Warn ATV Winch

by Nick Harris on June 4th, 2009

Warn ATV Winch

Mjmoitoso88 recently asked a question in the forum about a Z400 Winch and I thought it was worthy of an in depth answer. He asks what size ATV winch should he buy for his ATV, a Z400 sport quad. If you ride an ATV long enough it will eventually get stuck in the mud or between rocks or trees and other fun obstacles. I have experience with Warn ATV winches so I’m using a warn ATV winch as an example but there are other makes out there to choose from.

How much winch do I need on my ATV? That will depend on the size of your ATV and how often you use the winch. For most small ATVs and sport ATVs a 1500lb winch is ideal because it’s strong enough to cover most situations while being lightweight, often with synthetic rope instead of steel cable for added weight reduction. A bigger Warn ATV winch, such as the 2500lb XT25 and RT25 models will handle most jobs on larger ATVs. For heavy duty and frequent use applications Warn offers the 3000lb XT30 and RT30 model ATV winch capable of tackling the toughest jobs.

Can I use an ATV winch on my UTV? A Warn ATV winch was designed for extreme duty use on UTVs, the XT40 and RT40 4000lb models, and they offer the ultimate in performance and reliability. A wireless control system with a 50′ range, 3-stage planetary geartrain and disc brake system are standard. Winch performance can be enhanced further with an all new Warn bumper with built in UTV winch mount.

2009 1500lb Warn ATV winch specs:

Rated Line Pull: 1500 lbs. (680 kgs)
Motor: 12V DC with 0.4hp permanent magnet
Control: Sealed handlebar-mounted rocker switch
Geartrain: 3-stage planetary
Gear Ratio: 103:1
Clutch: Cam activated
Brake: disc brake
Drum Diameter/Length: 1.5″/3.0″
Fairlead: Roller
Rope: 40′ Synthetic, 5/32″ diameter (12.2m, 4mm diam.)
Recommended Battery: 12 Amp/hour minimum
Battery Leads: 10 gauge
Duty Cycle: Intermittent

Warn also offer a limited lifetime warranty on ATV winches sold in Canada and USA. The Extreme Terrain 1500lb ATV winch weighs 8.6 lbs and the rugged terrain version weighs 11.5lbs. With an MSRP of $279.00 (price varies by dealer) it makes a good addition to any all-terrain vehicle, especially if you enjoy hunting and fishing. Warn.

Warn ATV winches are also available from eBaymotors.