[grizzlyadams]

This is my first post in a long time. I just bought a 2020 Grizzly 700 Saturday and I’m looking for recommendations on a winch. Back in 2007 I bought a Grizzly 700 new. I added the Yamaha 2500lb Warn winch at the dealer when I bought it. I hadn’t used it much, when one day I had to pull my machine out of a creek. About halfway out the winch made a noise like the clutch was slipping and wouldn’t pull more than 20-30lbs before it would slip and freewheel. I ended up tearing the winch apart and never could find anything out of place or broken. That’s made me a little shy of Warn winches since then. I’m looking for the best quality winch to put on my new machine. I’m not opposed to giving Warn another shot if they deserve it. I’ve looked at the ProVantage 2500 and the VRX25 and don’t see a lot of difference between the two. I’m open to suggestions from the experts.

 

[dezz]

In my opinion, I would never buy a new Warn winch. There is just better deals out there for the money. Additionally I've had several Warn winches over the years, none of which I purchased new. They simply came already installed on the ATV I bought. Only one of those Warn winches was reliable and has yet to fail me, and that is the one I have at this moment. Every other Warn I had in the past never worked right for me.

Again in my opinion, I think the Superwinch Terra Series are one of the best bang for your buck winches. They work great. Are water proof and reliable. There are many other good winches out there, but the Superwinch Terra Series seem to offer the most winch for the right amount of money.

But winches are like tires and engine oil discussions.......your going to get a thousand different answers and opinions. Some say Warn is the best. Some will say others are.
I give my opinion based on my experiences only.

 

[possume22]

I've never had a warn winch that I didn't have to throw parts on it to keep it working. I will never buy another warn for a atv/sxs. I've also had great service out of my viper kolpin and harbor freight winches. The initial cost is low enough if I had to work on them I wouldn't mind but I've never had to.

 

[grizzlyadams]

Thanks for the suggestions, I think I will look at the Superwinch. Now I have to find the right mounting plate.

 

[KodiakAfishyo]

I have had 4 different Warn's on 4 different ATV's and all have been used hard and drowned in my river weekly and used hard for snow plowing and have never failed me once. And why are you throwing parts into them instead of sending them back to Warn? They have a pretty good warranty.

 

[danngerous667]

I never saw a Warn fail....even in our -40c winters. Bad connections?.. towing with the winch? Misusing is a big source of failing.

 

[jvictory1974]

I have had my Warn for the last 10 years on 3 different atvs and the only thing I've replaced is the rocker switch one time. It's been used plenty , sunk in the mud a lot , pulled logs around my property , pulled me and buddies out of deep situations and never failed. Maybe I just got lucky and got a good one. If I have to buy another one ever....I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Warn based on my experience.

 

[Tigman186]

I've had KFI winches on all of my machines and have had extremely good luck with them. Regularly used in mud and water pulling out machines. Very reasonable, and lately they've been including the mount for your specific machine for free. My two cents.

 

[FrankL]

I have a 2016 Grizzly that i bought used with 1200km. After 2 rides i got stuck in a big snowbank, winch was not working. Warn pro vantage 2500. Had to use my shovel for 30 min lol. Once back home i checked it and from factory they install the relay switch right behind the winch. Once removed the switch was full of water and could not work. I replaced it with a KFI switch and relocate it up top close to the handle bars. Works perfect since even if i completely submerge the winch many times. Time will tell if it’s good but i do trust Warn.

 

[CanadianKodiak700]

I have a 2016 Grizzly that i bought used with 1200km. After 2 rides i got stuck in a big snowbank, winch was not working. Warn pro vantage 2500. Had to use my shovel for 30 min lol. Once back home i checked it and from factory they install the relay switch right behind the winch. Once removed the switch was full of water and could not work. I replaced it with a KFI switch and relocate it up top close to the handle bars. Works perfect since even if i completely submerge the winch many times. Time will tell if it’s good but i do trust Warn.

behind the winch is the mounting location warn recommends. sounds like you had a bad connection, resolved when you moved the wiring. that contactor will not be effected by submerging in water...saltwater....different story.

 

[grizzlyadams]

Thanks for all the replies. I didn’t abuse my Warn & I didn’t throw any parts at it like some have speculated. I guess at the time, I didn’t realize that Warn had such a good warranty, so I never contacted them. Anyways I sold the 07 back in 2011. I ended up ordering a Superwinch Terra 35 and a KFI mount for my 2020 yesterday. Time will tell if that was a good choice

 

[FrankL]

I have a 2016 Grizzly that i bought used with 1200km. After 2 rides i got stuck in a big snowbank, winch was not working. Warn pro vantage 2500. Had to use my shovel for 30 min lol. Once back home i checked it and from factory they install the relay switch right behind the winch. Once removed the switch was full of water and could not work. I replaced it with a KFI switch and relocate it up top close to the handle bars. Works perfect since even if i completely submerge the winch many times. Time will tell if it’s good but i do trust Warn.

behind the winch is the mounting location warn recommends. sounds like you had a bad connection, resolved when you moved the wiring. that contactor will not be effected by submerging in water...saltwater....different story.

False, i know my stuff pretty good since i was a car mechanics for more than 14 years lol. The switch was full of water and it happens to a lot of people. You can install the contactor behind the winch but you are looking for trouble i can assure you. Put it in a dry spot, you dont want to have a fail when you most need it.

 

[CanadianKodiak700]

False, i know my stuff pretty good since i was a car mechanics for more than 14 years lol. The switch was full of water and it happens to a lot of people. You can install the contactor behind the winch but you are looking for trouble i can assure you. Put it in a dry spot, you dont want to have a fail when you most need it.

If the contractor is going to give you issues under water, the winch will too, it's common sense. If water causes the contactor to sort, yet it doesn't cause the 2 exposed terminal connections on the winch to short.... 99% of the time, a contactor sorting out is due to poor/loose connections, arcing that leads to faster corrosion. Your 14 years as a car mechanic doesn't make you an expert on electronics, so that little tidbit is pointless to this conversation.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Zrt1200]

I have bolted on and wired up several warn winch's on my elderly neighbors King quad over the last 10 years. He has gotten about 2 year of service using it for snow plowing only out of them before his has took a dump. I know he has sent two of them back and both times they wants a fair share to fix it. He has given up on them and bought a small tractor to plow his driveway now. My self the only experiences I have is the one on my 17 Grizzly and so far so good.

 

[FrankL]

If the contractor is going to give you issues under water, the winch will too, it's common sense. If water causes the contactor to sort, yet it doesn't cause the 2 exposed terminal connections on the winch to short.... 99% of the time, a contactor sorting out is due to poor/loose connections, arcing that leads to faster corrosion. Your 14 years as a car mechanic doesn't make you an expert on electronics, so that little tidbit is pointless to this conversation.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Maybe i should have stated that i was a specialist in electronics and troubleshooting in my carrer but hey you probably know more than me about that. And you probably know more than me what happened in my situation. I’m done in this discussion Mr knowitall.

 

[Grizz2011]

I'd go with Warn again.

I mounted mine behind the winch as it is designed for this.
No issues so far at 9000+ miles.

When it does get submerged it's generally old coal mine-oil well runoff/discharge which is acidic.
When I did the install back in 2012, I was very particular about how the terminal boots seated/fit, and used no grease.
Also I never use a pressure washer.

Attached is a photo of the completed winch, relay, and mount assembly ready for installation into the front of my Grizzly.
I found it easier to run the battery cables/control wires first, leaving the zip ties loose, and installing the winch, relay, and mount assembly as a "unit".

After attaching the battery cables/control wires to this installed "unit", then tighten the zip ties.
This helps to insure the cables are not stressed and do not want to twist or rotate at the terminal boots later on while riding.


Still works like new, last used a few weeks ago pulling a dead fall tree from across the trail.



Attached Thumbnails

 

[Coles]

I've had KFI winches on all of my machines and have had extremely good luck with them. Regularly used in mud and water pulling out machines. Very reasonable, and lately they've been including the mount for your specific machine for free. My two cents.

Looking at a KFI Stealth winch for my bike, you seem high on them. I would like to hear how the installation went for you..?

 

[3532]

False, i know my stuff pretty good since i was a car mechanics for more than 14 years lol. The switch was full of water and it happens to a lot of people. You can install the contactor behind the winch but you are looking for trouble i can assure you. Put it in a dry spot, you dont want to have a fail when you most need it.

If the contractor is going to give you issues under water, the winch will too, it's common sense. If water causes the contactor to sort, yet it doesn't cause the 2 exposed terminal connections on the winch to short.... 99% of the time, a contactor sorting out is due to poor/loose connections, arcing that leads to faster corrosion. Your 14 years as a car mechanic doesn't make you an expert on electronics, so that little tidbit is pointless to this conversation.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Makes zero sense. Water gets IN the contactor and corrodes it so the contactor plate doesn’t move or the connections are so full of corrosion they don’t conduct enough current to run the winch. Having the cable connections under water has nothing to do with it. Once water gets in the contactor or winch itself trouble begins.

Long story short .... mount contactor high and dry. Eliminate an issue.

Edit: didn’t mean to quote you frankl

 

[3532]

I've had KFI winches on all of my machines and have had extremely good luck with them. Regularly used in mud and water pulling out machines. Very reasonable, and lately they've been including the mount for your specific machine for free. My two cents.

Looking at a KFI Stealth winch for my bike, you seem high on them. I would like to hear how the installation went for you..?

I’ve used quite a few kfi now also, been very good. The stealth is a good buy I think. I like the plastic rollers on the fairlead ! Installation is as easy as any other winch, the KFi brackets are top quality and fit great.

 

[CanadianKodiak700]

Makes zero sense. Water gets IN the contactor and corrodes it so the contactor plate doesn’t move or the connections are so full of corrosion they don’t conduct enough current to run the winch. Having the cable connections under water has nothing to do with it. Once water gets in the contactor or winch itself trouble begins.

Long story short .... mount contactor high and dry. Eliminate an issue.

Edit: didn’t mean to quote you frankl

salt water yes, fresh water from streams, brooks, and puddles won't conduct enough current for electrolysis to begin, causing corrosion on stainless steel and copper contacts. minor corrosion can occur over time from metal contacts arcing during use, water won't speed that up.
if you look at contactors now, thats the most sealed part of the system, conformal coated internals except for actual contact point, then the case is sealed with either epoxy, silicone, or scolastic. the winch is the weakest link, unsealed and vented. long story short, it's an old outdated problem. mount the contactor where it's ment to go, no harm done