Ranger winch?

[Jeff Lary]

Does anyone have a winch on their ranger? i have a 500 efi and have been told by a couple of dealers that a winch for this model is $1000.00 plus what is the story on this?

 

[Topkicker]

Check out Smittybilt winches. Alot of bang for the buck. Smittybilt XRC Winches – Smittybilt XRC 8, XRC 10, and XRC 12 – The full line of Smittybilt Winches They offer a 3k, 4k, and 4k comp series for ATV/UTV's. I bought a 8k comp winch for my Jeep. It was around $400. :thumbsup:

 

[m38inmaine]

Here are complete kits ready to bolt on, alot cheaper with a good reputation over on the Polaris Ranger Forums.

http://motoalliance.com/index.cfm/pageid/202/familyid/89#family_89

 

[jcmseven]

I have had a Polaris made winch and got good service from it. I do not know who actually makes the Polaris winch for them. With machine purchase, I recall getting it for about $750.00. I have also had Ramsey winches and have had generally very poor luck from them. Having had three of them (added by my dealer prior to my final approval) none of them have provided good service and I have had less than top service and support from the company. I cannot, therefore, personally recommend a Ramsey product. Warn makes great winches that are expensive but hold up and perform quite well. I have also been pleased with their support in case of trouble. There are other brands out there that some may have more familiarity regarding, but Warn is the gold standard in my opinion and worth the additional money.

One other thing through experience I have noted. If you intend on ever using your winch to operate a lift for a snowplow, do not go with synthetic rope. Synthetic line has great dynamic strength but not so great static strength and will break. I have broken multiple synthetic ropes operating plows and have returned to metal cable with good success in that application and no breakage. Though most of these have been with Ramsey products, I have broken one on a Warn as well. The same winch with metal cable never gave me any trouble up until I sold the machine it came with.

John M

 

[Jeff Lary]

Thanks for the help looking at Viper right now

 

[westbrooklawn]

Jeff - I went through the same process when I wanted to put a winch on my RTV900. After reading a lot of reviews, and for the money, I felt the Viper was the way to go. I bought their 4500# with amsteel cable, and it will pull my 2000# RTV out of a hole... no problem. I really like the amsteel option... much easier to work with, and no cuts from broken cable strands.

 

[B3300SU]

Hi Jeff,

I own a 2009 700 XP with every option available through polaris, i.e. heated cab, plow, guards, the whole nine yards, and have been all over the country riding. I learned a few very important things that I would like to share. I could'nt grasp the $800 to $1000 polaris wanted for the winch, so I went with a 4500lb viper winch. The first time I needed it, in a very bad spot going up an incline, it failed me. Plus, they are very noisey. If you are going to use it for a plow, it gets annoying. I tossed it in the can.
Anyway, I watched ebay for several weeks and ended up getting a polaris winch for under $300 brand new. It was well worth it. After using it, I even believe it is well worth the list price. Never failed me, and even though they were rated the same, the polaris winch had more power, faster line pull, and better controls.
Also, I would'nt get anything under a 4000lb winch, especially if you plan on getting it stuck like I do!
Synthetic rope and aluminum haus fairlead are the best for normal use. Plowing, it is best to use a cable that is cut down to about 12 feet and designated for your plow.
Good luck!

 

[Jeff Lary]

Aint it just the way, somthing that you figure shouldnt be too much of a problem there is much information out there.Thanks too all i most likely will never use it, it would be a just i case sort of thing. I snow blow my yard with a wheel horse tractor so i would never put a plow on mine.It is more of a get me unstuck sort of a hedge against the bad s^&*t that happens every once and a while.I have a Farmi Winch on the Kubota so any heavy work will be done with that. It is just that if i ever got stuck with that thing i dont know how else i would ever get out. Jeff

 

[sunnyside360]

Thanks too all i most likely will never use it, it would be a just i case sort of thing. I snow blow my yard with a wheel horse tractor so i would never put a plow on mine.It is more of a get me unstuck sort of a hedge against the bad s^&*t that happens every once and a while. Jeff

Know exactly what you mean. That is why I got the Polaris winch (front or rear connect) on my first Ranger (2008 700 XP/LE). In the 3 yrs I had it I never used the winch and it was just under $1000 and was manufactured by Warn. All I ever did was pull the cable out by hand once and ran it back on the spool to make sure it worked. A lot of that expense is labor to install. Wiring has to be run to front and rear, plug mounted on the dash, and a mounting attach plate.
Few mos ago I sold the 2008 machine and bought a 2011 Ranger 800 XP/LE with power steering. This time I passed on the Polaris winch since I never used the other one. But, I'm thinking about getting a Viper winch with wireless control for a "just in case" time I may need it. The Viper winch is less than half the cost of the Polaris winch.

 

[Jeff Lary]

yea i am a pretty practial guy i am always as prepared as possible in everything i do but i dont have a winch, but to be honest it's pretty low on the list of wants.did put on some fog lights last fall the ranger lights are not adjustable and these are made a big diffrence.Also added a couple of padded swivel boat seats to the rear.I mounted them on on a 2x12 that is rested on the top bed rails the family loves them they call em sefari seats makes it really easy to take 5 for a ride 3 up front and 2 in the rear.