winch mount. The mount I have is only one piece but includes two spacers (probably for the bolt heads underneath. That was the one they had listed for a 2010 RTV900. I assume based on the pictures this is for a later model but still works on the front grille.

Thanks for taking the time to snap a couple of pictures. Does help. Now off to search and find those parts (and compare to the receiver hitch suggestion).

 

[Stoweski]

Ok. Still having a hard time finding a model # for the KFI winch mount that bolts to the front guard... at least one that will accept a Viper winch. The winch mount on orangeaftermarket is made for the winch cubby or inside of the hood. That just seems like a dumb idea... how does one go about changing it from lock to freewheel?
Anyone have a model # of a mount that will fit the front grille? Looks like it needs to be a 2 piece system similar to Plykins post above. Heck, I can't even find a similar model to his.